VA- Man Arrested With Largest Cache of Explosives in FBI History

[MrsWatson]

Virginia man arrested as agents find largest cache of 'finished explosive devices' in FBI history

Authorities took Brad Spafford into custody Dec. 17 at a farm in Smithfield, about 29 miles northwest of Norfolk.

www.nbcnews.com

A Virginia man was arrested after federal authorities found a cache of homemade explosive devices, some of which were marked as "lethal," at his home, marking the largest seizure of finished explosive devices in FBI history, officials said.
***
Spafford allegedly told authorities that he kept in his freezer a jar of an explosive material that is so unstable it can explode as a result of friction of temperature changes, the filing states.

Photos in the court filing showed a jar labeled "Dangerous" and "Do Not Touch" next to what appeared to be Hot Pockets and other food items in the freezer.

 

[Elley Mae]

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/isle-of-wight/fbi-homemade-explosives-seizure-at-iow-farm-largest-in-its-history/

'[T]he FBI found more than 150 apparent explosive devices on the property, preliminarily assessed as the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history.'


“FBI bomb technicians, who X-rayed the devices on scene, assessed them as pipe bombs,” the newly filed document reads. “The majority were found in a detached garage, organized by color. … Some were hand-labeled “lethal.”

Most of the evidence prosecutors relied on for the firearms charge came from a person Spafford apparently believed he was friends with. He showed the man his illegal rifle and the two went shooting together.

…

The friend needs protection.

Jmo

 

[Elley Mae]

FBI says man had more than 150 explosives in his garage in Isle of Wight

Brad Spafford was arrested on Dec. 17 on Foursquare Road after authorities determined he possessed one of the largest caches of explosives in FBI history.

www.13newsnow.com

 

[MrsWatson]

FBI finds largest explosive cache on a Virginia farm

More than 150 bombs were scattered round the property the suspect shares with his wife and two young children, say investigators.

www.bbc.co.uk

Mr Spafford had allegedly used photos of US President Joe Biden for target practice and expressed hope that Vice-President Kamala Harris would be assassinated.

He had recently sought qualifications in sniper-rifle shooting at a local range, according to the court papers.

The charging document says an unnamed neighbour reported that Mr Spafford had continued to build bombs even after losing three fingers on his right hand in 2021 "while working with a homemade explosive device".

This brainiac lived next to a retired LEO!

And no way he should be given bond.

 

[Elley Mae]

He’s out

…

Judge Lawrence Leonard agreed on Dec. 30 to release 36-year-old Brad Kenneth Spafford, who had been held at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk since his Dec. 17 arrest, into the custody of his mother, conditioned on his wearing an electronic monitoring device and surrendering his passport. He will be restricted to his mother’s house when not traveling to and from work, medical services, meetings with his attorneys or religious services. The judge agreed to stay his order pending the government’s appeal.

Foursquare Road suspect in largest-ever FBI seizure of homemade explosives granted $25,000 bond - Smithfield Times

A federal judge set a $25,000 bond for an Isle of Wight County man facing a federal weapons charge in connection with a Dec. 18 FBI raid at his Foursquare Road home that the case prosecutor called the largest seizure of homemade explosives in FBI history. Judge Lawrence Leonard agreed on Dec. 30...

www.smithfieldtimes.com

 

[MrsWatson]

No way this guy shouldn't be in jail.

moo

 

[MrsWatson]

There's not a lot of info online about the No Lives Matter movement he seems to support. Here's a bit from the NJ Dept of Homeland Security.

No Lives Matter (NLM) will use encrypted messaging platforms to recruit like-minded individuals, partner with white racially motivated extremists (WMRE), and publish tactical guides. To grow its network and provide updates to its extremist messaging, NLM primarily operates online via Telegram, an encrypted messaging platform with limited content moderation, where violent rhetoric and extremist content can reach target audiences.

• In July 2024, NLM shared a post on its Telegram channel to announce a partnership with Mordwaffen Division (MWD)—a European neo-Nazi group—stating “NLM x MWD deadly alliance” and “Support your local nazi terrorists.” In 2023, NLM partnered with a Russia-based WRME group, Maniac Murder Cult (abbreviation MKU based on Russian translation) to co-author the NLM Kill Guide, which provided attack tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Several pages in the guide reference MKU, calling the group its “brothers in arms” and stating “NLM x MKU we can strike anywhere, at any time.”

Well, they sound like a jolly group.

 

[DoctorRose]

There's not a lot of info online about the No Lives Matter movement he seems to support. Here's a bit from the NJ Dept of Homeland Security.

No Lives Matter (NLM) will use encrypted messaging platforms to recruit like-minded individuals, partner with white racially motivated extremists (WMRE), and publish tactical guides. To grow its network and provide updates to its extremist messaging, NLM primarily operates online via Telegram, an encrypted messaging platform with limited content moderation, where violent rhetoric and extremist content can reach target audiences.

• In July 2024, NLM shared a post on its Telegram channel to announce a partnership with Mordwaffen Division (MWD)—a European neo-Nazi group—stating “NLM x MWD deadly alliance” and “Support your local nazi terrorists.” In 2023, NLM partnered with a Russia-based WRME group, Maniac Murder Cult (abbreviation MKU based on Russian translation) to co-author the NLM Kill Guide, which provided attack tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Several pages in the guide reference MKU, calling the group its “brothers in arms” and stating “NLM x MKU we can strike anywhere, at any time.”

Well, they sound like a jolly group.

I’ve seen a guy with NLM on either a tshirt or bumper sticker. I don’t remember which. I thought he was just a quirky nihilist and that he was probably less extreme than someone wearing “white lives matter” might be. Def did not expect NLM to be a neo nazi group.

Brad might want to stop before he loses more digits. I wonder if he’s been found mentally ill and that’s why he’s with his mom but how much can she reasonably control? Sounds risky for her, him, and everyone.

 

[Snoopster]

After reading about his long history of making explosives I'm surprised he hasn't acted on anything up until now. Thank goodness that they arrested him.

 

[MrsWatson]

I’ve seen a guy with NLM on either a tshirt or bumper sticker. I don’t remember which. I thought he was just a quirky nihilist and that he was probably less extreme than someone wearing “white lives matter” might be. Def did not expect NLM to be a neo nazi group.

Brad might want to stop before he loses more digits. I wonder if he’s been found mentally ill and that’s why he’s with his mom but how much can she reasonably control? Sounds risky for her, him, and everyone.

No kidding! Would the judge feel comfortable with this guy across the street or down the road from him? Does LE know that they've found all of his weapons? Was his mother's home thoroughly searched? Has DCS opened a case yet? This guy is a huge risk. It also sounds like he's going to pick up a whole bunch more charges, so hopefully he'll be behind bars soon enough. In the meantime, though...

I really want to know what he was planning, too. From that sort of stuff he had and his apparent beliefs, the FBI may have thwarted a domestic terrorist plan.


moo

 

[Vaderman]

Dear God. What is it with VA residents' intents on blowing up their homes around the holidays?