ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A federal judge sentenced a Carbon County man to two-and-a-half years in prison Wednesday for trying to sneak a fireworks mortar onto a flight out of Lehigh Valley International Airport last year.
Marc Muffley, 41, of Lansford, endangered hundreds of people when he tried to slip the fireworks and other hazardous materials past airport security in his luggage, U.S. District Judge John Gallagher of Pennsylvania's Eastern District determined.
And while Muffley's severe intellectual challenges explained some of his behavior, Gallagher said, he possessed some understanding that he was placing dozens of families at risk.
"He knew what these were for," Gallagher said of the fireworks. "It wasn't unknown to him. It looked like a bomb."
Upon completing his prison sentence, Muffley must serve three years of probation, Gallagher ordered.
Muffley was bound for Orlando Sanford International Airport on Feb. 27, 2023, out of LVIA when his luggage tripped a Transportation Security Administration alarm.
"Had that plane gone down, you're talking about a national tragedy — hundreds of lives lost."Robert Schopf, assistant U.S. attorney
A TSA agent located a suspicious device containing a granular powder hidden in the baggage's lining, according to prosecutors. Special Agent Eddie Garcia II testified Wednesday the explosive was the size of a person's fist with a lengthy fuse.
"It almost looked like a cartoon bomb," Garcia testified.
'A real bad combination'
Muffley's baggage never made it onto the plane, according to authorities. The explosive powder was susceptible to ignite from heat and friction and posed a significant risk to an aircraft and passengers, according to court records.
Authorities also found a can of butane, a torch lighter and lithium ion batteries for a cordless drill inside the luggage, authorities said. Donald Stiger, a principal hazardous material inspector for the FAA, testified that the mortar, batteries, butane and lighter are individually prohibited from check-in baggage due to their combustibility.
"All four of these together? It's a real bad combination should anything go wrong," Stiger said.
After discovering the explosive, airport staff paged Muffley over the public address system at 11:40 a.m. to report to the security desk. Instead, security cameras showed him leaving the airport five minutes later.
Investigators later learned that he walked a half-mile to a gas station, called his girlfriend to pick him up and changed the SIM card in his cell phone in an effort to avoid arrest.
When FBI agents interviewed him the next day, Muffley told them that he fled because he thought he was in trouble for missing child-support payments, Garcia testified.
A reckless decision
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Schopf said investigators quickly determined that Muffley was not a terrorist and did not intend to blow up the aircraft.
Garcia testified Muffley wanted to show his fireworks to family in Florida because he thought they were cool. However, Muffley's lack of ill intentions didn't reduce the consequences of his reckless decision to pack so many hazardous materials into his suitcase, Schopf argued.
"Had that plane gone down, you're talking about a national tragedy — hundreds of lives lost," Schopf said.
Defense attorney Timothy Wright argued Gallagher should consider a time-served sentence for Muffley because he lacked the intent to hurt anyone. He introduced expert testimony from psychologist Marc Gramatges, who said that Muffley reportedly suffered brain trauma and displayed impaired cognitive function.
Under ideal circumstances, Muffley could function at the level of a middle schooler with special needs, Gramatges said. However, he had developed substance abuse problems after a doctor gave him prescription opioids due to a workplace injury, he said.
"We're dealing with somebody with a very limited ability to assess risk," Gramatges testified.
An apology in court
After Gallagher determined Muffley wouldn't be up for a time-served sentence, Wright successfully argued that his client's unique circumstances warranted a prison sentence of less than the recommended 46 to 57 months in prison. While it would be obvious to most people that Muffley's actions could have been disastrous, Muffley had to discover the hard way there were consequences for his decisions.
"He is no longer the child touching the socket. He has learned the penalty," Wright said.
Muffley pleaded guilty in January to possessing an explosive in an airport and attempting to place an explosive device on an aircraft.
In court Wednesday, he apologized to the judge and asked for leniency so he could be with his family.
"I'm so sorry for the scare that I caused. I am so grateful everyone diverted my fireworks from the plane. I am thankful no one was hurt," an emotional Muffley told the court.
He was joined by members of his family, who swore he was a kindhearted person who never meant to hurt anyone. They apologized for his actions and begged Gallagher to show mercy.
"I understand that stupidity is not an excuse, but he is not a terrorist," said his niece, Jocelyn Muffley.
'Rooting for you'
After delivering his sentence, Gallagher encouraged Muffley not to lose hope. He noted that many defendants lack the support his family had offered him in court and that he was a young man who could improve his life circumstances.
"We are all rooting for you. We are all hoping the best for you moving forward," the judge said.
Toward the end of the nearly four-hour hearing, Gallagher also offered strong praise for the security officials who scanned Muffley's luggage.
"I applaud the FAA and the staff at Lehigh Valley International Airport for intercepting this luggage before it got into the belly of a passenger aircraft," Gallagher said.
