A Berkshire County man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday in a Springfield, Massachusetts courtroom for terrorism and assault charges.
Alexander Ciccolo was arrested in July 2015 in Adams during a sting operation for the illegal possession of firearms and plotting to commit acts of mass destruction. Authorities say Ciccolo’s plans were in support of the Islamic State terrorist group.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Andrew Lelling told the court Wednesday that the 26-year-old Ciccolo “repeatedly expressed his desire to engage in acts of violent jihad against our country,” specifically planning to use improvised explosives partially inspired by the Boston Marathon bombings on college campuses. Ciccolo, the son of a Boston Police captain, pleaded guilty in May.
Ciccolo’s assault charge stems from an attack on a nurse with a pen while in custody at the Franklin County Correctional Center.
His 20-year sentence is followed by a lifetime of supervised release.