Armenian immigrant accused of weapons plot

Federal prosecutors charged that a 26-year-old Armenian immigrant led a plot to sell military weapons to an FBI informant posing as a middleman for terrorists.

Other law-enforcement officials, however, cast doubt on the danger posed by Artur Solomonyan and his associates, who allegedly claimed to be able to deliver rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and other arms from the former Soviet Union.

"It's unclear if they were ever able to deliver on their promise on bringing weapons of war into the United States," said one law enforcement official.

Solomonyan, Spies and seven other defendants were ordered held without bail for allegedly conspiring to transport destructive devices, among other charges.