A man who compared himself to Spartacus and claimed the U.S. government had tortured him and stolen his children appeared in a Houston federal court Monday, accused of trying to sell a bomb that "approaches nuclear ... capability" to an undercover agent posing as a terrorist.

Ronald Allen Grecula, 68, believed he was talking with someone from a terrorist group when he claimed he could build a bomb that would destroy everything within more than a half-mile, federal authorities said.

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They said the officer introduced Grecula to another man, whom he identified as being connected to al-Qaida, which claimed responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

"Can this (bomb) blow up a building like this and kill a bunch of Americans?" the agent asked, according to a transcript in an affidavit filed by FBI Agent Lisa R. Baldwin.

Grecula replied, "Oh, it could do it easy," the document states.

At one point, he is quoted as saying, "I have no loyalty to the United States, whatsoever."

At another point, according to the transcript, he asked the undercover agent if he had heard of Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who led a slave revolt. The agent said he had.

"He formed an army, and he fought against Rome. He was tortured in prison, he was beat up, took his family, killed his friends, etc. So you could say, in a way, I am like Spartacus," Grecula is quoted as saying.

He didn't elaborate, but earlier had said his country had taken everything from him and tortured him.

Asked about the torture, he replied, "Well, mentally," authorities said.

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