North Merrick Man Who Attempted To Bomb Social Services Building Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison: DA

MINEOLA, NY. — A North Merrick man was sentenced to nine years in prison Tuesday in connection with an attempt to bomb the Nassau County Department of Social Services (NCDSS) building last September and other charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office said 47-year-old James Luca pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of obstructing of governmental duties by means of a bomb, destructive device, explosive or hazardous substance on June 2, both of which are felonies, in connection with the NCDSS bombing plot.

Prosecutors said Luca also pleaded guilty to an additional count of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree residential mortgage fraud, one count of third-degree residential mortgage fraud, two counts of second-degree forgery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, four counts of first-degree identity theft and four counts of first-degree scheme to defraud, all of which were related to pending cases.

The attempted bombing of the NCDSS building took place the morning of Sept. 17, 2024, when Luca left his home just after 1:30 a.m, prosecutors said. He met up with a co-defendant about 10 minutes later, at which point the duo drove to the NCDSS building, prosecutors said.

Once they arrived at the building, prosecutors said Luca placed a 20-pound propane tank and a 1-pound camping propane tank at the doors of the social services building, leaving a torch on top of the tanks. Surveillance video from the morning shows Luca attempting to throw lit flares at the tanks in unsuccessful attempts to ignite them, prosecutors said. After failing to ignite the propane tanks, the duo drove to East Meadow, left the car they had driven to the social services building on Warren Street and got into a separate car they had left there earlier that morning, before driving back to Luca’s home, prosecutors said.

Later that morning, the NCDSS director of investigations discovered the propane tank device, alerting police and prompting response at the scene from NCPD arson and bomb squad, the Uniondale fire department and the Nassau County fire marshal’s office, prosecutors said. The building was evacuated and the explosives were secured, prosecutors said.

During investigation, police discovered another 20-pound propane tank near the NCDSS building and the abandoned vehicle on Warren Street, which had additional flares in it, prosecutors said.

“James Luca is a dangerous man whose unhinged actions created panic at the Department of Social Services and terrorized public servants in our county,” Donnelly said. “Time after time, this defendant chose criminality, engaging in another attempted bombing, mortgage fraud, identity theft, and other crimes even before his twisted plan was put into action. This is not a man who should be free to walk our streets. He belongs behind bars, and that is where he will be for nearly a decade after today’s sentencing because of my office and our law enforcement partner’s diligent work.”

Luca and the second individual involved in the attempted bombing were arrested on Oct. 3, 2024, prosecutors said.

In addition to the attempted bombing charges, Luca also pleaded guilty this June to placing an explosive device on his ex-wife’s car while it was parked at her home in North Merrick and detonating it, shattering her windshield in February of 2023 and damaging her vehicle in January of 2024, prosecutors said.

Finally, Luca pleaded guilty to a residential mortgage fraud scheme that included the theft of property from a relative by forging a deed and loan paperwork, prosecutors said. In that scheme, prosecutors said Luca fraudulently changed the ownership of a home, obtained a $410,000 mortgage on the property and allowed both the loan and the mortgage to go into foreclosure. As a result, Luca’s relative was left with over $600,000 in debt, prosecutors said.

Using the same relative’s personal information, Luca also opened business and personal credit cards with American Express, racking up more than $200,000 in unpaid charges, prosecutors said. Finally, Luca pleaded guilty to another scheme that saw him pretending to be a different relative, using that relative’s personal information and credit to get PSEG service turned on at three properties in East Meadow, including one residence where he lived, prosecutors said.

Patch attempted to reach Luca's attorney, Brian Griffin, Esq. for comment Tuesday.