A man from outside Philadelphia is facing federal charges after prosecutors said he detonated a homemade explosive device outside his ex-boss’s home, months after losing his job.<\/p>\n
Michael Takacs, 43, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, is in custody after authorities began investigating an explosion that occurred in a driveway in Delran, New Jersey, on July 26.<\/p>\n
The explosion caused a 100-foot debris field and nails and bolts were lodged in the victim’s Ford Explorer and in nearby homes, court documents released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey say.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors say Takacs had been terminated in May, and a review of his cell phone showed that in June, he had pulled up a map of his boss’s home, and discussed purchasing a license plate flipper, which could help conceal his real license plate if he were driving near the scene.<\/p>\n
The explosion occurred around 2:42 a.m. on July 26. Surveillance video from minutes before showed a man exiting a Jeep Renegade across the street from the victim’s home, then dropping an object next to the Ford before driving away in the Jeep, according to a criminal complaint.<\/p>\n
“Law enforcement believes that the individual driving the Jeep Renegade remotely detonated an explosive device that he had placed near the Ford Explorer while passing Victim-1’s residence,” the document reads.<\/p>\n
A 9-volt battery, antenna parts and a damaged pyrotechnic device were found at the scene.<\/p>\n
Police said an account registered to Takacs placed online orders for two fireworks igniter systems about a month before the explosion.<\/p>\n
A box that appears to be for one of those igniters was later found in front of Takacs’ home, the court documents show.<\/p>\n
Takacs appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Camden on Thursday and was ordered detained. He is charged with four criminal counts, including unlawfully transporting an explosive device across state lines, transporting an explosive without a license, and other weapons offenses.<\/p>\n
Each of the counts carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.<\/p>\n
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