AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

ROBERT WEILER DETAINED AFTER INITIAL APPEARANCE TODAY

GREENBELT, Maryland - Robert F. Weiler, Jr., age 25, of Forestville, Maryland had an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court on charges of possessing and making an unregistered destructive device, illegally possessing a firearm, and possessing a stolen firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered Weiler detained pending trial. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 22, 2006.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, "The outstanding investigative work in this case by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Maryland State Police and the Prince George's County Police may have averted a tragedy. This case reminds us how important it is for citizens to contact the police to report any suspicious conduct."

ATF Special Agent in Charge Gregory K. Gant said, “This is another example of the superb police work that occurs when we work together to protect the public from violent crime. We also want to recognize that it took a lot of courage to make the notification to police that helped avert this possible tragedy from occurring.”

According to the criminal complaint which was filed Thursday, June 8th, Weiler stole money from his parents and told associates that he had purchased a firearm and constructed a bomb which he planned to use in an attack on an abortion clinic. During the course of the investigation Weiler contacted law enforcement agents and advised that he was at a rest stop in Western Maryland and wanted to surrender himself. He further advised that he had a gun. On June 7th, Weiler was arrested by members of the Maryland State Police. On the morning of June 8, the bomb was located in the closet of a home in Riverdale, Maryland where Weiler had hidden it and was rendered safe by the bomb squad.

The maximum penalty for each of the counts is 10 years incarceration. The counts relating to the destructive device carry a fine of $10,000 and the gun counts carry a fine of $250,000.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, Prince Georges County Police Department and Maryland State Police. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Foreman, who is prosecuting the case.