Former L.I. Home Depot Employee Convicted In Pipe Bomb Extortion Plot

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A former Home Depot handyman from Long Island was convicted Monday of trying to extort $2 million from the company in a plot that involved pipe bombs.

Daniel Sheehan of Deer Park was convicted by a federal jury on Monday and faces 30 years in prison. He had been charged with attempted extortion and the use of a destructive device.

For one week last October, some Long Island Home Depot shoppers were on edge after a pipe bomb was found in the Huntington location and bomb scares were reported at two others.

In the ransom calls played for the jury last week, the caller believed to be Sheehan can be heard demanding money. The jury heard two phone calls.

MANAGER: "We want to get you your money, I need to get you your money."
CALLER: "I want to get this over with too...I've tried to help you and you've tried to catch me and [expletive] me and kill me."
MANAGER: "I'm not trying to kill you. Listen, I want to get you your money."

According to prosecutors, Sheehan wrote letters to the manager demanding $2 million. After allegedly planting a pipe bomb, he then threatened to shut down all of Long Island's Home Depots on Black Friday with additional pipe bombs filled with nails.

The voice purported to be Sheehan can then be heard lowering his demand to $1 million.

In another call played for the jury, the person said to be Sheehan is heard sounding upset that police were called.

CALLER: "You have a lot of show of force there today. There's dozens of cops everywhere. I'm very angry right now."

Throughout the extortion plot, Sheehan continued working at Home Depot.

His attorney admitted he hatched the extortion scheme to get money for a sick niece, but added the bomb was not functional.

EXTRA: Read The Full Criminal Complaint

Attorney Leonard Lato added his client was depressed over losing work hours.

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