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Nebraska pharmacist arrested in plot to firebomb competitor

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AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska pharmacist conspired with another man to use explosives to destroy a competitor’s pharmacy, a federal prosecutor said Friday.

Hyrum T. Wilson, 41, of Auburn, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to use fire and explosives, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and a firearms-related offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria, Virginia, said in a news release.

Federal prosecutors said the plot was intended to destroy Wilson’s local competition, which he and William Anderson Burgamy IV believed would increase the volume of prescription drugs his business could obtain, thus allowing the men’s drug trafficking operation to continue and expand.

Officials said Wilson supplied thousands of prescription pills, including opioids, from his business to Burgamy, who prosecutors said operated as a Darknet vendor from August 2019 through April 2020, and had thousands of illegal recorded sales on a major Darknet market.

Burgamy was charged last week and ordered detained. The news release said the plot was uncovered through search warrants executed following Burgamy’s arrest.

If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. It was not immediately clear whether either man had an attorney who could comment on the charges.