A Marine Corps veteran with militia ties, Russell Vane, will remain incarcerated as he awaits trial on allegations that he tried to produce the deadly toxin ricin in his Virginia home.
Vane, 42, from Vienna, Virginia, came under scrutiny after News2Share, an online outlet, reported that the Virginia Kekoas militia had cut ties with him due to concerns about his discussion of homemade explosives. The Kekoas also speculated whether Vane might be acting as a government informant. These revelations led to a federal inquiry and subsequent search of Vane’s home.
During the search, authorities uncovered traces of ricin, alongside lab equipment and castor beans, which are used to derive the potent toxin. An FBI affidavit also noted the discovery of a handwritten recipe for extracting ricin from the beans. Court documents revealed that an “Apocalypse Checklist” was found in his home, detailing steps for an expedited evacuation with essential supplies.
At the detention hearing in U.S. District Court, public defender Geremy Kamens argued that “has wildly overcharged this offense.” Kamens insisted that there was no evidence of Vane threatening anyone, and claimed that manufacturing ricin as a lethal weapon at home is practically impossible. Despite these contentions, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga aligned with the prosecution, emphasizing that there was no innocent justification for Vane’s attempt to make ricin.
On Friday, a federal judge ruled against Vane’s release, citing the potential danger he posed to the community and the possibility of flight risk. Further complicating Vane’s case was evidence presented by the government that he had tried to legally change his name in Fairfax County court and had crafted a fake obituary for himself online.
Relevant articles:
– Military Veteran Charged with Attempting to Make Ricin to Remain Jailed, Military, 04/30/2024
– Marine vet to remain jailed on charges he tried to make ricin, Fox News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:40:00 GMT
– Morning Notes, Reston Now, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:18:02 GMT