CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that James Timpanaro, 55, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to false information and hoaxes. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Brendan T. Cullinane, who are handling the case, stated that on October 26, 2018, the defendant placed an apparent explosive device near the front door of the Buffalo Police Department station house on South Park Avenue in Buffalo. He then placed a second similar-type device in the back of the same police station. Both devices had all the features of a homemade explosive-type bomb, with protruding wires wrapped around a pipe-like instrument. The devices were safely secured by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad, the ATF, and the FBI, but were later determined to be “clear of hazard.”

The following day, on October 27, 2018, Timpanaro placed another apparent explosive device near the front of the United States Postal Service, also on South Park Avenue in Buffalo. Once again, the device appeared to be a bomb, with protruding wires wrapped around a pipe-like instrument, with screws and nails. This device also contained a note stating, “RESIST COMMUNISM, THE POLICE STATE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.” This device was also safely secured and determined to be “clear of hazard.”

On November 2, 2018, the FBI and Buffalo Police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s Richfield Avenue residence. Investigators seized materials consistent with fake bombs, including broom stick handles, shavings, wires, and other materials. Timpanaro was subsequently arrested and charged by criminal complaint.

Later on November 2, 2018, the defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr., who ordered Timpanaro to complete an inpatient psychiatric and alcohol evaluation at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. Between January 26 and January 27, 2019, the defendant failed to comply with Judge Schroeder’s order to abide by all rules and directives of the inpatient treatment program, when he left the facility. Timpanaro was quickly apprehended by the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the U.S. Marshal Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; and the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Anthony SanGiacomo.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.  

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CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging James Timpanaro, 54, of Buffalo, NY, with causing a pipe bomb hoax and contempt of court order. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on October 27, 2018, the defendant placed a device, which appeared to be pipe bomb, outside the United States Postal Service building located at 2061 South Park Avenue in Buffalo. Timpanaro was subsequently arrested and charged by criminal complaint.

On November 2, 2018, the defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder who ordered Timpanaro to complete an inpatient psychiatric and alcohol evaluation at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. Between January 26 and January 27, 2019, the defendant failed to comply with Judge Schroeder’s order to abide by all rules and directives of the inpatient treatment program, when he left the facility. Timpanaro was quickly apprehended by the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the U.S. Marshal Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina; and the U.S. Probation Department, under the director of Chief Probation Officer Anthony SanGiacomo.

Timpanaro was arraigned this afternoon before Judge Schroder and was detained pending trial. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.