NORFOLK, Va. — A Virginia man’s recent arrest on a firearms-related charge led federal agents to uncover an extensive stash of homemade explosives, marking one of the largest discoveries of its kind in U.S. history, according to a recent court filing from federal prosecutors.
Investigators seized over 150 pipe bombs and various other explosive devices when they executed a search warrant at the residence of Brad Spafford, located northwest of Norfolk, in December. Prosecutors reported in a motion filed this week that this incident is believed to represent “the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history.”
Most of the explosives were discovered in a detached garage on Spafford’s property in Isle of Wight County. The search also revealed bomb-making materials such as fuses and lengths of plastic piping. Additionally, prosecutors indicated that several more apparent pipe bombs were found unsecured inside a backpack in a bedroom shared with his wife and two young children.
The 36-year-old Spafford faces charges for illegally possessing a firearm, specifically an unregistered short-barreled rifle, under the National Firearms Act. Prosecutors have mentioned that he may face “numerous additional potential charges” related to the explosives.
In a courtroom hearing on Tuesday, defense attorneys argued that there is no evidence suggesting that Spafford was preparing to commit any act of violence. They also emphasized that he has no prior criminal record. They raised doubts about the usability of the explosive devices, stating that they required professional technicians to manipulate them for detonation.
The defense team stressed, “There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone,” dismissing concerns that his activities posed a danger to individuals based on political views as baseless.
As the investigation unfolded earlier this year, authorities were tipped off by an informant—who is a friend of Spafford—regarding his stockpiling of weapons and ammunition. The informant disclosed that Spafford had severely injured his hand while working on homemade explosives in 2021, resulting in him only having two fingers on his right hand. The informant also reported that Spafford was reportedly using images of the president as targets and expressed a belief that “political assassinations should be brought back.”
On December 17, multiple law enforcement officers and bomb technicians conducted a search of Spafford’s property. During the operation, the agents seized both the rifle and various explosive devices, several of which were labeled as “lethal” and included a vest equipped with explosives. Due to safety concerns, many of the devices were detonated on-site, although some were preserved for further examination.
At a hearing held on Tuesday, federal Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leonard ruled that Spafford could be placed under house arrest at his mother’s residence. However, he decided to keep him in detention while awaiting further arguments from the government.
In their response, prosecutors reiterated their concerns about Spafford’s potential danger. They noted that even without a history of violent behavior, his actions—such as manufacturing explosives marked as “lethal,” possessing riot gear, and his expressed opinions on political assassinations—demonstrate a troubling interest in violence.
