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75-year old John Allen of Whittemore was arrested earlier this week for placing pipe bombs at AT&T and Verizon stores, including one Sault Ste. Marie location. The improvised explosive devices were dropped off last Wednesday night.
Additionally, Allen is accused of leaving threatening letters at the base of cell phone towers in the Upper Peninsula. He will face federal charges in both the Eastern and Western District Courts of Michigan. Extortion carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years, while Attempted Damage or Destruction of Buildings Used in Interstate Commerce can result in a jail term between five and 20 years.
Four assistant United States attorneys are handling the prosecution. Special agents, intelligence analysts, troopers, deputies, and officers from the FBI, Michigan State Police, Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Cheboygan Police Department, Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Police, the US Coast Guard, US Border Patrol and ATF are investigating.
