An FBI investigation has uncovered a plot by a New York state engineer with ties to the Ku Klux Klan to construct a radiation particle weapon, with the intention to sell the device to either a southern branch of the KKK or Jewish groups.
Federal investigators first began to investigate Glendon Scott
Crawford, 49, when he allegedly approached an Albany-area
synagogue and “asked to speak with a person who might be willing
to help him with a type of technology that could be used by
Israel to defeat its enemies, specifically, by killing Israel's
enemies while they slept."
Crawford, an industrial mechanic with General Electric Co.,
evidently sought to assemble a radiation-emitting device
“that could be placed in the
back of a van to covertly emit ionizing radiation strong enough
to bring about radiation sickness or death against Crawford's
enemies," according to a complaint put together by an FBI
agent on the case.
The agent’s affidavit indicates that Crawford then telephoned
another Jewish organization in Albany and made a similar offer.
Luckily, Crawford’s visit to the synagogue raised eyebrows, and
an unidentified individual later contacted police.
Rabbi Matthew Cutler of the Congregation Gates of Heaven in
Schenectady told the Times Union that a "strange man" came to their
synagogue in April of 2012, and discussed a mysterious device he
was developing that would protect the Jewish people.
"They had a hard time getting
rid of him," Cutler said. "He had this device, this plan on what to
do."
Crawford referred to enemies of the United States and Muslims as
"medical waste," according to court records obtained by the Times
Union.
Once members of the synagogue had contacted law enforcement, the
Joint Terrorism Task Force began an investigation into the odd
occurrences, and an undercover FBI agent made contact as a
potential supplier of radiation equipment, such as x-ray tubes,
and emailed him with information on different x-ray systems.
According to the FBI, Crawford never obtained a radiation source
and the device, meant to be placed in the back of a van, was
never fully constructed. Crawford did, however, make some
progress, such as constructing a remote triggering system that
could work from about half a mile away.
Crawford managed to recruit Eric J. Feight, 54, of Hudson, who
worked at an electronics company to help him construct the
controls for the alleged weapon. The two suspects met in Albany
in May, at which point Feight gave the remote-transmission device
to Crawford. The two had planned a test to take place at an
undisclosed hotel in the Albany area, which according to the
complaint was successful.
Through undercover contacts the FBI was able to monitor the two
suspects’ movements and communications. Crawford allegedly spoke
of being “tired of getting
'raped,' that there are people out there who have decided that
they don't get their fair share in life, and that (Crawford)
wanted to stop these people."
Crawford was, in his own words, "a member of the Ku Klux Klan,
specifically, the United Northern & Southern Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan" and also listed on several websites as a
member of Americans Demanding Liberty and Freedom, a Tea Party
group.
The FBI’s affidavit indicates that as many as six unidentified
people were assisting Crawford in the assembling of his radiation
beam device, including another fellow GE employee. The Times
Union has reported that of those individuals, some if not all may
have known information regarding Crawford’s project.
The two men were arrested on Tuesday, and held without bond
pending detention hearings. Crawford and Feight each face up to
15 years in prison if convicted.
During his initial appearance in front of a US District Court in
Albany Crawford was informed that he would be assigned an
attorney for his defense. "Is
it going to be the right kind of attorney for this?"
Crawford asked the judge.
In a statement responding to the arrest, General Electric said:
"On Tuesday afternoon the FBI
informed GE that Glendon Scott Crawford, a GE manufacturing
employee, was arrested for a criminal act. We have no reason to
believe the act took place on GE property nor is there any
information indicating that our employees' safety was ever
compromised. Since this incident, Mr Crawford has been suspended.
We are cooperating fully with the authorities on their
investigation."
The FBI seized a vehicle belonging to Crawford on Tuesday at an
out-of-business auto body shop, just prior to when the two men
had planned to conduct a test-run of the device’s triggering
system.