A second man suspected to be involved in an explosives investigation was arrested
Thursday, April 19, by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and deputies with the Chippewa County Sherriff’s Department.

Kenneth Kassab, 53, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was taken into custody without incident Thursday, April 19, on charges related to the unlawful transportation of explosives and possession of explosives by a convicted felon.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.

Donald Davis, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan; David McCain, ATF
special agent in charge in Detroit; and Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge for HSI Michigan andOhio, announced the arrest.

Kassab was listed in a superseding indictment as a co-defendant with John Francis
Lechner, 65, also a resident of Sault Ste. Marie. Lechner was originally the sole defendant in an explosives case stemming from the discovery of 4,200 pounds of a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, commonly known as “ANFO,” and various other explosive materials, in September 2011. Lechner was arrested last September and remains in custody.

The superseding indictment repeats Lechner’s original charges and also adds charges
relating to his possession of ANFO with Kassab in November 2010.

Lechner had been set to be tried on the original charges May 21, 2012. With the
addition of Kassab as a co-defendant, the trial date is likely to be rescheduled for later in the summer.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until
proven guilty.