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A man from Mason, Ohio, has been taken into custody following an investigation that uncovered significant explosive-related materials tied to the suspicion of possessing an improvised explosive device (IED) at a local soccer complex.
James River Phillips, 20, was arrested by the FBI Cincinnati Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and faces charges for possession of an unregistered firearm and a destructive device after a federal court-ordered search was executed in the area.
“The collaborative efforts of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force led to the apprehension of James River Phillips due to his alleged possession of a hazardous explosive device,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Our collective focus was to neutralize any potential threat to public safety promptly.”
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The arrest stems from an alarming discovery made by a Lebanon, Ohio, police officer who encountered an IED at the soccer complex during the early hours of September 22, 2024. The officer had observed two young men exiting the parking area in a silver SUV just before the IED was found. The driver was noted to have long curly hair.
After stopping the vehicle, the officer instructed both men to exit the parking lot, as the facility was closed. Following their departure, the officer continued to investigate and subsequently found the IED at the location where the SUV had been parked.
“The device featured wires connected from a collection of white powder to a control switch, which displayed a red light at the time of discovery,” as disclosed in court documents. The officer requested the Butler County Bomb Squad (BCBS) to assess the situation after being unable to locate the two men.
Upon inspection, the bomb squad determined that the residue on the device contained nickel hydrazine nitrate, and the white powder was identified as erythritol tetranitrate.
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Further investigation revealed photos stored in Phillips’ iCloud account that indicated he had been attempting to construct explosive devices in a shed. One such image dated February 26, 2024, presented what appeared to be a completed explosive device. Notably, when the detonator of the IED was tested, it detonated, causing damage to the testing equipment.
FBI analysts traced Phillips’ cellular activity, pinpointing his location in the parking lot within a narrow timeframe before and after the police encounter with the SUV. Text messages sent minutes later raised additional questions about his whereabouts and intentions.
On December 2, 2024, Phillips purportedly received a new driver’s license photo. The description matched the appearance of the driver the officer encountered.
Investigators also executed a search warrant for Phillips’ Apple iCloud account, uncovering a concerning video from April 5, 2024. It depicted two unidentified individuals in a parking lot, with one heard counting down prior to an explosion. Another video from the same incident showed a voice urging Phillips to hurry as an explosion occurred.
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Additional photographs retrieved indicated Phillips’ shed contained electrical connections, racks for glass beakers, heating elements, and various chemicals and powders. One video highlighted the aftermath of a previous explosion, while others captured Phillips in action with a detonation device.
The investigation later indicated that Phillips had acquired precursor chemicals necessary for homemade explosives. These materials were delivered to his residence in Mason as well as another property in Oxford.
It was asserted that Phillips’ iCloud also held recipes and instructions for creating explosive devices, supplementing evidence obtained from other digital media. Photographic evidence indicated that Phillips actively engaged in crafting explosive components in the aforementioned shed.
Phillips is anticipated to appear in court for a bond hearing and will remain in custody until that time.
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