A federal judge has granted bail to a Virginia man accused of having extremist views and amassing what prosecutors say is the largest cache of homemade explosives ever discovered by the FBI. The judge put the order on hold pending the government's appeal.
Investigators say they found weapons, including more than 150 pipe bombs and explosive devices, when they raided a 20-acre property in Isle of Wight County on Dec. 17. in court documents.
Authorities initially arrested the owner, Brad Spafford, 36, on a single charge of possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle. However, when an explosive ordnance squad swept the property, they discovered an explosive device marked “lethal” in a detached garage, according to court documents.
Investigators found more pipe bombs inside the home packed in backpacks with grenade patches and the #NoLivesMatter logo, according to recent reports. The slogan is associated with a far-right extremist movement that promotes acts of violence through encrypted online channels. New Jersey Homeland Security Assessment.
Many details of the case were revealed at Spafford's bail hearing on Dec. 30, when bail was originally set at $25,000. emergency stay It was secured by the prosecutors.
According to smithfield timesDetective Rayshran Cardwell's court testimony revealed that investigators found multiple components for making explosives, including HMTD, a highly volatile chemical compound, stored in a freezer in the garage. They also found a notebook containing recipes for military explosives.
Court testimony also revealed that the investigation began after Spafford lost three fingers in an explosion in July 2021. A neighbor reported him to authorities and described a conversation about “preparing for something” in which Spafford said he “couldn't do it alone,” the Smithfield Times reported.
In addition to the firearms charge, federal prosecutors have indicated that additional charges are planned, each with similar sentencing potential. Spafford faces up to 10 years in prison on the firearms charge alone.
