DENVILLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Morris County man has been charged with unlawfully possessing and storing explosives and explosive materials at his Denville Township home, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Joseph Rizos, 37, of Denville, is charged by federal complaint with one count of unlawful receipt of explosive materials, one count of unlawful storage of explosive material and one count of unlawful possession of plastic explosives without a detection agent.
Rizos appeared Wednesday, Aug. 26, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court and was ordered detained.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rizos allegedly purchased and received various explosive materials and other items from online retailers between approximately April 2020 and June 2026. The items allegedly included fuels, fuses, precursor chemicals and laboratory equipment that authorities said were illegally stored at his Denville residence.
Federal authorities searched Rizos’ home on June 24 and allegedly discovered a sophisticated home laboratory and laboratory equipment in his bedroom, basement and garage.
Investigators also allegedly recovered numerous detailed recipes for manufacturing multiple types of explosives and a variety of suspected industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals that could be used to manufacture explosives, according to federal authorities.
Various containers of suspected explosives were also recovered from Rizos’ bedroom, authorities said.
The charges of unlawful receipt of explosive materials and unlawful possession of plastic explosives without a detection agent each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The unlawful storage charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
