A Virginia man, Brad Spafford, 36, was arrested earlier this month after authorities discovered what they claim is the largest stockpile of homemade explosives in FBI history.
Spafford, who reportedly used images of Joe Biden for target practice, is being labeled by federal agents as an “extreme danger to the community.”
During a search of Spafford’s 20-acre property, authorities found over 150 homemade explosive devices, including pipe bombs labeled as “lethal.”
The arrest initially stemmed from a comparatively minor charge of possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle, Court Watch first reported.
In a sworn affidavit, an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force agent alleged that Spafford had disfigured fingers from a homemade explosion dating back to July 4, 2021.
The agent also noted suspicions that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition for some time, making him a “clear and present danger.”
More from the criminal complaint:
“On or about January 17, 2023, a confidential human source (CHS) provided information that SPAFFORD disfigured his hand on or about July 4, 2021 while working with a homemade explosive device, and was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition.
The CHS observed SPAFFORD’s hand both before and after the event, and saw that several fingers were missing after the event.
The CHS reported that SPAFFORD and his friends are preparing for something that SPAFFORD would not be able to do alone. SPAFFORD told the CHS that he makes approximately 50 rounds of ammunition per day.
On or about May 20, 2023, the CHS and SPAFFORD went to a gun range in the City of Suffolk and went shooting. Both the CHS and SPAFFORD brought their own weapons. The CHS brought a registered short barrel rifle and SPAFFORD also brought a rifle in addition to other weapons.
The CHS advised that based on their prior experience the rifle SPAFFORD brought to the range appeared to be under 16 inches.
The CHS was unable to lay their registered short barrel rifle beside SPAFFORD’s for confirmation but believes this was in fact a short barrel rifle.
The CHS provided additional information that SPAFFORD created a “go box” for the back of his vehicle. From my training and experience, I know a “go box” to be a box or bag that has been modified with medical supplies, weapons, ammunition, food and water in the event one needs to act fast to a situation because it is staged for quick access and movement.
SPAFFORD sent pictures of the “go box” in the back of a SUV to the CHS on or about September 14, 2023. This vehicle appears to be a car known to be owned by SPAFFORD.
The pictures showed several rifles, of which one appeared to be a short barrel rifle, ammunition, medical kits, Tyvek suits, food, water, and other weapons inside the “go box”.
On or about November 27, 2023, SPAFFORD informed the CHS that he has a 10″ barrel rifle. Federal law defines a short-barreled rifle as a rifle with a barrel shorter than sixteen inches in length.
On or about December 21, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to a request from the Norfolk FBI in reference to SPAFFORD having a tax stamp.
The ATF responded that SPAFFORD does not have any tax stamps or registered short barrel rifles on file.
On October 19, 2024, the CHS met with SPAFFORD at SPAFFORD’s residence in Smithfield, Virginia. During the meeting SPAFFORD informed the CHS that he has a short barrel rifle which is not registered because he does not believe in registration.
SPAFFORD informed the CHS that he moved many hundred-pound boxes of ammunition to the SUBJECT PREMISES, but he does not have 10,000 rounds yet.
On or about December 6, 2024 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to a request from the Norfolk FBI in reference to SPAFFORD having a tax stamp.
The ATF responded that SPAFFORD does not have any tax stamps or registered short barrel rifles on file and does not have a license to have explosive materials.
On or about November 20, 2024, the photograph of the short barrel rifle from the “go box” was sent to Agent Megan Shumaker who is a FBI Special Agent and is a Federal Task Force Officer at the ATF and she advised based on her training and experience, this appears to be an SBR based off the photograph. The barrel is not likely to be 16 inches.”
WATCH:
The FBI found the largest cache of “finished explosive devices” in the bureau’s history during the arrest of a Virginia man earlier this month. Investigators recovered “a stockpile of more than 150 homemade improvised explosive devices.” https://t.co/xysXdrsbEn pic.twitter.com/b1l9cw2ijZ
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) December 31, 2024
