Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Fourth man indicted in IRS bomb scheme

Douglas County contractor George Brian Crockett was charged with two counts of making a false statement to the federal panel in the indictment handed up Wednesday.

Joseph Bailie, 40, and Ellis Hurst, 52, were charged in December with the actual bombing attempt. The two men had worked together at a building materials business in Gardnerville, 50 miles south of Reno.

Last month, Hurst pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, attempted destruction of a government building and use of a explosive device while committing a violent crime.

He could face more than 30 years in prison when sentenced on June 20. Bailie, who also previously worked for Crockett, is set to stand trial June 3.

Co-workers said Bailie openly boasted his belief that he is exempt from paying taxes. Authorities have said he and Hurst owed money to the IRS.

The bomb, contained in a 30-gallon white plastic drum and packed with 100 pounds of explosives, was found Dec. 18 by an IRS employee arriving for work.

Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI said a fuse had been lighted, but the explosion failed because a blasting cap was not strong enough to detonate it.

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