A Willow Grove man faces federal charges for allegedly possessing a Molotov cocktail in Philadelphia last New Year’s Eve. At the time, a group of Vandals targeted federal buildings and several other properties The prosecutor said that in the city center.

Jacob Dean Robotin, 25, was accused of participating in sabotage that night, which resulted in the arrest of seven people.

A large group of people in dark clothes damaged buildings such as the Federal Detention Center at 700 Arch Street, the Robert C. Nix Federal Building at 33 South Nine Street, and the United States Court Building. The prosecutor said that before the police arrested the three in the area of ??600 Sansom Street, members of the group painted the building, broke the windows and set off fireworks.

According to the police, the windows of the sheriff’s van were smashed and anti-police and anti-prison graffiti was found on the walls of the Federal Detention Center. The damage to the building is estimated at $3,000.

Robertine was one of the people stopped by the police that night. He was found wearing a green military-style backpack and spray-painted pants.

Allegedly, in one of Robotin’s bags, the police found a glass bottle with liquid and fuse in Robotin’s backpack, as well as some tape. Officials said that a strong odor of flammable liquid was emitted from the glass bottle. The police also found additional fuses, lighters, camping heat sources and fireworks. These items were transferred to the FBI.

The explosives department of the FBI laboratory later determined that the glass bottle contained gasoline. Investigators said that together with the fuze it constitutes a homemade incendiary bomb or Molotov cocktail.

Robotin was arrested on Tuesday and appeared in federal court for the first time. He was released under unspecified conditions.

At the time of the incident, the Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Mike Cram said that several incendiary bombs and other suspicious devices were found in the area near the Federal Building.

“Homemade Molotov cocktails can be very dangerous,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Abidil Williams. “Here, the defendant allegedly carried all the materials needed to endanger the lives of many people. Fortunately, the Philadelphia police arrested Robotin before anyone was injured. Let this case serve as a way of warning to others who might be considering similar actions. -Possession of a Molotov cocktail is not a protected speech, nor is it a harmless hoax; it is a serious federal crime.”

If convicted, Robotin may face up to 10 years in prison, followed by a three-year supervised release and a fine of up to 250,000 US dollars.