Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Importing and Selling Plutonium From Russia

BOSTON - A convicted felon from Hadley, Mass. has pleaded guilty to illegally importing plutonium from Russia and selling the radioactive material - as well as other, highly toxic and hazardous materials - to customers in the United States and abroad. The defendant also plead guilty to unlawfully possessing ammunition and explosive materials as a convicted felon and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Jacob D. Miller, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition; one count of being a felon in possession of explosive materials; one count of importing nuclear material without lawful authority; one count of mailing hazardous materials; and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2027.

Miller was indicted by a grand jury on April 17, 2025. He has remained in federal custody on pretrial detention since his arrest on April 9, 2025. According to court filings, on Feb. 9, 2004, Miller was convicted in Massachusetts state court of possessing child pornography and possessing an explosive device and was sentenced to one-half years of incarceration in a House of Correction to be followed by 10 years of probation.

Following his release, Miller started a business called Collect The Periodic Table (CTPT) through which he sold samples of elements listed in the periodic table of elements, including plutonium, which is highly radioactive, and thallium, which is highly toxic. Miller operated CTPT from his residence in South Hadley. In addition to selling through CTPT directly, Miller used an online third-party retailer, Bonanza, to conduct his sales.

Miller imported plutonium from Russia and arranged for it to be mailed to him at his residence. Between approximately Dec. 30, 2020 and March 31, 2025, Miller sold plutonium to approximately 67 customers throughout the United States and abroad. Miller shipped the plutonium from South Hadley to his customers through the United States mail, even though plutonium was a hazardous substance that was prohibited from being mailed.

Between approximately Oct. 12, 2017 and April 5, 2025, Miller used CTPT and Bonanza to sell thallium to approximately 71 customers. As with the plutonium, Miller shipped the thallium from South Hadley to his customers through the United States mail, even though thallium was a hazardous substance that was prohibited from being mailed.

During a search of Miller's residence in April 2025, a box containing bottles of explosive powder, numerous rounds of ammunition and six rifles were recovered - all of which Miller possessed unlawfully due to his prior felony convictions. Additionally, Miller's laptop and cell phone were found to contain child sexual abuse material, which he had accessed as recently as the day before the search warrant.

The charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition and explosives each provide for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawfully importing nuclear material provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of mailing hazardous material provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography after a prior child pornography conviction provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for no less than five years and up to life and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hadley Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Caroline Merck of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer D. Burke of the National Security Division.