James Luca, of North Merrick, charged with terrorism for trying to blow up Nassau's social services building

A North Merrick man who authorities said tried to blow up the Nassau Department of Social Services building in September using a propane tank became the first person charged with terrorism by county prosecutors, Nassau District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said.

James Luca, 46, pleaded not guilty to the crime of terrorism and other charges at his arraignment before Nassau County Judge Terence Murphy on Wednesday morning.

At a news conference following the arraignment, Donnelly said Luca intended to blow up the county’s social services building in Uniondale because he blamed Nassau County Child Protective Services for revoking his visitation rights with his children.

"James Luca’s personal vendetta endangered the lives of Nassau County workers," Donnelly said. "Had that device exploded, we can safely say there would be a large fire, significant damage and who knows what else might have happened.

"As scary as this is to say," Donnelly added, "we are lucky that James Luca is a lousy bomb maker."

Murphy ordered Luca to be held without bail. Luca is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison. Luca’s attorney, Stacy Albin-Leone, declined to comment after the arraignment.

Luca had been charged with attempted arson and other crimes in early October, but the severity of the incident demanded more serious charges, the district attorney said.

"James Luca’s alleged actions, his plotting, and his attempts to ignite an explosion at a government building where dozens of public servants work to serve our county every day, justifies this significant upgrade in charges," Donnelly said.

The indictment unsealed last month also charges Luca and co-defendant Jayson Anthony Reyes, also of North Merrick, with first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing of governmental duties by means of a bomb, fourth-degree conspiracy and third-degree attempt to commit the crime of arson.

Reyes, 25, works with Luca at Luca’s auto repair shop, authorities said. Reyes was not charged with terrorism and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday morning, said his attorney, Scott Gross.

"He has denied the allegations and will fight them in court," Gross said.

Donnelly said Luca and his ex-wife, the parents of four children, had been engaged in a lengthy divorce, Donnelly said. Luca, wearing a Halloween mask and camouflage clothing, allegedly crept up to his ex-wife’s vehicle in February 2023 and placed something on the windshield that exploded moments later, significantly damaging the car.

"He blew up his ex-wife’s vehicle with another homemade bomb," Donnelly said.

The district attorney’s office charged Luca with first-degree criminal mischief in July, nearly 18 months after he allegedly left an explosive device on his ex-wife’s car. 

At approximately 1:42 a.m. on Sept. 17, Luca and Reyes left Luca’s home in North Merrick in two separate vehicles. About 10 minutes later, they met on Warren Street and got into a single car in East Meadow, then drove to the social services building on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale.

While Reyes acted as a lookout, Luca allegedly placed a 20-pound propane tank, a one-pound camping propane tank, and a torch at the door of the social services building. Surveillance video shows Luca throwing lit road flares at the homemade bomb in an unsuccessful effort to ignite them, Donnelly said.

Luca and Reyes abandoned their car on Warren Street and got into the vehicle they left earlier in the morning. They then returned to Luca’s home, prosecutors said.

The tanks and torch were discovered later at about 6:30 that morning by a social services official who immediately called 911. The Nassau County Police Department’s bomb squad and other agencies evacuated the building, Donnelly said.

"Dozens of employees of DSS, CPS and the county’s Department for the Aging were rushed out of this building in abject terror," Donnelly said. "It was a nightmare for these men and women."

Donnelly said investigators discovered another 20-pound propane tank a short distance from the scene. They also found the vehicle abandoned in East Meadow. Additional road flares were found in the car.

Investigators were able to tie Luca and Reyes to the alleged attempted bombing by canvassing surveillance video in the area, Donnelly said.