ROCKFORD, Ill. – A man who amassed explosives and made a list of public figures who were “marked to die” because of their liberal and anti-gun stances was convicted Friday in federal court.
A federal jury found 20-year-old Michael Breit guilty of illegally receiving explosives and illegally receiving explosive materials with intent to kill, injure, intimidate people or damage property.
Breit was charged in April after he accidentally fired an AK-47 assault rifle in his apartment in Rockford, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago.
Police searching his apartment found weapons and incriminating notes, including a list of public figures with the word “marked” next to their names. Breit had told investigators “marked” meant “marked to die” for liberal or anti-gun views.
Police also found an essay in which Breit allegedly outlined a plan to kill 1,500 people at a Democratic presidential caucus.
Defense attorney Dan Cain called Breit’s writings “the product of fantasy and daydream” and said Breit had no intention to make bombs or use them.
“We did our best, and we hoped for a better result,” Cain said.
Breit’s could face up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing Feb. 3.
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