Man Indicted For Plot To Bomb Nassau County Building, DA Says

MINEOLA, NY — A North Merrick man has been indicted for terrorism for allegedly plotting to attack the Nassau County Department of Social Services building in September, prosecutors said.

James Luca, 46, attempted to ignite a homemade bomb he placed at the building's doors, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

According to prosecutors, during the overnight hours on Sept. 17, Luca and an unnamed person (who acted as a lookout) drove to 60 Charles Lindberg Boulevard where the Nassau County Department of Social Services is located. Luca allegedly placed a 20-pound propane tank and another 1-pound camping propane tank at the doors of the building with a torch on top of the tanks, Donnelly said.

Surveillance video recovered from the scene shows Luca allegedly attempting to throw lit flares at the homemade device in an attempt to ignite it. However, the device does not ignite.

As police continued to investigate the incident, they discovered another 20-pound propane tank a short distance from the scene and the abandoned vehicle in East Meadow with additional road flares located inside of the car, the D.A.'s office said.

Luca was arraigned on charges that include crime of terrorism, first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing of governmental duties by means of a bomb, destructive device, explosive or hazardous substance and fourth-degree conspiracy, prosecutors said.

Luca pleaded not guilty and was remanded. He is due back in court on Dec. 19. If convicted, Luca faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

"James Luca, aggrieved and blaming Nassau County Child Protective Services for revoking his visitation rights with his children, allegedly hatched a terroristic revenge plot to bomb the Department of Social Services building in Uniondale using an improvised homemade device made of propane tanks and road flares," Donnelly said. "This is the first time that my office has pursued the gravely serious charge of terrorism against a defendant. James Luca’s alleged actions, his plotting, and his attempts to ignite an explosion at a government building where dozens of public servants work to serve our county every day, justifies this significant upgrade in charges."