NJ Man Sentenced In Gym Bombing In Camden County: Feds

CAMDEN, NJ – A New Jersey man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for setting off a homemade bomb at a gym, authorities said.

Dwayne Vandergrift, 40, of Gloucester City, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen Williams in Camden federal court to one count of malicious use of explosive materials, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.

Judge Williams imposed the sentence on Aug. 10 in Camden federal court.

The sentence stems from an Aug. 28 incident in which Vandergrift deployed a homemade explosive device at a Gloucester City fitness center, Sellinger said. The gym had not yet opened for the day when the explosive went off and no one was inside, Sellinger added.

Security camera footage recorded Vandergrift fleeing the area moments before the device exploded, badly damaging the front door and shattering its glass, Patch previously reported.

Police later searched Vandergrift’s home and found more materials for building explosive devices, numerous weapons including an unregistered short, barreled rifle, several tactical vests outfitted with body armor and loaded 30-round ammunition magazines.

Upon examining Vandergrift's personal computer devices, investigators discovered that he had recently researched how to construct and utilize various explosive devices, including pipe and pressure cooker bombs.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Vandergrift to three years of supervised release.