Feds Charge Coffeyville Teen With Buying Live Grenade On 'Dark Web'

Federal prosecutors have charged a Coffeyville, Kansas teen with purchasing an explosive grenade via the "dark web."

The charge was filed last week in Wichita against 18-year-old Carlos Francisco Martin.

According to court documents, the FBI began an investigation into Martin in November 2016 when Martin used an encrypted network on the internet that specialized in the sale of explosive devices. 

Martin's attorney, Steven Gradert says the purchase of a grenade initially drew the attention of the FBI's terrorism task force because Carlos Martin used bitcoins. 

The FBI investigation revealed that Martin made the purchase, which was sent to his Coffeyville address. 

In an online exchange between Martin and the seller of the explosive grenade, Martin asked if he could purchase more explosive devices after he tested the first one. 

However, the FBI was able to intercept the message and conducted a controlled delivery of an inert explosive device to Martin's address. Martin was arrested in mid-December, after he took delivery of the package.

The federal court's docket in Wichita shows Martin waived a preliminary hearing on the charge on April 19th.

According to the Associated Press, Martin's defense attorney said his client was a "kind of a dumb 18-year-old kid" who wanted to used the grenade to blow up a truck as revenge because someone had damaged his mother's car.

Steven Gradert said his client plans to plead guilty to the charge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.