Point Pleasant Man Accused Of Trying To Aid ISIS With Pressure Cooker Bomb

NEWARK - Gregory Lepsky's family first began to notice changes in the 20-year-old in December of 2016. The Point Pleasant man began to talk about ISIS and behaviors associated with radical Islam, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

By February, the changes were obvious. On Feb. 21, he threatened to kill his mother and he stabbed the family dog with a Bowie knife, according to an FBI agent's testimony.

Lepsky will appear in federal court today to answer charges that he planned to provide "material support" to ISIS by planning to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in support of ISIS, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick and Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente said.

A family member called authorities on Feb. 21, 2017 to tell them of his threats. He emerged from the family home with a bleeding arm and told police he had pledged his allegiance to "Allah," FBI Special Agent Tara Jerussi said in an affidavit.

After a search of the home, police found a new pressure cooker in Lepsky's bedroom, with instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb from a terrorist group and a message from an ISIS member that if he could not travel to Syria, he could carry out an attack in the United States using "improvised explosive devices."

They also found the family dog hiding under a bed with a large slash wound on his back. The dog survived the attack.

Lepsky told medical personnel on his way to an area hospital he planned to take the pressure cooker bomb to a crowded area of Manhattan and "blow it up to kill people."

"Lepsky explained that he would be rewarded by Allah for this act," Jerussi said.

Lepsky is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda
Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court. The material support charge carries a maximum potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Law enforcement officials found evidence of Lepsky’s plan to build and detonate a bomb as part of his support for ISIS during computer searches and other digital evidence in the home.

They found 3,340 internet searches on his Apple computer for information related to ISIS propaganda, terrorist attacks and beheadings, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

During several social media communications, Lepsky told others that he intended to fight on behalf of ISIS, and that he would, if necessary, become a martyr by driving a “bunch of explosives” to where the “enemies” could be found and blowing himself up.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the N.J. State Attorney General’s Office under the direction of Attorney General Christopher Porrino; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph Coronato; the Point Pleasant Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard P. Larsen; and the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness under the direction of Director Chris Rodriguez, with the investigation leading to the charges.

FBI spokesman Will Skaggs said the FBI does not normally release street addresses in cases like this.

by Patricia A. Miller

Patch file photo