Thursday, January 23, 2014

Security: Two Men Appear in Federal Court on Charges Relating to the Development of a Lethal Radiation Device

U.S. Attorney’s Office 
Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NY—Two men who were arraigned in June on a scheme to create a mobile, remotely operated, radiation-emitting device appeared in U.S. District Court in Albany in separate proceedings today.

Eric J. Feight Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to Terrorists

Eric J. Feight, 55, of Hudson, New York, appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gary L. Sharpe this morning and entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with providing material support to terrorists in violation of 18 U.S. C. Section 2339 A(a). Judge Sharpe scheduled sentencing for Feight on May 22, 2014, in U.S. District Court. Feight is being detained pending his sentencing. Feight faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release, upon release, of up to life.

Glendon Scott Crawford Arraigned on New Indictment

In a separate proceeding, co-defendant Glendon Scott Crawford, 49, of Galway, New York, was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel on an indictment, filed late last week, containing three charges relating to the development of and plans to use a remotely operated radiation-emitting device to kill humans. In his appearance, Crawford entered not guilty pleas to the Indictment charging him with: (count one) attempting to produce and use a radiological dispersal device, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332h(a) and (c)(1); (count two) conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)(C); and (count three) distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 842(p)(2)(A). The penalties for these offenses are, respectively: (count one) a maximum of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of not less than 25 years and a $2,000,000 fine; (count two) a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine; (count three) a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was ordered detained pending further disposition of the charges. The charges are merely accusations, and Crawford is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

These cases resulted from a long term investigation conducted by the Albany FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Department of Homeland Security, New York State Police, Albany Police Department, Troy Police Department, and New York City Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office also acknowledged the assistance of the Criminal Division and National Security Division of the United States Department of Justice. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen C. Green and Richard Belliss and Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Joseph Kaster.