According to a report by NBC on October 6th, a U.S. federal prosecutor issued a statement on the 5th stating that a man from Massachusetts admitted to smuggling and selling radioactive materials illegally from Russia. He could face up to 46 years in prison.
The federal prosecutor stated that 44-year-old Jacob Miller has pleaded guilty to a number of charges including the import of nuclear materials without legal authorization, illegal possession of ammunition, illegal possession of explosives, and mailing dangerous materials.
The prosecutor revealed that Miller established a company called “Collection of the Periodic Table,” selling samples of radioactive material such as plutonium and toxic substances like thallium. He sold these samples from his residence in South Hadley, Massachusetts, through third-party retailers. Between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2025, Miller sent plutonium to 67 customers both within the United States and abroad.
The statement says that U.S. laws prohibit the transportation of materials like plutonium via mail, but Miller still used the U.S. Postal Service to send this element.
Jacob Miller
In April 2025, when American police searched Miller's residence, they found six rifles, bombs, and ammunition. Additionally, child pornography was discovered on his mobile phone and computer. U.S. prosecutors previously stated, “Miller has had a fascination with explosives, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive materials for a long time, which can be traced back to at least 2002.”
Reports mentioned that in 2002, American police discovered a “suspicious rocket launch device”, a tubular bomb, and video footage of Miller detonating a improvised explosive device at his residence. In 2004, Miller was convicted for possessing explosives and child pornography. The Massachusetts government stated that the state had warned Miller not to sell depleted uranium on e-commerce platforms.
The sentencing decision for this case is scheduled to take place on January 21, 2027. NBC reports that Miller could face a sentence of 46 years or more in prison, but it is unclear whether the judge will allow combined sentences for the various charges, which could potentially shorten his time behind bars.
