RONALD GRECULA PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO AL-QAEDA

HOUSTON, TX – Ronald Allen Grecula, 70, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely Al-Qaeda, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

        At a hearing held this afternoon before United States District Judge Keith Ellison, Grecula pleaded guilty to attempting to build and sell an explosive device to an undercover officer, whom he believed was a member of Al-Qaeda.  Pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States, Grecula faces a sentence of five (5) years in federal prison, without parole, at his sentencing set for December 15, 2006.  Grecula will remain in federal custody pending his sentencing.

        At today’s re-arraignment hearing, the United States proffered its evidence to the court proving that beginning in April 2005 through approximately May 20, 2005, Ronald Allen Grecula negotiated with a confidential source, and later undercover officers, to build and sell an explosive device to terrorists groups targeting the United States. 

        The government’s evidence against Grecula included several recorded telephone conversation beginning on May 11, 2005, between Grecula and a confidential source of information working with and under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in which Grecula discussed his willingness to build and sell an explosive device.

       
        After the confidential source introduced an FBI undercover agent to Grecula, multiple conversations were recorded between the undercover agent and Grecula.  During several of these conversations, Grecula and the undercover agent discussed Grecula’s technical knowledge on how to build an explosive device, Grecula’s willingness to put on a demonstration, and the need for Grecula and the undercover agent to “be careful” as they planned the venture.

               
        On May 20, 2005, upon arriving in Houston, Texas, from his home in Pennsylvania, Grecula attended a meeting with undercover agents at AmeriSuites Hotel, 300 Ronan Park Place, Houston, Texas.  In a one-hour long videotaped meeting, Grecula stated his willingness to build and sell an explosive device to be used against Americans to a group he believed was affiliated with Al-Qaida.  He was arrested immediately following this meeting.  Grecula has been in custody since his arrest.

       
        This case is the result of a Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation conducted by the Houston office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Vaden and Mark McIntyre.

                                               

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