Brandon Russel was arrested after explosives, weapons and ammunition were found in his garage and car in Tampa Palms, Florida, along with a framed photo of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh on his bedroom dresser, Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries on a bookshelf, and white supremacist propaganda on a computer.
But he was released on bail Friday after Federal Judge Thomas McCoun decided that there was no clear and convincing evidence that “the defendant represents a threat to any person or community.”
Russell, 21, a member of the Florida National Guard. He admitted to being a neo-Nazi sympathizer and to making explosives materials.
Russell’s arrest is connected to another high-profile case. One of his roommates, Devon Arthurs, is charged with killing two other roommates. Arthurs claims all three of his roommates were Neo Nazis and disrespected him when he converted to Islam. Arthurs told police Russell posted to white supremacist forums that he intended to blow up buildings and kill people.
Federal prosecutors argued that Russell is clearly a threat to the community, but the judge disagreed.
