On September 14, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York announced the guilty plea of Anthony Cibelli in the Manhattan federal court for the “unlicensed transportation of grenades.” 

Mr. Cibelli served in the Army until he was discharged from active duty in 2010.  According to details from the FBI, Mr. Cibelli then arranged for the transportation of two grenades and numerous other items from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to his place of residence in the Bronx. 

Law enforcement searched Cibelli’s home on December 23, 2011 and found two grenades sitting on the roof outside of the window as well as six M-16, 30-round magazines.  Additionally, the officers also found four guns, multiple rounds of ammunition, “improvised explosive devises,” and other property of the U.S. military. 

Once Cibelli was taken into custody, he admitted he brought the grenades back to the United States from his tour in Iraq by shipping the items in a bag on a shipping container.  He also stated that he panicked when the officers appeared on December 23, 2011 and placed the grenades outside of his window. 

Preet Bharara, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney, stated: “Grenades are lethal weaponry that are meant for soldiers doing battle in service of their country, and they have no place in a residential community.  Fortunately, no harm was caused, and Anthony Cibelli will be punished for illegally bringing grenades into the Bronx—a crime that could have led to fatal consequences.”

Cibelli pled guilty to one count of transporting destructive devices without a license or the required authorization.  He currently faces a maximum of 5 years in prison, and his sentencing is schedule on October 16, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. under United States District Judge Harold Baer, Jr. 

The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force was praised by U.S. Attorney Bharara. 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation