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Twin Brothers Plead Guilty to Bronx Bomb-Making Plot Former Teacher Sentenced in Bronx Bomb-Making Plot
(6 months later)
[What you need to know to start your day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] [Update, May 22, 2019: Christian Toro, a former special needs high school teacher in the Bronx who enlisted his twin brother and two of his students in a bizarre bomb-making plot, was sentenced on Wednesday in Federal District Court in Manhattan to five and a half years in prison. Before being sentenced, Mr. Toro told Judge Richard M. Berman that his desire to manufacture explosives was brought on by severe depression and “misplaced curiosity.” Judge Berman responded, “I still don’t get why you did it.”]
A former schoolteacher and his twin brother pleaded guilty on Monday to federal conspiracy and bomb-making charges, admitting in court that they had stockpiled explosive material in their Bronx apartment.A former schoolteacher and his twin brother pleaded guilty on Monday to federal conspiracy and bomb-making charges, admitting in court that they had stockpiled explosive material in their Bronx apartment.
The former teacher, Christian Toro, 28, paid at least two students about $50 an hour to break apart fireworks, extract the explosive powder and store it in containers, the authorities had said.The former teacher, Christian Toro, 28, paid at least two students about $50 an hour to break apart fireworks, extract the explosive powder and store it in containers, the authorities had said.
“We were going to use the black powder and other materials to make an explosive,” Christian Toro told a judge on Monday in Federal District Court in Manhattan.“We were going to use the black powder and other materials to make an explosive,” Christian Toro told a judge on Monday in Federal District Court in Manhattan.
Yet even after the guilty pleas, the brothers’ motive for building a bomb and what their target might have been remained unclear. “I just want you to know that I had no intention of using it, let alone on anyone or anything,” Christian Toro told Judge Richard M. Berman. Tyler Toro also contended that he had never intended to harm anyone.Yet even after the guilty pleas, the brothers’ motive for building a bomb and what their target might have been remained unclear. “I just want you to know that I had no intention of using it, let alone on anyone or anything,” Christian Toro told Judge Richard M. Berman. Tyler Toro also contended that he had never intended to harm anyone.
The investigators recovered handwritten diary entries in the men’s apartment that referred to an operation code-named Flash. They also found a yellow backpack containing a purple index card that read, in all capital letters, “Under the full moon the small ones will know terror.”The investigators recovered handwritten diary entries in the men’s apartment that referred to an operation code-named Flash. They also found a yellow backpack containing a purple index card that read, in all capital letters, “Under the full moon the small ones will know terror.”
The brothers did not appear to be inspired by international terrorist groups like the Islamic State, but the government has asserted that the threat the men posed was real. Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said on Monday after the men pleaded guilty that the device they sought to build “could have caused great damage.”The brothers did not appear to be inspired by international terrorist groups like the Islamic State, but the government has asserted that the threat the men posed was real. Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said on Monday after the men pleaded guilty that the device they sought to build “could have caused great damage.”
At a bail hearing, one prosecutor, Elizabeth Hanft, said there was a text-message exchange between the brothers about the October 2017 mass killing of concertgoers in Las Vegas.At a bail hearing, one prosecutor, Elizabeth Hanft, said there was a text-message exchange between the brothers about the October 2017 mass killing of concertgoers in Las Vegas.
Tyler Toro texted his brother that the shooter in the Las Vegas massacre had a police scanner, and that they should invest in one, too.Tyler Toro texted his brother that the shooter in the Las Vegas massacre had a police scanner, and that they should invest in one, too.
“Copy,” Christian Toro responded. “I see a couple on Amazon.”“Copy,” Christian Toro responded. “I see a couple on Amazon.”
The investigation that led to the men’s arrest stemmed from a bomb threat that was called into Harlem Prep High School, a charter school where Christian Toro taught, nearly a year ago, according to a criminal complaint and statements by law enforcement officials at the time.The investigation that led to the men’s arrest stemmed from a bomb threat that was called into Harlem Prep High School, a charter school where Christian Toro taught, nearly a year ago, according to a criminal complaint and statements by law enforcement officials at the time.
The police arrested a 15-year-old female student and charged her with making the threatening call. Mr. Toro resigned on Jan. 9, and three weeks later he was charged with rape after being accused of having a sexual relationship with the same student. It was during the rape investigation that New York police detectives learned Mr. Toro had paid students to harvest powder from fireworks.The police arrested a 15-year-old female student and charged her with making the threatening call. Mr. Toro resigned on Jan. 9, and three weeks later he was charged with rape after being accused of having a sexual relationship with the same student. It was during the rape investigation that New York police detectives learned Mr. Toro had paid students to harvest powder from fireworks.
After Christian Toro resigned, Tyler Toro returned to the school a laptop that his brother had been using in connection with his job, according to the complaint, which is signed by an F.B.I. special agent, Seth Yockel. A copy of a book with instructions for making explosive devices was found on the computer’s hard drive, the complaint said.After Christian Toro resigned, Tyler Toro returned to the school a laptop that his brother had been using in connection with his job, according to the complaint, which is signed by an F.B.I. special agent, Seth Yockel. A copy of a book with instructions for making explosive devices was found on the computer’s hard drive, the complaint said.
Christian Toro later told investigators that he had come across the book while researching the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and had only looked at its table of contents, the complaint noted.Christian Toro later told investigators that he had come across the book while researching the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and had only looked at its table of contents, the complaint noted.
A search of the brothers’ apartment turned up what Ms. Hanft called “a veritable trove” of chemicals and other bomb-making materials, including a box containing 20 pounds of iron oxide, five pounds of aluminum powder, five pounds of potassium nitrate, a jar of explosive powder, a box of firecrackers and a bag containing scores of metal spheres of varying sizes, which the authorities said could become projectiles in a blast.A search of the brothers’ apartment turned up what Ms. Hanft called “a veritable trove” of chemicals and other bomb-making materials, including a box containing 20 pounds of iron oxide, five pounds of aluminum powder, five pounds of potassium nitrate, a jar of explosive powder, a box of firecrackers and a bag containing scores of metal spheres of varying sizes, which the authorities said could become projectiles in a blast.
The students who were paid to dismantle fireworks visited the men’s apartment between October 2017 and last January, the complaint said.The students who were paid to dismantle fireworks visited the men’s apartment between October 2017 and last January, the complaint said.
The men are to be sentenced on March 26.The men are to be sentenced on March 26.