BAY CITY, MI— A downstate man who pleaded guilty to leaving pipe bombs at cellphone stores in Sault Ste. Marie and Cheboygan has been sentenced in federal court.
John Allen, 76, of Whittemore was accused of leaving the shrapnel-filled bombs at an AT&T store in the Soo and a Verizon store in Cheboygan on September 15 of last year. Threatening notes demanding 5-million dollars were left at communications towers and sent to the companies.
In July, Allen pleaded guilty to extortion by wrongful use of force, violence, and fear, as well as two counts of attempted destruction of a building using an explosive device.
He was sentenced Wednesday to 75 months in prison.
Allen claimed he was motivated by what he viewed as immoral content being spread on the internet and cellphones.
