- Michael Curtis Reynolds
-
For other people named Michael Reynolds, see Michael Reynolds (disambiguation).
Michael Curtis Reynolds Born 1958[1] Alias(es) Fritz Mueller Motive Jihad Charge(s) See indictment Conviction(s) 2007-07-13 Penalty Projected release 2032-01-24 Status Incarcerated Occupation Transient; Electronics industry Spouse Tammy Danise Children 3 Michael Curtis Reynolds is an American who was convicted of terrorism-related crimes after a series of December 2005 online discussions with a US judge posing as a militant.
Contents
Biography
Described as a transient, Reynolds was living with his mother at the time of his alleged online comments.[2]
A 1976 graduate of North Salem High School, he was also arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and breach of the peace. He was also named on legal documents related to tax liens against him, and outstanding debts he owed.[3]
He was convicted of trying to blow up his family's Purdys, New York home in 1978.[4] He was given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree attempted arson.
In 1982 he married Tammy Danise, and the couple had three children together. They later divorced, and the children went into their mother's custody.[5] His father-in-law described him as a "John Wayne-wannabe"[6]
Alleged conspiracy
Reynolds allegedly discussed his wishes to bomb US-based oil pipelines with online acquaintances in October 2005, including in the Yahoo! chat room entitled OBLcrew, where he posted messages stating ""It is true America has overstepped its bounds in invading Iraq. Those serious enough to do something about it should e-mail... . Contact soon... . We both want something, let's talk." on October 25, and repeating his plea the following day with "Still awaiting someone serious about contact. Would be a pity to lose this idea".[7]
At some point between his online discussions in October, and his arrest in December, Reynolds moved to Pocatello, Idaho and found work with American Microsystems.
After becoming unemployed again,[7] Reynolds was arrested in December 2005, after arranging to meet an online acquaintance, secretly FBI informant and controversial vigilante online-terrorist-hunter Shannen Rossmiller, who had promised him $40,000 to help him purchase fuel trucks to help destroy targets. At the time, he had been living in Room 205[6] at the Thunderbird Motel,[8] and his net worth was only $24.85.[6]
Reynolds has since claimed that he was running an independent sting operation, hoping to expose terrorist cells working within the United States.[9] He sent a letter to a local newspaper stating that version of events.[10]
Legal proceedings
Reynolds was formally charged with a firearms offence for possessing a hand grenade, though a sealed statement from the FBI also stated that he intended to blow up multiple pipelines in the United States in a bid to help further terrorist causes.
His case made further headlines when the Department of Justice subpoenaed both Reynolds and Microsoft Corporation for access to view his Hotmail eMail account,[11] which revealed him discussing the need to leave the country after his attacks, and that he could be sentenced to death for treason.[6]
In February 2006, unnamed judicial officials said that it was likely Reynolds was not, in fact, a terrorist, and likely suffered mental illness.[4]
Applications for release on bail, acquittal and for the firearms charge to be dismissed, were all denied.
On October 2, 2006, Reynolds was additionally charged with "providing assistance to Al-Qaeda", in addition to "seeking to destroy property used in interstate or foreign commerce".
He waived any dispute to extradition and was extradited to Lackawanna County Prison in Scranton, Pennsylvania where he is currently incarcerated pending trial, which began July 9, 2007. The judge, having been informed that Reynolds had been held without contact with his mother or any means of financial aid, suggested that the State government might afford the cost to purchase him a suit of clothing for the trial.[12]
Reynolds had initially been assigned a public defender but had a dispute with her, and hired Joseph A. O'Brien as his attorney, before announcing he would represent himself and relegated O'Brien to the position of "advisor". Despite initial rejections from the judge who did not believe Reynolds to be mentally competent to defend himself, the petition was eventually granted[13]
On July 13, 2007, he was convicted of plotting to blow up energy installations, attempting to enlist help on the internet, and possessing a hand grenade.
