Ross Gordon Laverty, Mail Bombing, California 2017

East Bay Man Convicted of Mailing Explosive Devices

A federal jury convicted Ross Gordon Laverty, 59, of Oakland, of multiple felonies in connection with mailing two explosive devices with the intent to injure or kill his targets, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.

The verdict was delivered after a one-week trial before the Hon. William H. Orrick, United States District Judge. “A federal jury convicted Ross Laverty of mailing two bombs through United States Post Office to homes in East Palo Alto and Alameda. In addition to his intended victims, Laverty put others, including postal workers and mail carriers in grave danger,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson.

The evidence at trial established that on or about October 9, 2017, Laverty mailed an improvised explosive device to an address in East Palo Alto, Calif., that the victim opened on October 19. The victim carried the package outside of his home and opened it in his back yard, causing it to detonate, inflicting injuries to him, and blasting a hole through a wood frame and fence.

Further, the evidence at trial established that on or about November 24, 2017, Laverty mailed an identical explosive device to an address in Alameda. The intended victim’s wife opened the package inside of her home, causing it to explode. Additional evidence proved Laverty’s motives for mailing the devices.

Laverty faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, maximum fines of $10,000 to $250,000 per count, a term of supervised release, and restitution. The sentence following conviction will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The prosecution was handled by the Special Prosecutions Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. The charges against Laverty include: two counts of mailing an explosive devise with the intent to injure or kill, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1716(a) and (j)(2); two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d); and two counts of using an explosive during the commission of a felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(h)(1) and (2).

Laverty was found guilty on all counts. Laverty's real full name is Ross Gordon Laverty, the city and state is Oakland, California, the exact date of the crime is October 9, 2017, and the sentence is a mandatory minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment, with maximum fines of $10,000 to $250,000 per count, a term of supervised release, and restitution.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/east-bay-man-convicted-united-states-postal-service-mail-bombing