Man charged with possessing destructive device in connection with Seattle arson

SEATTLE -- A Florida resident who allegedly threatened family members over a $20,000 debt was arrested Monday in connection with a destructive device left  June 2013 at the Seattle home of his relatives, the U.S. Attorney's office said. 

Sang Ngoc Ung is charged with possession of a destructive device. He also remains the primary suspect in the arson of a home in the 3900 block of South Cloverdale Street in Seattle.

A group men driving by the home on June 10 noticed the house on fire around 3 a.m.  The group called 911 and pounded on the home’s door in an effort to wake up the occupants.

Four people in the house were able to make it out safely through the home’s garage. Shortly after that fire, investigators went to a second home associated with the family and discovered a destructive device that had not ignited. Ung is charged with possession of that device.

He appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the criminal complaint, Ung had been pressuring family members in Seattle about $20,000 he believes is owed to him.  Family members had attempted to pay some of the money, but Ung reportedly continued to threaten them if the debt was not paid. Ung, reportedly from Florida, arrived in Seattle in Mid-May, and was allegedly observed attempting to contact people at both homes. After the fire, Ung returned to Florida, but was arrested when he came back to Seattle Monday.

The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg