Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Federal authorities announced on Apr. 1 that Raymond Elders of White Plains has been arrested and charged with manufacturing, possessing, and detonating suspected improvised explosive devices in his apartment and on a residential street.
The charges raise concerns about public safety in the White Plains community, where Elders allegedly stored dozens of explosive devices in his home and set some off in the neighborhood.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said, "By allegedly manufacturing dozens of suspected explosive devices and storing them in his apartment, Raymond Elders put everyone in his community at risk. But he didn’t stop there. As alleged in the complaint, and over a period of months, he lit these devices and detonated them in his neighborhood in White Plains, causing unexplained explosions that his neighbors repeatedly reported to the police. It should go without saying that anyone who tosses illegal explosives onto New York residential streets should expect to face serious consequences, including federal criminal charges brought by our Office.”
FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. said, “Raymond Elders allegedly constructed dozens of IEDs and detonated at least two in his neighborhood. Elders’s alleged actions repeatedly disregarded the public’s safety by subjecting innocent bystanders to potentially devastating harm. We thank the White Plains Police Department and the Westchester County Bomb Squad for their prompt response and for protecting the residents of Westchester County. The FBI continues to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from violence.”
According to court documents, surveillance footage captured Elders igniting suspected improvised explosive devices on Odell Avenue on multiple occasions during March 2026. Police responding to several emergency calls found an apparent pipe bomb outside Elders's apartment building on March 30. A search yielded approximately 25 additional suspected explosive devices as well as materials used for assembly; residents were evacuated while specialists secured the scene.
Elders faces several federal charges: use of a weapon of mass destruction (maximum life sentence), possession of destructive devices after a felony conviction (up to 15 years), receipt or possession of explosives after a felony conviction (up to 10 years), unlawful possession (up to 10 years), and unlawful manufacture (up to 10 years). Sentencing will be determined by a judge if there is a conviction.
Clayton praised investigators from multiple agencies for their efforts leading up to this arrest.
Authorities remind that all charges are allegations at this stage; Elders is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
