Bradenton Man Held in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

A federal judge in Tampa has ordered John Nicholas Coors of Bradenton held without bail after Coors was arrested for his involvement in a murder-for-hire plan. The FBI initiated an investigation into Coors in March 2009, after Coors’ father contacted authorities about his son. He told them his son was trained in “special forces” tactics and considered himself a mercenary, according to a government affidavit.

Court documents indicate that Coors had a bucket of pure nitric acid and bomb-making books, including the “Anarchist Cookbook.” He also had 5-gallon buckets of chemicals on his mother’s porch.

In August 2009, a former acquaintance of Coors warned FBI agents that Coors was going to “do something foolish,” according to a law enforcement affidavit. Authorities then set up a sting, which culminated last weekend when Coors allegedly tried to detonate an improvised explosives device he had placed in a victim’s car.

According to the FBI affidavit submitted in the case, the acquaintance introduced Coors to an undercover agent posing as someone who wanted to “get rid of” someone. Coors asked for payment of $8,000 and agreed to set up an explosion.

Coors and the agent allegedly discussed the hit in months of recorded conversations. The agent provided Coors with fake dynamite.

Last Friday, the agent met Coors in Bradenton and drove him to a hotel in Tampa. They stopped on the way so that Coors could pick up additional items at Home Depot. They proceeded to the hotel where other agents were next door with video and audio recording equipment.

After going to Walmart for more items, Coors and the agent drove up to the “victim’s” vehicle, where Coors planted what he believed to be an explosive device. When the victim got into the car, Coors pressed the trigger. He kept pressing the button as nothing happened. He was then arrested by federal agents.

Coors was charged with use of interstate facilities in connection with a murder for hire. He faces up to ten years in federal prison if convicted (had actual injury or homicide occurred, the possible sentence would increase to 20 years or life).