OKC bomb plot trial continues
A Sayre man with a history of schizophrenia either plotted to bomb downtown Oklahoma City, or was induced into doing so by the United States government and a convicted felon who tipped off the FBI for profit, a federal jury has heard.
Jurors this week will continue to hear testimony from witnesses in the case against Jerry Drake Varnell, 24, who is accused of trying to blow up the BancFirst building at 101 N Broadway in Oklahoma City on Aug. 12, 2017. Varnell has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted use of an explosive device and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Jurors already have heard testimony from Brent Allen Elisens, whom Varnell met online and bonded with over conspiracy theories about government corruption.
Under questioning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Dillon, Elisens testified that he and Varnell initially planned to live off the grid out of state. However, Varnell pushed for violence against the government.
“His plan involved offensive attacks,” Elisens said.
Through encrypted text messages and online discussions, Varnell and Elisens talked about the hostilities leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Fearing a civil war or a conflict with Russia, Varnell sent Elisens a message saying he was “out for blood.”
Varnell bragged about his knowledge of bombs and chemicals.
“I think I'm going to go with what the OKC bomber used,” one message said.
Elisens testified that he backed away from any violence because he didn't want “people's innocent lives” on his conscience. Elisens said he also has a history of mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In 2011, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to calling in a bomb threat to the Norman Police Department. He previously had convictions for domestic abuse and violating protective orders.
Court documents show that Elisens once told a probation supervisor he was turning into the next “Ted Bundy,” a serial killer. His probation was revoked for drug use in December 2016.
Just days after Elisens was sentenced to nine months in prison, the FBI learned Elisens had reached out with allegations Varnell wanted to bomb the Federal Reserve Building in Washington, D.C. Elisens began working with the FBI.
On several occasions, Elisens visited Varnell at his family's property in Sayre.
During the seven-monthlong sting, Elisens connected Varnell with an undercover FBI agent called “The Professor,” who told Varnell he had access to bomb-making materials.
Elisens' motivation
During a full day of crossexamination, defense attorney Marna Franklin grilled Elisens about his motivation for tipping off the FBI.
Elisens testified that FBI agents told him there was a possibility he could get a job with the agency, and that the agents involved in the bomb plot case could get a promotion.
He testified that the FBI paid him $23,000 for his cooperation. This included $10,000 for introducing the undercover agent to Varnell, Elisens said.
He also testified that part of the payment was $3,000 to buy a cargo van in which to place the bomb. Elisens said he spent $1,300 on the van and pocketed the rest.
Franklin entered into evidence an online post by Elisens about working for the FBI and “manufactured terrorism.”
When asked about Varnell having no bomb materials except for what the FBI supplied him, Elisens said “for the end result, yes.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Dillon also called the undercover FBI agent to testify. Dillon questioned the agent and played audio and video recordings of his meetings and discussions with Varnell.
Varnell often changed his mind about his targets and how many deaths he would accept. He considered a Federal Reserve Building, Facebook's data centers, a Bank of America data center in Texas, and an IRS office in Maryland.
On Aug. 11, 2017, the undercover agent picked up Varnell in Sayre and drove him to a storage unit in El Reno, where they built what Varnell believed was a 1,000-pound bomb composed of ammonium nitrate, dynamite and blasting caps.
“He's excited,” the undercover agent testified, about Varnell getting into the van with the fake bomb.
They conducted a “dry run” of the drive to Oklahoma City before returning to El Reno.
Early the next morning, Varnell drove alone to Oklahoma City, reaching the alley behind the BancFirst building about 12:40 a.m.
He performed steps he thought would arm the bomb, got into another vehicle driven by the undercover agent, and used a “burner” cellphone to dial a number he thought would detonate the device.
When it failed, he dialed it twice more. The number actually rang a phone owned by law enforcement, who arrested Varnell without incident minutes later.
The trial continues Tuesday in federal court, with the prosecution scheduled to continue presenting its case.