4 indicted over homemade explosives

Charged with making devices in basement of Niles’ house

WARREN -- Two men are accused of making explosives in the basement of a home in Niles with material they found online, and two others face charges in the case, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday.

Andrew J. Syacsure, 31, and Donald P. Phillips, 27, are in federal custody, according to federal court records.

Syacsure and Phillips face charges of conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosives without a license and to distribute explosives to non-licensees, and engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosives without a license.

Also indicted were Donald R. Phillips, 50, and Zachary Tyler Booth, 29. Booth is charged with distributing explosives to a non-licensee and both of the Phillips' are charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Syacsure and Booth pleaded not guilty Monday and their bonds were set at $20,000. Donald P. Phillips is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Youngstown. Information about Donald R. Phillips' arraignment or next court date was not available in online court records.

The indictment states Donald P. Phillips and Syacsure made explosive devices in Syacsure's basement with aluminum powder, potassium perchlorate and other materials they bought online.

The U.S. Attorney's Office did not release the address where the two were alleged to have made the devices, but a spokesman said Syacsure lives in Niles.

Donald P. Phillips was arrested May 2 and held without bond after a complaint alleging he sold explosive flash devices several times to undercover agents in February and through April was filed in the court. He met with the undercover agent where he worked, at Berena's Automotive Center, 624 Robbins Ave., Niles, according to the document.

Donald R. Phillips was convicted of domestic violence in March 2008 in Warren Municipal Court, while Donald P. Phillips was in January 2017, according to the complaint.