Two upstate New York men, one who prosecutors say is a member of the Ku Klux Klan, have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to develop a portable X-ray radiation machine capable of emitting lethal doses of radiation that they intended to use against Muslims and "enemies of Israel."
Eric Feight, 54, and Glendon Crawford, 49, were arrested in the FBI sting operation. Prosecutors say they wanted to adapt the device into a system that could be turned on and off from a distance.
Officials said the two men wanted the device to be used on unwitting victims who were anti-Israel and that the effects would not be realized until days after exposure. One allegedly sought financing from the Ku Klux Klan and two Jewish organizations.
“This case demonstrates how we must remain vigilant to detect and stop potential terrorists, who so often harbor hatred toward people they deem undesirable," said U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian.
Investigators said the device used in the sting was not real and never any danger to the public. The device that the defendants designed was rendered inoperable, prosecutors said.
The head of the New York State Police referred to the case as one that revealed “unthinkable plotting and planning.”
Feight and Crawford are charged with material support for terrorism, which carries up to 15 years in prison. Crawford is from Galway, N.Y., and Feight is from Hudson.
Information on their attorneys was not immediately available.