A New Jersey man now faces federal charges after investigators discovered an alleged homemade bomb lab inside his suburban home.
Joseph Rizos, 37, of Denville, was charged Wednesday with unlawful receipt of explosive materials, unlawful storage of explosive material and unlawful possession of plastic explosives without a detection agent, the US Attorney’s Office announced. The three federal counts carry a combined potential sentence of more than 20 years in prison and up to $600,000 in fines.
The case against Rizos stretches back to April 2020, when authorities allege he began purchasing highly explosive materials from various online stores. Fuels, fuses, chemicals and lab equipment all flowed into his 1,920-square-foot residence over what prosecutors describe as a years-long scheme.
Morris County investigators raided the home on June 24, acting after Rizos had already been detained from his car. What they found inside prompted a stark warning from local law enforcement about the operation’s sophistication.
“At the residence, investigators uncovered a home laboratory along with a cache of explosive precursors commonly used to make [homemade explosives],” the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office wrote in its initial announcement. “Also seized were blasting caps, cell phones, and various firearms and ammunition.”
The sheer volume of devices startled even seasoned investigators. About 109 homemade bombs were recovered from his shed alone, according to authorities. Illicit materials were also allegedly discovered in his bedroom, basement and garage, suggesting the operation had permeated multiple levels of the dwelling.
Rizos had already faced state charges stemming from the same investigation. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office previously charged him with second-degree recklessly risking widespread injury or damage and four counts of third-degree possession of destructive devices.
The federal charges announced Wednesday layer atop those state counts, exposing Rizos to parallel prosecutions from both state and federal authorities. The dual-track case reflects the severity of the allegations and the multi-agency nature of the probe.
The investigation drew resources from an alphabet soup of federal and local agencies. The Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the effort, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. New Jersey State Police, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office all contributed to the operation.
The case originated in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Rizos allegedly began his purchasing spree. Whether the timing was coincidental or whether lockdown conditions facilitated the scheme remains unclear from charging documents.
Rizos has not yet entered a plea on the federal charges. No trial date has been set.