United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW YORK RESIDENT CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced YUNG W. TANG, 38, a citizen of China residing in Greenwood Lake, New York, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with transporting explosive materials by a non-licensee, and possession of a firearm, specifically an Improvised Explosive Device, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of January 29, Wallingford Police encountered TANG sleeping in a car located in a parking lot on Miles Drive in Wallingford.  TANG indicated that he was driving from Boston to New York and had pulled off the highway to sleep.  TANG was arrested after police learned that TANG’s driver’s license was suspended, the marker plates on the car belonged to another vehicle, and TANG could not produce registration or insurance information for the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a black duffle bag containing what appeared to be the components of a pipe bomb; another bag containing a fake mustache, make-up, and gum remover; a digital timer and a bag containing wires and caps.  Wallingford Police then contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police bomb squad for further investigative assistance.  The investigation revealed that TANG allegedly possessed two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), two radio-controlled initiators that could be used to remotely activate an IED, and two firearm silencers.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, TANG has no firearms or explosive devices registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records.

This afternoon, TANG appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven.  Based on the Government’s motion, TANG is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for February 5, 2008.

Both charges against TANG carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to have his matter presented to a grand jury and, in the event an indictment is returned, he is entitled to a trial at which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wallingford Police Department, the Connecticut State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Henry K. Kopel.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov