UPDATE: Feds Charge Business Rivals In Firebombing Of Westchester Home

MOUNT KISCO, NY — A massive response by federal and local investigators has led to arrests in the firebombing of a Westchester home by business rivals.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI James Smith, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the ATF New York Field Division Bryan DiGirolamo, Bedford Police Chief Melvin Padilla and Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor, announced that Damian Stanivukovic and Vladimir Radunovic were arrested on Saturday, and each charged with one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device and one count of conspiracy to commit stalking.

The federal complaint charges that on or about January 11, the pair transported a homemade destructive device to a neighborhood in Mount Kisco and dropped the destructive device off in the driveway of the victim’s residence, where it exploded.

The complaint states that later that same day, as part of the conspiracy, the victim received a text message that this was his "final warning." Stanivukovic, the owner of a contracting company, is involved in a long-running legal dispute with the victim, according to federal investigators.

When searching Stanivukovic's residence, law enforcement seized loaded firearms, items matching those used to make the destructive device, and written instructions on how to make explosives, officials said.

Stanivukovic and Radunovic were presented on Saturday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik and detained without bail.

"The career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to act around the clock when our communities are threatened," Williams said. "Damjan Stanivukovic and Vladamir Radunovic were in custody just two days after they allegedly planted a destructive device in the driveway of the victim’s residence. This case is a testament to the critical and effective work that our interagency collaborations accomplish on a daily basis. We have no tolerance for violence in the Southern District of New York."

At 5:11 a.m. on Saturday, Stanivukovic and Radunovic traveled through Rockland County to Westchester County in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee and dropped a destructive device off at the victim’s residence in Mount Kisco, where the device exploded, according to the complaint. Law enforcement recovered a box from the scene, which bore Stanivukovic's name and address, as well as a 2.5-gallon gasoline can, firework tubing, and firework residue, prosecutors said.

"The safety and security of our residents is our primary focus, and thanks to the diligent work of our detectives and the cooperation and assistance from our federal partners, the defendants were quickly identified and apprehended,” Bedford Police Chief Melvin Padilla said.

Later that day, shortly after noon, the victim received a text message, which read, “Knock knock, show up and what do you think is next. This is your final warning." Around the time that text message was sent, the cellphone associated with that phone number was located in the vicinity of Stanivukovic's business address and the black Jeep Grand Cherokee.

"Damjan Stanivukovic and Vladamir Radunovic allegedly tried to resolve a contentious business relationship with threats of violence and a homemade bomb," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Smith said. "While business deals aren’t always successful, neither are overt acts of violence that bring forth federal charges. Thankfully, in this case, no one was injured."

Federal investigators said a search warrant executed at Stanivukovic's home, where Radunovic had been staying, recovered, among other things, gasoline canisters and fireworks matching those used to construct the destructive device, multiple loaded firearms, and a book titled "Make Fireworks and Explosives at Home – The Ultimate Instruction Manual for Beginners and Pyrotechnicians to Build Firecrackers, Fireworks and Explosives from Scratch."

"Perpetuating violence against others, under any context, is unacceptable behavior," ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo said. "The men and women of ATF NY Hudson Valley Field Office will continue to work alongside our partners at FBI and Bedford Police to address acts of violence in our communities."

Stanivukovic, 52, of Closter, New Jersey, and Radunovic, 47, of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit stalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Williams praised the work of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the ATF, the Bedford Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the Closter, New Jersey Police Department.

SEE ALSO:

• FBI, ATF, Bedford PD Home Explosion Investigation Nabs NJ Suspects
• 'Suspicious' Fire In Bedford Hills Being Investigated: Police