FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
December 21, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARYLAND MAN INDICTED IN PLOT TO ATTACK
ARMED FORCES RECRUITING CENTER
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury today indicted Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain, age 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, a U.S. citizen, with attempting to murder federal officers and employees and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property, in connection with a scheme to attack an Armed Forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Martinez was arrested on December 8, 2010, after he attempted to detonate what he believed to be explosives at the Armed Forces recruiting station. This indictment supersedes the criminal complaint previously filed charging the same offenses.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The two count indictment alleges that on December 8, 2010, Martinez attempted to detonate an explosive device at the Armed Forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. The indictment alleges that the bomb was intended to kill military service members who worked in the building. As set forth in the criminal complaint, agents investigating Martinez ensured that the bomb was inert and no danger was presented to the public.
Martinez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for attempting to murder federal officers and employees, and life in prison for attempted use
of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI and the members of its multi-agency Joint Terrorism Task Force for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge McFeely expressed their appreciation to the Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Maryland State Police, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Recruitment Command, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Army 902d Military Intelligence Group and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the investigation.
Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Manuelian, who is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey E. Eisenberg, Chief of the National Security Section, who is supervising the case. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked the Justice Department’s National Security Division for its support.