Texas man admits having chemical weapons

Associated Press/November 13, 2003

Tyler, Texas -- A 62-year-old Tyler man pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of possessing a dangerous chemical weapon after investigators discovered the components needed to make lethal cyanide gas at a storage facility he rented.

William J. Krar was charged with possessing sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical. Investigators also found strong acids in Krar's storage facility, which, when mixed with sodium cyanide, form extremely lethal cyanide gas, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a release.

Krar's co-defendant, Judith L. Bruey, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess illegal weapons.

Prosecutors said they found a large quantity of sodium cyanide and hydrochloric, nitric and acetic acids in the storage room Krar shared with Bruey.

Investigators also found numerous illegal firearms, literature detailing the use of sodium cyanide to make a chemical weapon and literature depicting white supremacist and militant beliefs, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported in its Friday editions.

Investigators found the chemicals and other materials in April while investigating Krar on an unrelated incident in which a package he mailed to an address in New Jersey was accidentally delivered to a residence in Staten Island, N.Y., in January 2002. The package contained false identification documents and was reported to authorities.

Krar faces nine to 11 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Bruey faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.