Florida man wanted to make Targets stock drop, so he hatched a bomb plot, authorities say

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

In mid-February, a probation officer contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

The officer said that a person who was on probation had been asked to do something by Mark Charles Barnett, a registered sex offender who was on probation for a number of offenses.

Specifically, the court documents state, Barnett had asked the other probationer to “place bombs in ten buildings.”

A. Lee Bentley III, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced Thursday that Barnett, 48, had been charged with possession of a firearm (destructive device) affecting commerce by a previously convicted felon. Barnett, of Ocala, Fla., faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison if convicted, according to a news release.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/02/18/florida-man-wanted-to-make-targets-stock-drop-so-he-hatched-a-bomb-plot-authorities-say/?utm_term=.3407b94024c0

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But it is not terrorism....

[ck4829]

1. Huh, you don't see a lot of Syrian refugees named Mark Charles Barnett

[spooky3]

2. Good one!

[Ligyron]

3. Ocala FL is filled with baggers.

Used to live there before I found out.

The adventures of Florida Man continue.

[Turbineguy]

4. And another GOP voter

bites the dust.

[cannabis_flower]

9. Not really

He was already on probation for a felony and Florida take voting rights of felons away permanently.

[Crash2Parties]

5. I wonder about his motive

Supposedly it was so that he could buy low, sell high with the stock, but this fits what some scary ("True Christian&quot people were talking about doing when Target's stock didn't plummet after the corporation decided to treat transgender people as fellow humans.

[True_Blue]

7. Must have had a short position on the stock

That's the only reason I can imagine why he would want the stock to tank.

[Crash2Parties]

11. I just told you the other reason.

After Target announced they'd respect trans people and not prohibit them from using the bathrooms that match their identity, Christians predicted the sales would tank. They didn't any more than usual at that time of year. Then they predicted the stock price would tank. It didn't. So then they started talking about how they could make it tank in order to "punish" Target for not hating trans people correctly. Also, he doesn't appear to be the sort of guy who does much trading & certainly not anything like a fund manager?

[ck4829]

12. Wouldn't be the first sex offender upset over Target's inclusion policy

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/05/26/guy-ranted-against-targets-trans-bathroom-policy-online-while-his-sister-was-chained-up-for-a-year/

[dalton99a]

6. Investment technique is deplorable

[Dave Starsky]

8. Seem to recall an uptick in airline stocks being shorted just prior to 9/11.

This is shrewd, honest business practice for right-wing sociopaths.

[struggle4progress]

10. Dayyam! It's getting so a hardworking dude can't plot to blow stuff up anymore

without everybody getting their knickers all knotted! An ambitious fellow plans to get-rich-quick, but no! the nanny state jumps in, and suddenly he's run afoul of overbearing government regulations