MCKENZIE MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTING TO ACQUIRE CHEMICAL WEAPON

Memphis, Tennessee - David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that a federal jury in Jackson, Tennessee returned a guilty verdict as to Demetrius “Van” Crocker, age 40, finding him guilty of one count of attempted possession of a chemical weapon, one count of inducing another person to acquire a chemical weapon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 229, one count of possession of stolen explosives in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 842(h), one count of possession of explosive material within intent to harm an individual or damage or destroy a building, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(d), and one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d).

Evidence presented at trial showed that the case originated when an individual contacted a 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force agent and stated that he was aware of an individual with extreme anti-government beliefs who was attempting to obtain radioactive material for a dirty bomb. The local agent turned the case over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The FBI and TBI utilized the individual to introduce an undercover FBI agent to the defendant.

During recorded conversations with the undercover agent Crocker set out his anti-government, anti-semitic and white supremacists views. He also detailed his history of making improvised chemical weapons and explosives. The undercover agent portrayed himself as a white supremacist, who through his employment at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, had access to stolen nerve gas and explosives. Crocker paid the undercover agent $500 which the agent claimed he needed to bribe a guard at Pine Bluff in order to get the nerve gas out of the arsenal. On October 25, 2004 the undercover agent delivered a genuine GB (Sarin) nerve gas cannister filled with water and a block of C-4 containing a small amount of real explosives to the defendant. The defendant was arrested at that time. The evidence at trial also showed the government searched defendant’s house that same day with a search warrant and found components of an improvised explosive device. Chief U.S. District Judge James Todd who presided over the case, set sentencing for July 13, 2006. Crocker faces up to life imprisonment.

This investigation was handled jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Daryl Berry and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Bird. AUSA Fred Godwin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.