Joseph Rizos charged with unlawful possession of explosives in New Jersey

Joseph Rizos, 37, of Denville Township, New Jersey, has been charged with the unlawful receipt, storage, and possession of explosive materials. Following a search of his residence on June 24, federal authorities discovered a sophisticated home laboratory located in his bedroom, basement, and garage.

Investigators recovered various items, including fuels, fuses, precursor chemicals, and laboratory equipment allegedly purchased from online retailers between April 2020 and June 2024. Authorities also found detailed recipes for manufacturing multiple types of explosives, suspected industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals, and containers of suspected explosives in Rizos’s bedroom.

Rizos faces three federal counts: unlawful receipt of explosive materials, unlawful storage of explosive material, and unlawful possession of plastic explosives without a detection agent. The first and third counts carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the storage charge carries a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. He was ordered detained following his appearance in Newark federal court.