Wayne County, PA — A New York man is facing 83 criminal charges — including 25 second-degree felony counts of unlawful possession of weapons of mass destruction — after a house fire at a pyrotechnics property near Lake Ariel led Pennsylvania State Police to discover 26 pounds of explosive powder, illegal M-type devices, and materials for manufacturing aerial shells stored without any permits in a rural Wayne County township.
Joseph D. Tullo, 39, of Oceanside, New York, had all charges held for court following a March 24, 2026 preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan J. Dunsinger. The case has been transferred to Wayne County Court of Common Pleas (CP-64-CR-0000081-2026), where it is now awaiting a pretrial conference before Wayne County DA A.G. Howell’s office. The formal arraignment originally scheduled for May 7 has been cancelled, with the Wayne County DA waiving court arraignment on March 30.
Tullo was never taken into custody. MDJ Dunsinger set bail at $150,000 unsecured on February 13 — meaning Tullo was not required to post any money and walked free at arraignment despite facing 25 second-degree felony weapons of mass destruction charges.
How It Started: A House Fire That Firefighters Didn’t Know Was an Explosives Scene
The investigation began on the evening of October 4, 2025, when fire crews responded to a structure fire at 818 Tannery Road in South Canaan Township — a property known locally as “Pyro Land.” Lake Ariel Volunteer Fire Company Chief Christopher DiPierro told reporters at the time that when crews arrived, they could hear fireworks detonating inside the structure, forcing firefighters to approach with extreme caution. The fire caused severe roof damage. No one was inside and no injuries were reported.
What firefighters didn’t expect to find was what they discovered during a final sweep of the residence: a device that appeared to be dynamite fitted with a mechanical timer.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by PSP Trooper Jeffrey F. Kistle Jr. of the Honesdale barracks, the apparent explosive device prompted a hazardous materials response. A search warrant was approved the following morning, October 5, 2025, for the residence and all outbuildings on the property.
Investigators determined the dynamite-timer device was actually a novelty item — not a functioning explosive. But the search had only just begun.
What the Search Warrant Turned Up
Inside the residence, investigators found a display case containing multiple M-type explosive devices — homemade explosives ranging in size from M-80 to M-1000. Court documents describe M-1000s as commonly known as “quarter sticks” or “half sticks” of dynamite. These devices are classified as illegal explosive devices regulated under federal law and enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Transportation. M-type devices cannot be legally manufactured, sold, or imported anywhere in the United States.
PSP Hazardous Device and Explosives Section personnel contacted the ATF and confirmed that Tullo had been in the process of obtaining permits for fireworks and explosives but had not yet received approval. He did not possess a valid permit or authorization to store, manufacture, or possess explosive powders at the time of the investigation.
The Fourth Shipping Container
The property included four shipping container storage boxes. According to the affidavit, Tullo arrived at the scene that afternoon and was initially extremely cooperative. He provided keys to three of the containers, which investigators searched and found nothing illegal inside.
That changed when investigators turned their attention to a fourth container near the driveway. According to court documents, Tullo told troopers he did not have a key to that container and claimed it was leased to a friend of his brother’s — though he couldn’t provide the individual’s name and had no lease agreement. Investigators noted in the affidavit that Tullo became uncooperative, physically distanced himself from the container, and repeatedly used his phone while police attempted to gain access.
Troopers cut the lock.
Inside, they found a large quantity of mixed explosive powder stored in five-gallon buckets — approximately 26 pounds total. The buckets were not static-free, a critical safety violation given the volatility of the material. Investigators also found candle wax used to seal aerial shells, along with an Amazon Prime package addressed to Tullo.
When questioned, Tullo denied any knowledge of the container’s contents and suggested the person leasing it appeared to be making “rockets.”
The PSP Hazardous Device and Explosives Section determined that the quantity, storage method, and residential location of the explosive powder created what the affidavit describes as “a substantial risk of explosion and catastrophic harm to person and property.” HDES personnel later conducted a controlled detonation of the seized material. According to the affidavit, the explosion was loud enough to be heard from a significant distance and prompted multiple calls to State Police from residents reporting the noise.
