FORT RILEY, Kan. —
The FBI has arrested a soldier stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and charged him with providing details that could lead to the creation of explosives and weapons of mass destruction.
Charging documents in the case state Jarrett William Smith, 24, connected via social media with a man by the name of Craig Lang.
The FBI said Lang has traveled to Ukraine and fought with the Right Sector, a group similar to the Azov Battalion. Charging documents allege Lang was mentoring Smith to join the fighting in Ukraine.
Transcript of a social media conversation, reportedly between the two men, recorded on June 23, 2016, before Smith joined the Army, showed Smith expressing his desire to fight in Ukraine and saying that if he could not find a slot to fight, he would join the U.S. Army.
Smith joined the Army on June 12, 2017. He trained initially at Fort Benning, Georgia, before transferring to Fort Bliss, Texas, on Nov. 27, 2017, and on to Fort Riley on July 8, 2019.
On Dec. 8, 2018, while stationed at Fort Benning, charging documents show Smith led a group chat on Facebook with Lang included, in which he discussed his ability to build IEDs.
"Oh yeah, I got knowledge of IEDs for days. We can make cellphone IEDs in the style of the Afghans. I can teach you that,” the conversation from Smith read.
The FBI said Smith then went on to accurately explain how to construct a cell phone detonator for an IED.
In the same chat, Smith also reportedly explained how to make an explosive material using the heads of matches.
After his transfer to Fort Riley, the FBI said Smith was involved in a conversation with a confidential source in an online chat in which he discussed a plan of conducting an attack within the United States. Smith was reportedly searching for more “radicals” like himself.
The FBI said in the conversation, Smith discussed killing members of far-left group Antifa, as well as destroying nearby cell towers or a local news station.
Days later, the FBI said Smith told the confidential source that the headquarters of a major American news network would be a suggested target, and the attack could be carried about using a vehicle bomb.
“A large vehicle bomb,” Smith reportedly wrote. “Fill a vehicle full of [various explosive materials], then fill a ping pong ball with [commonly available chemical] via drilling then injection. Put the ball in the tank of the vehicle and leave. 30 minutes later, BOOM.”
An FBI bomb technician expert said this method would not result in a viable explosive device, but regardless, the plan was discussed.
On Sept. 20, Smith reportedly contacted an undercover FBI agent by telegram. Smith used the moniker “Anti-Kosmik 2182,” and reached out to say, “Hey brother, [identity redacted] said you may have a use for my knowledge and told me to contact you. What’s up?”
The undercover agent told Smith he was looking for something that had enough power to take out a car and anything inside, but stable and easy enough to move from Oklahoma to Texas.
“Ok. I think I have an idea for you. You will need [various household chemicals and commonly-available equipment],” Smith replied. “You can keep all the materials separate until it's time. Plus the randomness will aid you in the case of searches and the materials themselves usually aren't considered suspicious.”
The FBI said Smith went on to give specific instructions for the construction of an explosive device. Again, an FBI special agent bomb technician advised the FBI that the instructions would not result in a viable explosive device.
The undercover agent responded in the same chat saying they liked that the ingredients involved things that could be found around the house.
“That's the best way to fight people,” Smith wrote in the conversation detailed in charging documents. “Making AK-47s out of expensive parts is cool, but imagine of you will if you were going to Walmart instead of gun store to buy weapons.”
The undercover agent responded, “perfect,” before Smith asked if the individual needed any other interesting tricks.
“I’ll take anything you got. This is not my area of expertise. Just want to make sure the target is gone,” the undercover agent replied.
Smith asked for the identity of the target. The undercover agent replied, “TX politician.”
“What level?” Smith asked. “Mayor? State Rep? Senator?”
The agent replied saying, “I have a few. Primary, secondary, tertiary. Ideally, fed Gov, Congress. But know I can get close on other. Been looking.”
Documents show Smith again replied with items needed and said he would include instructions on how to build a large explosive device.
“This is a Middle East style bomb that if big· enough or connected to the right explosive can damage or destroy U.S. military vehicles. Most of the time it can obliterate civilian vehicles and people nearby,” Smith wrote.
Read More @ WBAL