A Sarasota felon has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing nearly four tons of explosive fuses.
Court records say 57-year-old Marc Jason Levene sentenced Wednesday in Tampa federal court. He pleaded guilty in September to two counts of possession of explosives by a convicted felon. He has had prior felony drug convictions that prohibited him from possessing or selling explosive materials.
A plea agreement says the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating Levene in 2016 for selling explosives without a federal license or permit through a website called ThePyroPro.com.
The ATF and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office searched Levene's home and storage unit in February and uncovered about 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of explosive fuses.
The Bradenton Herald reports the case against Levene was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program that aims to reduce violent crimes. The program coordinates the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement officials.
“This was the largest seizure ever of explosives from a convicted felon in Florida,” said ATF special agent Daryl McCrary in a press release. “This sentencing represents ATF’s expertise in explosive investigations and is another example of how our enforcement of the federal explosives laws greatly enhances our nation’s public safety.”
