A disturbing story involving a campus security supervisor at Arvin High School in California has been revealed in court documents.
NBC News reports that Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 27, pleaded guilty to making and distributing explosives via the social media platform Instagram. This illegal operation was not carried out alone; Mendiver worked closely with a high school student.
The Charges and Plea
Mendiver's guilty plea, announced by US Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, included charges of making and mailing explosive devices, conspiracy, and misleading FBI agents.
The potential penalty underscored the gravity of the offenses: Mendiver faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine for each count. The scheduled sentencing on April 1, 2024, is crucial in this alarming saga.
Explosive Seizures, Instagram Evidence
A search warrant was executed at Mendiver's Bakersfield home, yielding a shocking discovery—a stash of approximately 500 pounds of explosives and related materials.
The additional 500 pounds of similar materials seized from the juvenile's residence were equally concerning. This seizure raised serious concerns about the scope and scale of their operations.
The evidence did not end with the physical caches; Mendiver's Instagram communications were crucial in establishing his culpability.
He displayed homemade explosive devices made with titanium salute in messages, photos, and videos exchanged on the platform.
These posts were peppered with alarming statements, with Mendiver declaring, "homemade kills all consumer," emphasizing the dangerous nature of his creations.
Read Also: Massive Cyber Attack Hits Ukraine's Biggest Mobile Operator, Disrupting Internet for Millions
Legal Proceedings
Arvin High School, where Mendiver was a security supervisor, was the unsuspecting backdrop to these illicit activities. However, the school district remained tight-lipped, redirecting inquiries to the Kern High School District's press office, which refrained from commenting on the case.
The legal gravity of Mendiver's actions was further emphasized by the invocation of charges he faced. In addition to those he pleaded guilty to, a court indictment from June also accused him of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, improper storage of explosives, and criminal forfeiture.
The investigation into this alarming case was a joint effort between the FBI and the Bakersfield police. Assistant US Attorney Karen A. Escobar spearheaded the prosecution, while Mendiver's court-appointed attorney remained unreachable for comment.
In Other News
A massive cyberattack on Ukraine's telecommunications infrastructure has rendered Kyivstar, the country's largest mobile network operator, inoperable, disrupting mobile and internet services for an estimated 24 million people.
The severity of the attack indicates a significant escalation in the ongoing cyber warfare, further exacerbating the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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