Massachusetts felon pleads guilty after DOJ says he sold Russian plutonium to 67 customers
Jacob D. Miller, a 44‑year‑old resident of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to a string of serious offenses that range from the illegal importation of nuclear material to possession of child sexual abuse material. The case, which unfolded over the past year, highlights a disturbing pattern of criminal activity that involved the sale of highly toxic and radioactive substances to customers across the United States and abroad.
Miller was first arrested on April 9, 2025, after a grand jury indictment filed on April 17 charged him with five counts: being a felon in possession of ammunition; being a felon in possession of explosive materials; importing nuclear material without lawful authority; mailing hazardous materials; and possession of child pornography. He has remained in federal custody since the arrest.
The charges stem from a series of crimes that began long before his 2025 arrest. In 2004, Miller was convicted in Massachusetts state court for possessing child pornography and for possessing an explosive device. He received a seven‑year probation sentence for the child‑pornography case and, in a separate trial involving two counts of possessing an explosive device, was sentenced to 2½ years in jail and 10 years of probation.
After his release, Miller established a business called “Collect The Periodic Table” (CTPT), through which he sold samples of elements that are either radioactive or highly toxic. According to federal prosecutors, Miller imported plutonium from Russia and arranged for it to be mailed to his Massachusetts residence. Between December 30, 2020 and March 31, 2025, he sold plutonium to approximately 67 customers both within the United States and overseas. The radioactive material was shipped to buyers through the United States Postal Service, despite federal regulations that prohibit the mailing of plutonium and other hazardous substances.
In addition to plutonium, Miller also sold thallium—an element known for its extreme toxicity—through CTPT and an online marketplace called Bonanza. From October 12, 2017 to April 5, 2025, he sold thallium to about 71 customers. Like the plutonium shipments, the thallium was also mailed using U.S. postal services, again violating federal law.
During a search of Miller’s residence in April 2025, investigators uncovered a box containing explosive powder, numerous rounds of ammunition, and six firearms. The firearms, ammunition, and explosive materials were in unlawful possession because of Miller’s prior felony convictions. Miller’s laptop and cell phone also yielded child sexual abuse materials, some of which he had accessed as recently as the day before the search warrant was executed.
Miller’s guilty plea was accompanied by a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, which outlined the full scope of the offenses: a felon in possession of ammunition, a felon in possession of explosive materials, an unauthorized importation of nuclear material, the mailing of hazardous substances, and possession of child pornography. While the plea agreement does not specify the ultimate sentence, the judge has set a sentencing hearing for January 21, 2026.
The case underscores the challenges that regulators face in monitoring the movement of radioactive and toxic materials in the United States. Prosecutors have described Miller’s activities as “highly dangerous” and “designed to supply weapons‑grade material to a wide range of buyers.” The federal government remains committed to preventing the proliferation of such hazardous substances, and the pending sentencing is expected to reflect the gravity of Miller’s violations.