SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that a Camillus man has been sentenced for his role in building and possessing a pipe bomb.
MICHAEL LaVALLEE, age 22, was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue in Syracuse. LaVALLEE was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, and ordered to participate in substance abuse and mental health programs. LaVALLEE will also serve three years of supervised release following his release from incarceration.
MICHAEL LaVALLEE pled guilty on April 1, 2013 to unlawfully possessing an unregistered firearm, specifically, a pipe bomb wrapped with shrapnel. LaVALLEE admitted that on or about Aug. 12, 2012, he possessed and stored in his apartment in Camillus a pipe bomb he had built. The pipe bomb was composed of a length of metal pipe sealed at each end, with one end containing a hole for a fuse and loaded with explosive material. The pipe bomb was surrounded by metal nails acting as shrapnel, which were wrapped around the device with duct tape. LaVALLEE further admitted that the device was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The pipe bomb was discovered and rendered safe by law enforcement officers and bomb squad technicians.
The case was investigated by the Camillus Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen C. Green.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
