Pittsburgh Bomb Peddler Cech Gets 15 Years

PITTSBURGH, PA – Michael Steven Cech, 42, of Pittsburgh, is facing a long stretch behind bars after a federal judge slammed him with a 188-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. Cech was convicted of distributing information relating to explosives with the intent that it be used in a crime of violence, a charge that clearly resonated with Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.

The case, detailed in court records, reads like a scene ripped from a low-budget thriller. Back in May 2012, a government confidential informant approached Cech, spinning a tale of federal drug charges and a desperate need to silence a potential witness. Cech, far from recoiling, allegedly responded with chilling ease, assuring the informant a bomb was “no problem.” He even boasted about adding nails to maximize the carnage, stating the explosion wouldn’t “get” everyone, but the nails would finish the job.

Cech didn’t just talk the talk. He claimed to be a seasoned bomb-maker, having constructed “many” devices. His instructions to the informant were disturbingly detailed: how to handle gunpowder, assemble the bomb, position the explosives, and even drill the fuse hole. He casually stated he’d built 30 of these devices and they *all* functioned as intended. The price for this deadly expertise? A .45 caliber pistol and $300, a grim transaction caught on tape.

On May 25, 2012, the deal went down in a Monroeville, Pennsylvania parking lot. Cech arrived armed with the components – a pipe, endcaps, serrated nails, and candle wicks – ready to guide the informant through the final assembly. He walked the informant through the entire process, cementing his intent to arm a would-be criminal. The callousness of the situation is underscored by Cech’s statement that he didn’t *want* kids to be killed, “because he liked kids,” but ultimately shrugged it off with a chilling “it is what it is.”

Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen spearheaded the prosecution, building a solid case against Cech. U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their diligent investigation, which ultimately brought Cech to justice. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who profit from supplying the tools of violence will face severe consequences.

The 15-year sentence sends a clear message: peddling bomb components with the intent to facilitate criminal acts will not be tolerated. Cech’s willingness to provide the means for a potentially deadly attack has earned him a lengthy stay in federal prison, and hopefully, will deter others from following a similar path. The streets of Pittsburgh, and beyond, are a little safer with him locked up.