Stock markets and stock trading are closely linked to surrounding events, whether political or economic. Sometimes, stock indices may rise due to positive developments, leading to substantial profits, while on other days, negative events can cause the index to drop, resulting in severe losses. Occasionally, individuals may resort to extreme measures to influence stock prices and reap substantial gains. This was the case with 50-year-old American Mark Charles Barnett, who attempted to bomb several Target stores to drive down its stock price so he could purchase shares at a lower rate.
In October 2018, a Florida court sentenced Barnett to 40 years in prison after he conspired to plant bombs in Target stores along the East Coast of the United States. The goal was to cause a significant drop in the company’s stock price due to the negative publicity, allowing him to buy shares cheaply before their value recovered. The conviction followed testimony from several witnesses who saw him trying to persuade others to plant bombs hidden in food packages in Target stores in Florida, Virginia, and New York. One of these individuals reported him to federal authorities, leading to his arrest and investigation. It was revealed that Barnett had purchased chemicals to create ten homemade bombs, which he planned to hide in food packages. He also offered money to various people to place these bombs in ten different stores, hoping to benefit from the resulting drop in stock prices.
Experts in explosives confirmed that the bombs had enough power to cause significant damage and potentially fatal injuries, which influenced the judge’s decision to impose a severe sentence. Barnett reacted to the verdict with indifference, stating that he saw no problem if someone had to die for him to make some money.
Notably, Barnett had a criminal record, having been released from state prison in 2013 after serving time for various sexual offenses. He also had a history of arson and vandalism. This sentence is likely to be his final punishment given the difficulty of his potential release while still alive.
