NJ Man Sentenced in Bedford Bombing

BEDFORD, N.Y. - A New Jersey man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for firebombing the Bedford home of a business rival.

Damjan Stanivukovic, of Closter, pleaded guilty in April to unlawful possession of a destructive device and conspiracy to commit stalking.

On Oct. 1, U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel also ordered Stanivukovic to pay a $25,000 fine and to submit to three years’ supervision after he’s released.

According to court documents, his associate, Vladamir Radunovic of Pompton Lakes, N.J., was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to 32 months in prison and fined $5,000 for his role in the bombing incident.

Radunovic must also submit to three years’ supervision.

Stanivukovic had operated a heating and air conditioning company in Queens that was embroiled in an 8-year-long legal dispute with a Long Island City HVAC contractor who lived in Bedford. Radunovic was known to stay in Stanivukovic’s home.

According to the federal complaint, the two men drove to McLain Street, near the Mount Kisco border, this past Jan. 11 and dropped an incendiary device off in the victim’s driveway. It blew up two hours later.

No one was hurt in the explosion and very little damage was caused to the property.

Both were taken into custody within days of the incident, authorities said.

Bedford police reported finding at the scene a 2.5 gallon can of gasoline, cardboard tubing from a fireworks shell, the charred remains of a small orange cone, and a piece of the box that had a shipping label with Stanivukovic’s name and address on it.

The FBI searched Stanivukovic’s home and discovered several weapons, fireworks similar to what were contained in the device, and a book on how to make fireworks and explosives.

Radunovic frequently stayed at Stanivukovic’s home in Closter.

The federal complaint also alleged that the victim had been warned against showing up in court, including receiving a text that read: “Knock knock, show up and what do you think is next. This is your final warning.”

Around the time that text was sent, the cellphone associated with that particular phone number was located in the vicinity of Stanivukovic’s business address and the black Jeep Grand Cherokee that authorities said was used to transport the bomb, the complaint said.