CINCINNATI – A Mason, Ohio man admitted today to a chilling act of premeditated violence. James River Phillips, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally transporting explosive materials, narrowly avoiding a potential tragedy at a local park.
The bust came after a swift response from multiple law enforcement agencies. Phillips was arrested in April 2025 by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) following searches in Mason, Oxford, and Liberty Township. The investigation stemmed from events that unfolded last September.
Court documents reveal that on September 22, 2024, Phillips brazenly transported the components of a fully functioning improvised explosive device (IED) to a large soccer complex in Lebanon, Ohio. His intent? To detonate it. Fortunately, a quick-thinking Lebanon police officer intervened. When instructed to leave the closed complex, the officer discovered the live IED.
The Butler County Bomb Squad swiftly secured and seized the device. Subsequent analysis confirmed the presence of highly volatile compounds – Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate (NHN) and Erythritol Tetranitrate (ETN) – within the IED. Had it detonated, the consequences could have been catastrophic. The soccer complex is a popular gathering place for families and children.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati field office, jointly announced the guilty plea. They were joined by officials representing the Lebanon Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Dayton Police Department, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The sentencing of James River Phillips will be determined by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole at a future hearing. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of domestic terrorism and the dedication of law enforcement to keeping our communities safe.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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