Valley Man Indicted for Possessing and Transporting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

PHOENIX—A federal grand jury on Tuesday returned a three-count indictment against Jeffrey Harbin, 28, of Apache Junction for Possession of Unregistered Destructive Devices and the Unlawful Transportation of Explosive Material.

The indictment alleges that on or about January 14 Harbin was illegally in possession of 12 grenade-like improvised explosive devices. These IEDs were built using a Polyvinyl Chloride (“PVC”) encasement filled with a black powder consistent with modern gunpowder, ball bearings and an improvised fusing system. The indictment also alleges that, on that same day, Harbin unlawfully transported one of these IEDs.

“Jeffrey Harbin built these IEDs in such a way as to maximize human carnage,” said Dennis K. Burke, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Thanks to the hard work and diligence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Phoenix Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant was intercepted and the devices he created were disabled before they could be used to potentially inflict grave human harm.”

Harbin is being held in federal custody.

“The indictment of Harbin illustrates the commitment by the FBI to protect the public from those who allegedly possess unregistered destructive devices and the unlawful transportation of explosive material, said Nathan T. Gray FBI Special Agent In Charge, Phoenix. “The investigation was a collective effort by the Apache Junction Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Phoenix Police Department Bomb squad, and the Mesa Police Department Bomb Squad. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are working collectively to protect the citizen's of Arizona.”

A conviction for each of these counts carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, the assigned United States District Court Judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and members of the Phoenix Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also assisted. The prosecution is being handled by Josh Patrick Parecki, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-0163-PHX-NVW

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-011(HARBIN)