A man from Virginia has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to possessing a short, unregistered barrel rifle and an unregistered destructive device. This comes after he was accused of stockpiling an unprecedented number of completed explosives, as noted by the FBI, and making threats against a politician.
Authorities discovered approximately 150 pipe bombs and other explosive materials at Brad Spaford’s residence near Norfolk last fall. Prosecutors alleged that he had used a photo of former President Joe Biden as target practice and had expressed troubling views about political assassinations in the wake of an attempted assassination of another former president.
Spaford’s troubles began in 2023 when a law enforcement informant alerted officials about his accumulation of weapons and ammunition. During a search of his home in December, agents found an unstable explosive in a freezer, alongside frozen food. The device reportedly had “#NolivesMatter” written on it.
Having been in custody since his arrest in December, Spaford was deemed to pose an “extreme risk” by a judge. He initially pleaded not guilty in January, and his defense argued he should be released due to a lack of stable employment and no prior criminal record. It was also noted that he was married and had two young daughters, having lost three fingers in a homemade explosive incident back in 2021.
Facing potential sentences of up to 10 years per charge, Spaford is expected to receive his sentencing in December.
