Federal Grand Jury Indicts Terror Suspect Ciccolo

FBI agents collect evidence from Ciccolo's apartment in Adams on July 4. A federal grand jury indicted the suspect Thursday on firearm and assault charges.

ADAMS, Mass. — Terror suspect Alexander Ciccolo has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a firearms and assault charges.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Adams resident was indicted in U.S. District Court in Springfield on one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and one count of assault with a deadly weapon and causing bodily injury to a person assisting an officer of the United States in the performance of official duties.  

The first charge results from Ciccolo's arrest on July 4, during which agents with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for Western Massachusetts said they found four firearms in his possession, delivered to him minutes before by an FBI informant; the second for allegedly stabbing a nurse with a pen at the Franklin County House of Corrections.

Ciccolo was ordered detained without bail on July 14 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson based on evidence related to those charges, and which included the alleged finding of "partial Molotov cocktails" in his Murray Street apartment and statements given to the FBI that indicated support of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), a designated terrorist organization, and intention to do harm.  

According to prosecutors, Ciccolo had spoken with a cooperating witness in recorded conversations about his plans to commit acts of terrorism inspired by ISIL, including setting off improvised explosive devices, such as pressure cookers filled with black powder, nails, ball bearings and glass, in places where large numbers of people congregate, like college cafeterias. Prior to his arrest, agents said they had observed Ciccolo purchase a pressure cooker similar to that used in the Boston Marathon bombings.

Adams Town Meeting OKs Budget, Nixes Citizens' Petitions

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
07:30PM / Monday, June 22, 2026

The annual town report was dedicated to retired Police Chief Richard Tarsa, above. 

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members approved 23 of the 25 articles on the annual town meeting warrant. 

 

The gymnasium in the Memorial Building was filled with 104 town meeting members who voted to approve the authorization for a number of spending articles making up a budget of approximately $21 million during a meeting that lasted 50 minutes. 

 

Of that, members approved, Article 5, an operations budget of $10,650,057, of which $8,074,370 is made up of personnel and $2,642,107 for operating expenses. 

 

"This is a level of services budget from one year ago," Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo said. 

 

The amounts budgeted are reflective of what it takes for an organization, pay employees, provide health insurance, and all the ancillary costs, he said. 

 

The town has not yet finalized union contract negotiations with the police and clerical unions and still has open positions. So, there will be a special town meeting in late September or early October to adjust the budget based on the salaries and health insurance.

 

The positions have been conservatively budgeted at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time.