NEW JERSEY – A New York pharmacist who wanted to put deadly poison on crossbows, spraying devices and other items to use it on people was sentenced Friday to more than six years in federal prison, officials said.
Jordan Gonzalez obtained conventional weapons, such as crossbows, spraying devices and other items to deliver the toxins, officials said.
“He admitted he attempted to make these toxins in preparation for future confrontations with others,” according to authorities.
U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper sentenced Jordan Gonzalez, 34, of New York, formerly of Jersey City, New Jersey, to six years and six months.
“Jordan Gonzalez had in his possession the ingredients and equipment necessary to manufacture dangerous biological toxins and explosives, as well as, a cache of weapons and ammunition,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric Welling said.
Gonzalez plead guilty to attempting to weaponize the lethal toxins ricin and abrin and for possessing a prohibited flask intending to use it to manufacture illegal narcotics, said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.
These are the facts and circumstances surrounding this case:
- From Sept. 18, 2011 through March 19, 2013, Gonzalez purchased thousands of seeds containing ricin and abrin and materials to extract and administer those toxins to others, including filtering equipment, respirators and glass vials.
- He admitted he attempted to make these toxins in preparation for future confrontations with others. Gonzalez also obtained firearms, body armor and precursor materials for the manufacture of military-grade explosives and improvised explosive devices.
- Gonzalez made the purchases through an online marketplace through which third-party vendors in the United States and abroad sell products to members of the public.
- Gonzalez learned how to extract toxins from the seeds and about methods to administer them to other persons from manuals he acquired.
- He also acquired manuals for making improvised explosive devices and synthesizing explosive compounds.
- On Nov. 8, 2013, while living in Manhattan, Gonzalez purchased one kilogram of sodium azide, a toxic, gas-forming compound that can explode at high temperatures and is lethal if ingested or absorbed through the skin.
- Law enforcement officers intercepted the delivery during the investigation.
- On Nov. 14, 2013, Gonzalez was arrested in Jersey City and search warrants were executed at three locations he used: apartments in Manhattan, Jersey City and a storage unit in Jersey City.
Searches Seize Evidence Included the Following:
- Thousands of seeds containing ricin and abrin
- Explosive precursor chemicals
- Manuals related to toxins
- Explosives and improvised explosive devices
- About 1,000 rounds of ammunition, handguns, components for assault rifles, high-capacity magazines, a bulletproof vest
- Books and documents related to the collapse of social order and techniques for surviving in a lawless environment.
- Gonzalez also acquired manuals for synthesizing controlled substances, including methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), aka ecstasy.
Gonzalez bought and had delivered to the Jersey City apartment a three-neck round-bottom flask, gel capsules and an encapsulating machine, as well as precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of MDA and MDMA.
Possession of that type of flask is prohibited if intended for use in the manufacturing of controlled substances.
“The sentence imposed today on Jordan Gonzalez is an appropriate response to his efforts to manufacture and deploy toxins as deadly weapons,” said Fishman. “He was preparing for a violent confrontation that fortunately never occurred because the excellent response by our law enforcement partners stopped him before anyone was hurt.”