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FBI finds 150 homemade bombs at Virginia home in one of the largest such seizures, prosecutors say
AP News ^

Posted on 01/01/2025 1:23:23 PM PST by TigerClaws

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Federal agents found one of the largest stockpiles of homemade explosives they have ever seized when they arrested a Virginia man on a firearms charge last month, according to a court filing by federal prosecutors.

Investigators seized more than 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices when they searched the home of Brad Spafford northwest of Norfolk in December, the prosecutors said in a motion filed Monday. The prosecutors wrote that this is believed to be “the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history.”

Most of the bombs were found in a detached garage at the home in Isle of Wight County, along with tools and bomb-making materials including fuses and pieces of plastic pipe, according to court documents. The prosecutors also wrote: “Several additional apparent pipe bombs were found in a backpack in the home’s bedroom, completely unsecured,” in the home he shares with his wife and two young children.

Spafford, 36, was charged with possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. Law enforcement officers allege he owned an unregistered short barrel rifle. Prosecutors said that he faces “numerous additional potential charges” related to the explosives.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bomb; bombs; explosives; pipebombs; spafford
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1 posted on 01/01/2025 1:23:23 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws

That’s got to be some kind of zoning violation, yes?


2 posted on 01/01/2025 1:24:50 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: TigerClaws

The perpetrator must have been antifa or some other commie freak.


3 posted on 01/01/2025 1:28:45 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: BenLurkin

Child endangerment?


4 posted on 01/01/2025 1:29:06 PM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within ? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: BenLurkin

Near a school zone?


5 posted on 01/01/2025 1:32:14 PM PST by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: No name given

No, just a guy who likes fireworks who happens to live in a “no fireworks” state.


6 posted on 01/01/2025 1:32:54 PM PST by GingisK
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To: TigerClaws

Not very credible charges.

Certainly people have built pipe bombs, but a lot of them are just junk.

PVC bombs? Are simply dumb.

Pipe bombs can be made with modern gunpowder, but gunpowder is normally a propellant, not an explosive device. (container space is the issue, and fuse seal)

It is clear that the AP author don’t understand what he is writing about.


7 posted on 01/01/2025 1:52:27 PM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: Texas Fossil

Yep most likely black powder fireworks.
They need to flip the message off of New Orleans fast.


8 posted on 01/01/2025 2:01:09 PM PST by Zathras
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To: Zathras

Yep.

But truthfully, home made black powder is very dangerous. I had a neighbor when I was a child that made it. There is very little quality control for that.

Burn rate is generally very fast for black powder. For muzzle loaders you pack the powder and ram the bullet where there is no space for an explosion, only a burn.

Modern smokeless powder is much more stable. You must still allow for reduced chargers, the powder burn rate must be retarded to prevent an explosion.


9 posted on 01/01/2025 2:12:50 PM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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but but but, we found all these bombs over there...


10 posted on 01/01/2025 2:15:08 PM PST by Gene Eric
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To: TigerClaws

150 separate charges of possession of a destructive device. Bad juju.

CC


11 posted on 01/01/2025 2:22:53 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: TigerClaws

The state of Virginia is exploring Attempted Murder on an LEO, conspiracy, child abuse and reckless endangerment charges.


12 posted on 01/01/2025 2:24:22 PM PST by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinions)
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To: TigerClaws

IS THIS A COINCIDENCE, TODAY OF ALL DAYS?

https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/breaking-atf-director-reportedly-resigns/


13 posted on 01/01/2025 2:41:12 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Zathras
New Orleans is growing in number of accomplices.

It will play out.

14 posted on 01/01/2025 2:47:14 PM PST by Texas Fossil (Texas is not about where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: TigerClaws

Was this another non violent liberal Democrat making these bombs? I expect the left going batshit crazy in and around the presidential inauguration.


15 posted on 01/01/2025 4:50:12 PM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: vetvetdoug

He didn’t have 10,000 rounds of ammo. I hate to say this, but he is a piker.


16 posted on 01/01/2025 5:38:51 PM PST by Glad2bnuts
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To: BenLurkin

Yeah. He should have done all that in a IED-making zone, KB10 (Kaboom 10) designation.


17 posted on 01/02/2025 12:24:18 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Every Goliath has his David. Child in need of a CGM system. https://gofund.me/6452dbf1. )
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To: BenLurkin

Should have applied for a variance./;-}


18 posted on 01/02/2025 1:56:12 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Every Goliath has his David. Child in need of a CGM system. https://gofund.me/6452dbf1. )
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To: TigerClaws

This is odd. How was the judge overseeing the case if he retired 4 years ago.
Federal Judge Lawrence Leonard:

“ At a hearing Tuesday, federal Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leonard determined that Spafford could be released into house arrest at his mother’s home but agreed to keep him detained while the government files further arguments.”

However :
“ Lawrence Leonard was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was appointed to this position on October 1, 2012.[1] Leonard retired in August 2020.

https://ballotpedia.org/Lawrence_Leonard#:~:text=Lawrence%20Leonard%20was%20a%20federal,Leonard%20retired%20in%20August%202020.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/fbi-found-150-bombs-virginia-home-december-prosecutors-say.amp


19 posted on 01/02/2025 3:23:06 PM PST by HollyB
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To: grey_whiskers

Can you help me understand the situation at post 19.


20 posted on 01/02/2025 3:24:59 PM PST by HollyB
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