Nassau Man Pleads Guilty To Bomb Plot At County Building: DA

NORTH MERRICK, NY — A North Merrick man pleaded guilty on Monday to multiple charges for plotting to attack the Nassau County Department of Social Services (NCDSS) building last September, prosecutors said.

James Luca, 47, pleaded guilty on charges of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing of governmental duties by means of a bomb, destructive device, explosive or hazardous substance (a D felony) in satisfaction of the indictment charging him with the attempted bombing of NCDSS, prosecutors said.

Separately, to satisfy additional pending cases, Luca pleaded guilty to additional charges, including
another count of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, Nassau County D.A. Anne Donnelly said.

Luca is expected to be sentenced to 9 years in prison and five years post-release supervision when he is back in court on July 8.

On the afternoon of September 17, Luca left his home on Van Nostrand Avenue in North Merrick.

Approximately 10 minutes later, he met a co-defendant on Warren Street and both got into a single car. They drove to 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard where the NCDSS is located, prosectors said.

While his co-defendant acted as a lookout, Luca placed one 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 showed Luca attempting to throw lit flares at the homemade device to ignite it. However, the device did not ignite, Donnelly said.

The device was discovered later that morning by the NCDSS Director of Investigations who immediately alerted police.

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, prosecutors said.

“This defendant is dangerous and unpredictable, instigating fear and terror in his personal life and attempting to sow that same terror when he targeted the dedicated public servants at the Nassau County Department of Social Services with an explosive device last September. James Luca belongs behind bars,” said DA Donnelly. “Luca had several additional open cases with my office for a slew of other criminal acts, including another attempted bombing, mortgage fraud, and identity theft. This defendant has offended and re-offended without a passing consideration for the consequences. Now, he faces nearly a decade in prison. Our communities will be safer with him off our streets.”

Patch attempted to get a comment from Luca's attorney Brian Griffin.