Allegedly referenced targets
- Williams Natural Gas refinery in Opal, Wyoming
- Transcontinental natural gas pipeline that runs from the Gulf Coast to New York
- Standard Oil refinery in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
References
- ^ BOP inmate listing gave age of 52 on 2010-11-28
- ^ "Topic Galleries - themorningcall.com". Mcall.com. http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a9_terrorstingoct04,0,6144788.story. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b "Feds: Al Qaeda Suspect May Not Be Threat at All – U.S. & World". FOXNews.com. 2006-02-16. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185041,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ a b c d [3][dead link]
- ^ a b [4][dead link]
- ^ http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-02142006-612596.html
- ^ "Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Offering to Help Al Qaeda – Local News | News Articles | National News | US News". FOXNews.com. 2006-10-04. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217722,00.html?sPage=fnc.specialsections/waronterror. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ wcbstv.com – FBI Terror Sting Nets Westchester Man[dead link]
- ^ http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=29269
- ^ "The Citizens Voice – Man accused of trying to aid al-Qaida warned to behave during upcoming trial". Zwire.com. 2010-05-29. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18346869&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ "Defendant in terror case allowed to represent himself". The Times-Tribune. http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18406285&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
Alleged militants in the War on Terror who have lived in the United States
September 11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed · Mohamed Atta · Satam al-Suqami · Waleed al-Shehri · Wail al-Shehri · Abdulaziz al-Omari · Marwan al-Shehhi · Fayez Banihammad · Mohand al-Shehri · Hamza al-Ghamdi · Ahmed al-Ghamdi · Hani Hanjour · Khalid al-Mihdhar · Majed Moqed · Nawaf al-Hazmi · Salem al-Hazmi · Ziad Jarrah · Ahmed al-Nami · Saeed al-Ghamdi · Ahmed al-Haznawi
Buffalo Six Sahim Alwan · Mukhtar al-Bakri · Faysal Galab · Yahya Goba · Shafal Mosed · Yaseinn Taher
al-Qaeda / Islamic Jihad /
al-JihadSami Al-Arian · Anwar al-Awlaki · Khaled Abu el-Dahab · Adam Yahiye Gadahn · Wadih el-Hage · Ziyad Khaleel · Sharif Mobley · Ali Mohamed · Zacarias Moussaoui · Aafia Siddiqui · Bryant Neal Vinas · Najibullah Zazi
Boston cab drivers Mohamad Elzahabi · Raed Hijazi · Bassam Kanj
Portland Seven Arrested in 2005
and convictedAbdulrahman Farhane · Mahmud al-Mutazzim · Rafiq Abdus Sabir · Tarik Shah
Liberty City Seven convictedPatrick Abraham · Burson Augustin · Rotschild Augustine · Narseal Batiste · Stanley PhanoracquittedNaudimar Herrera · Lyglenson Lemorin2007 Fort Dix plot Agron Abdullahu · Dritan Duka · Eljvir Duka · Shain Duka · Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer · Serdar Tatar
2009 Bronx plot James Cromitie · David Williams · Onta Williams
2010 Vilks assassination plot Colleen LaRose · Jamie Paulin-Ramirez
D.C. Five Umer Farooq · Waqar Khan · Ahmed Abdullah Minni · Aman Hassan Yasir · Ramy Zamzam
Others Nuradin Abdi · Ahmed Omar Abu Ali · Farooque Ahmed · Shirwa Ahmed · Mohamed Mahmood Alessa · Carlos Eduardo Almonte · Daniel Patrick Boyd / Raleigh jihad group · Iyman Faris · Rezwan Ferdaus · Michael Finton · Nidal Malik Hasan · David Headley · Majid Khan · John Walker Lindh · Daniel Maldonado · Sayed Malike · Mohamed Osman Mohamud · Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad · José Padilla · Michael Curtis Reynolds · Faisal Shahzad · Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah · Hosam Maher Husein Smadi · Ali al-Tamimi · Detroit Sleeper Cell · Virginia Jihad Network · 2011 Manhattan terrorism plot · 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot
Held in Guantanamo Bay Majid KhanCategories:- 1950s births
- People imprisoned on charges of terrorism
- American prisoners and detainees
- Living people
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