Holliston Man Allegedly Threatens to Kill Obama, Muslims, Homeland Security Officers

HOLLISTON, MA — A Holliston man who allegedly threatened President Barack Obama, Homeland Security officers and a mosque is facing charges, after police found his weapons stockpile, the Justice Department said Monday.

An attorney said Joseph Garguilo, 40, denies the allegations. His client was arrested early Saturday morning in connection with his possession of a trove of weapons, ammunition and incendiary material, as well as threats to use them, according to United States Attorney Carmen Ortiz's office. He has not been charged for the threats, but does face one charge related to his reported weapons collection.

Garguilo made a preliminary appearance in U.S. District Court in South Boston Monday, where he was held without bail until his detention hearing Wednesday. He was charged in a criminal complaint with being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

In connection with a separate case, Garguilo is under a restraining order that bans him from possessing firearms and ammunition. That order was put in place after a finding that “there is substantial likelihood of immediate danger of abuse,” according to allegations in court documents, as quoted in Ortiz's press release.

According to The Boston Globe Garguilo’s attorney said his client "is very distressed over this."

"He denies all the allegations. He denied making any threats to anybody," attorney Mark Meehan said, according to the paper.

According to charging documents quoted in Ortiz's press release, the FBI found out in late July that Garguilo had acquired components to make an AR-15 rifle, and that he was stockpiling other weapons including tasers, mace guns, hunting knives and thermite (an incendiary substance). Around the same time Garguilo allegedly said that “he will plant a bomb in a police station… and kill as many homeland security officers as he can before they kill him," the press release said.

According to the district attorney's office, the FBI learned Garguilo had said he wanted to attack a mosque and/or kill President Obama. Garguilo also allegedly said he wanted to “chain a mosque closed and burn it down.” Garguilo did not mention any specific mosque or time for this attack, according to Ortiz's office. The FBI also learned that Garguilo was stockpiling food and water as part of his plan.

An acquaintance reportedly told the FBI Garguilo was “about to snap,” the release said.

On Aug. 26, federal agents searched Garguilo’s home and seized parts to assemble an AR-15 rifle, ammunition for the AR-15, 9 mm ammunition, chemicals that could be combined to create incendiary or explosive compounds and hand-written notes threatening violent attacks against members of the Islamic faith, the release said.

On Monday, Garguilo’s attorney argued his client's views are not extreme, saying, as quoted in the Globe, “There’s a broad range of views out there. His would not be considered mainstream, but they are certainly not exceptionally radical.”

Alison Bauter, Patch staff, contributed to this report.

>> Image via Shutterstock