JOHNSTOWN – The Penn State student who has been accused of possessing a bomb and bomb-making materials in his Blair County apartment will face federal charges, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s office.
In a news release, the Department of Justice announced Vladislav Miftakhov, 18, will face federal charges after agents found a bomb and bomb-making materials in his Altoona apartment on Jan. 24. More details about the federal charges will be released at a news conference Thursday at the federal courthouse in downtown Johnstown.
Miftakhov is a Russian national who attended high school in California. He was enrolled at Penn State Altoona as an engineering student. Miftakhov’s preliminary hearing was continued in Blair County Court on Wednesday at the request of his defense attorney, Bob Donaldson. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for Feb. 18.
Altoona police arrested Miftakhov while investigating a suspected marijuana growing operation in an apartment at 118 N. Ninth Ave. He permitted police to search his apartment, where investigators found five marijuana plants, aluminum foil and drug-related items.
During that search, investigators also found a bomb and bomb-making materials. Miftakhov is incarcerated in the Blair County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail and faces several charges, including possessing a weapon of mass destruction, risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person and drug charges.
6 News will have a crew at today’s news conference. Look for the latest at www.wjactv.com and beginning on 6 News at 5.