Danny M. Kelly, Power Line Bombing, Massachusetts 2016

A previously-convicted Chelmsford man is behind bars after attempting to destroy high-voltage power lines with an incendiary device, according to federal authorities.

Danny M. Kelly, 61, was charged in a complaint with attempting to maliciously destroy and damage property used in interstate and foreign commerce and in an activity affecting interstate and foreign commerce by means of fire.

Kelly was detained following an appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Page Kelley today.

The alleged attempted bombing occurred on March 30, 2016, when a brush fire broke out near Locust Avenue in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, in the vicinity of high-voltage power lines that bring power to the greater Boston area from Canada.

After fire crews extinguished the fire, emergency and National Grid officials observed several suspicious objects dangling from the power lines. The objects were rendered safe by law enforcement officials and determined to be homemade incendiary devices containing materials which together make thermite, a substance that can cut through metal objects, such as power lines.

At least one of the devices had been activated and fell to the ground and ignited the brush fire. A typed note on one of the high-voltage grid poles took credit for cutting the lines, threatened future attacks, and threatened to disseminate on terrorist and anarchist websites the instructions on how to make the thermite devices.

Kelly was convicted in federal court for a 2004-2005 crime, in which he cut approximately 18 cable and telephone lines. The FBI also learned of recent shipments to Kelly’s residence of chemicals from which thermite can be made. During the search of Kelly’s residence, the FBI found an additional thermite device as well as additional chemicals and other materials related to the crime.

The charge against Kelly provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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