According to court documents filed this week, federal agents in Virginia found more than 150 homemade bombs on a farm, marking the largest quantity of homemade bombs ever discovered by the FBI.
Prosecutors noted in the PDF document that law enforcement officers discovered over 150 explosive devices last month on a 20-acre farm in Isle of Wight County, commonly referred to as pipe bombs.
Described as the “largest seizure of explosive device completed products in FBI history,” the prosecutor highlighted the significance of this discovery.
The suspected bomb maker is identified as Brad Spafford. Most of the bombs were found in a detached garage on the farm. Alongside the bombs, authorities also found tools and materials used in bomb-making, including fuses and plastic pipe fragments.
Spafford lived on the farm with his wife and two young children. Prosecutors also noted the discovery of several pipe bombs in a backpack in the bedroom, with no safety measures in place.
At 36 years old, Spafford faces charges of illegal possession of firearms under the National Firearms Act for owning an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
Prosecutors mentioned potential additional charges related to explosives in the future.
In a motion filed on Tuesday, defense lawyers argued that there is no evidence to suggest he was planning violent activities and emphasized his lack of criminal record.
Additionally, the lawyers questioned whether the explosive devices could actually be detonated without modifications by trained explosive technicians.
The defense wrote, “There is no evidence on record to indicate that Mr. Spafford has ever threatened anyone, and the notion that anyone may be in danger due to political views and expressions is baseless.”
The investigation into this case began in 2023 when a confidential informant informed authorities that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition. The informant, a friend of Spafford, revealed that Spafford injured his hand while making homemade bombs in 2021.
Prosecutors mentioned that Spafford has only two fingers on his right hand. The informant also reported that Spafford used a photo of President Biden for target practice, leading to suspicions of possible assassination plans.
On December 17th, law enforcement officers searched the property, finding rifles and explosive devices labeled “lethal”, some placed in tactical vests.
Most of the devices were detonated onsite due to safety concerns during transport. However, some bombs were preserved for further analysis.
At a hearing on Tuesday, Federal Magistrate Lawrence Leonard ruled that Spafford could be held under house arrest at his mother’s residence with continued detention pending further evidence presented by the government.
Prosecutors reiterated that while Spafford may not have been directly involved in violent activities, his possession of lethal pipe bombs, riot gear, a vest with pipe bombs, and using the president’s photo for target practice indicate an interest in violent activities.
Prosecutors noted that Spafford recently sought qualifications at a local shooting range to practice shooting sniper rifles.