Florida man sentenced to federal prison for planting bomb at Veteran’s hospital
Mark Edward Allen, 61, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Friday for attempting to destroy U.S. government property with an improvised explosive device (IED). Allen was arrested on June 1 and charged with possession of unregistered explosive devices.
He pleaded guilty to federal charges on September 2. Allen was looking at a possible maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
On May 6, Allen placed a hoax explosive device at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Bay Pines, Florida. Then, on May 29, he placed an actual improvised explosive device at the same VA Hospital.
Law enforcement agencies responded to the VA Hospital; and a bomb squad determined that the device contained a 9-volt battery, electrical wires, an improvised initiator, explosive powder, and a switch. Bomb technicians ultimately rendered the device safe.
Video surveillance showed that Allen had carefully placed the IED on a gate that controls vehicle and pedestrian access to the VA Hospital.
Approximately two days after Allen had placed the IED at the VA Hospital, an individual called law enforcement and reported that Allen had been making other IEDs in his St. Petersburg home. The individual provided one of the devices to the FBI.
During a search of Allen’s home, approximately seven additional completed and partially completed IEDs were discovered – each being capable of causing property damage, personal injury, and/or death when properly assembled and initiated.
“The FBI routinely asks the public that if they see something to say something. This investigation proves to us the message is being heard loud and clear. We are grateful for the individual who came forward with the information leading us to Mr. Allen. Their action helped save lives,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson.
(Cover Photo, Mark Edward Allen, June 2019 and Dec. 2019 Booking Photos, Image credit: St. Petersburg Police Department)
(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida
~ Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
