A federal judge granted bond from . Virginia man accused of harboring extremist views and stockpiling what prosecutors say is the FBI’s largest cache of homemade explosives ever found. The order of the government’s appeal was stayed by the judge.
Agents found weapons, including more than 150 pipe bombs and explosive devices, during a Dec. 17 raid on a 20-acre property in Isle of Wight County, according to documents to the court.
Authorities initially arrested the 30-year-old owner, Brad Spafford, on one count of possession of a firearm without possession of a barrel. But while the bomb squad was pulling over the property, they found the “deadly” explosive devices in the detached garage, according to court documents. Inside the home, investigators found more pipe bombs stuffed into a backpack bearing a hand grenade patch and a logo for “#NoLivesMatter,” a slogan associated with a far-right extremist movement that promotes violent activities on encrypted Internet channels, according to a recent New Jersey homeland security tax.
Many details in the case emerged during a Dec. 30 bond hearing for Spafford, whose bail was initially set at $25,000. whether the emergency remains He was warned against these accusers.
Second Smithfield TimesDetective Rachelann Cardwell’s court testimony revealed that investigators found multiple components for making explosives, including HMTD, a highly volatile compound, stored in garage freezers. They also seized a package containing military-grade explosives.
Court testimony also revealed that the investigation began after Spafford lost three fingers in the July 2021 explosion. A neighbor reported him to authorities, according to the Smithfield Times, describing conversations about “getting ready for something” that Spafford said he “just couldn’t do.”
Along with the gun charges, federal prosecutors have indicated that additional charges are possible, each potentially carrying similar sentences. Spafford faces up to 10 years for the gun charge alone.