I’m having a hard time buying this story. I think your girlfriend’s brother is lying about the extent of his illegal activities. Most of the time with illegal fireworks the police issue a citation that can be paid without a court appearance. Maybe the guy had C-4 explosives and his name is Muhammed?
I wonder why the poster won’t post the jurisdiction.
Sounds kinda fishy asking for legal advice when nobody knows which State the offense occurred in.