Alleged neo-Nazi bomb-maker gets bond

ORLANDO (FOX 13) - An Orlando home is where Brandon Russell will be spending all of his time while he awaits trial on explosives charges.

Federal Judge Thomas McCoun granted bond for Russell Friday, writing there was no clear and convincing evidence "the defendant represents a threat to any person or community."

Last month, cops found bomb-making material, weapons, and ammo in the garage of his Tampa Palms apartment. On his bedroom dresser, a framed picture of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. On his computer, Nazi and white supremacist propaganda.

The 21-year-old,  who is a member of the Florida National Guard, admitted to being a neo-Nazi sympathizer,  and to making explosives materials.

In federal court Thursday, we learned while cops were discovering all of this disturbing evidence, Brandon Russell went shopping to buy more guns and 500 rounds of ammo. This time he took a buddy along who shares the same neo-Nazi beliefs.

Russell's dangerous plot came to light after his roommate, Devon Arthurs was arrested and charged with the murder of their two other roommates. Arthurs led police to the bodies and to Russell's bombs.

Arthurs says all of the roommates, Jeremy Himmelman, Andrew Oneshuk, and Brandon Russell were neo-Nazi believers, but recently Arthurs converted to the Islamic faith and turned on his roommates. Especially, he says, they disrespected his new Muslim beliefs.

Arthurs told cops Brandon Russell often threatened, on white supremacist websites, to blow up buildings and kill people. 

While federal prosecutors called Russell a real threat to the community, the judge didn't see it that way. Conditions of Russell's bond have not been released by Judge McCoun. Once they are, Russell will be released from the Pinellas County jail.