The Charge Sheet: 83 Counts Across Seven Statutes
The sheer volume of charges reflects the number of individual explosive devices and items recovered from the property. At the MDJ level, Tullo was originally charged with 87 counts. Two were withdrawn at the preliminary hearing — one count of weapons of mass destruction (F2) and one count of dealing in offensive weapons (M1). One additional charge, aiding consummation of a crime (M2), was held for court at the MDJ level but subsequently withdrawn at Common Pleas.
The 83 charges now proceeding through Wayne County Court of Common Pleas break down as follows:
25 counts of unlawful possession or manufacture of weapons of mass destruction (18 Pa.C.S. § 2716(a)) — Felony of the Second Degree. Each count carries up to 10 years in state prison. Under Pennsylvania law, a “weapon of mass destruction” includes any “bomb,” defined as an explosive device used for unlawful purposes. The statute applies to anyone who “without lawful authority” intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or manufactures such devices.
25 counts of dealing in offensive weapons (18 Pa.C.S. § 908(a)) — Misdemeanor of the First Degree. This statute covers the manufacture, sale, or possession of offensive weapons including explosive devices.
26 counts of possession of instruments of crime with intent (18 Pa.C.S. § 907(a)) — Misdemeanor of the First Degree.
2 counts of risking a catastrophe (18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b)) — Felony of the Third Degree.
1 count of facsimile weapon of mass destruction — alarm to public or volunteer organization (18 Pa.C.S. § 5516(a)(2)(i)) — Felony of the Third Degree. This charge relates to the novelty dynamite-timer device that prompted the initial hazmat response, as it reasonably appeared to be an IED and triggered an emergency response by firefighters who had entered the building unaware.
2 counts of recklessly endangering another person (18 Pa.C.S. § 2705) — Misdemeanor of the Second Degree. These charges likely stem from the risk posed to firefighters who responded to the structure fire without knowledge that explosive materials were stored on site.
1 count of failure to prevent catastrophe (18 Pa.C.S. § 3303(2)) — Misdemeanor of the Second Degree.
1 count of disorderly conduct — hazardous/physically offensive condition (18 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a)(4)) — Summary offense.
All offense dates are listed as October 5, 2024, which appears to correspond to the date the search warrant was executed. The incident number (PA 2025-1232796) references 2025, consistent with the October 2025 fire and search.
Tullo’s Prior Record
Court records show Tullo has a limited but relevant prior history in Wayne County. In 2025, he was cited twice for disorderly conduct — unreasonable noise (18 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a)(2)). The first citation (MJ-22302-NT-0000211-2025) went to a summary trial in November 2025 and has been transferred. The second (MJ-22301-NT-0000363-2025) was withdrawn in February 2026.
Those noise complaints, at a property known as “Pyro Land,” take on a different light in the context of the explosive materials later discovered there.
What Happens Next
The case is now at Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, awaiting a pretrial conference. DA Howell’s office filed the criminal information on March 30, 2026. Tullo is represented by attorney Christopher E. Farrell of Waymart, PA. The investigating trooper is Jeffrey F. Kistle Jr. of PSP Honesdale.
Tullo has never been jailed on these charges. No new court dates have been scheduled as of April 22.
Tullo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case Reference
- CCP Docket: CP-64-CR-0000081-2026
- MDJ Docket: MJ-22304-CR-0000008-2026
- Defendant: Joseph D. Tullo, 39, of Oceanside, NY
- OTN: O 1017440-4
- Arresting Agency: PSP — Honesdale
- Investigating Trooper: Jeffrey F. Kistle Jr.
- Bail: $150,000 unsecured (never taken into custody; no money posted)
- Defense Attorney: Christopher E. Farrell, Esq., Waymart, PA
- Prosecuting: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office (DA A.G. Howell)
- Case Status: Awaiting Pretrial Conference, Wayne County Court of Common Pleas