In Norfolk, Virginia, a federal judge has determined that Brad Spafford, a 36-year-old man, will remain in custody until his trial, following accusations of hoarding the largest stockpile of finished explosives recorded by the FBI. He is also under scrutiny for allegedly using a photograph of President Joe Biden as a target during practice sessions. U.S. District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen emphasized the significant risk posed by Spafford, stating he has “shown the capacity for extreme danger.”
Spafford is facing charges related to unregistered firearms, specifically for allegedly possessing a short-barrel rifle. Prosecutors indicated that more charges related to the explosives he stored may be forthcoming, especially considering devices were found in a backpack conspicuously labeled “#nolivesmatter.” He is also a father to two young daughters. Reports revealed that he had stashed unstable explosive materials in a garage freezer, alongside grocery items like Hot Pockets and frozen corn.
During a court session, Judge Allen pointed out that Spafford had lost three fingers in a 2021 incident linked to homemade explosives, a fact his defense team did not dispute. She highlighted his previous statements expressing a disregard for government regulations regarding firearms and his conscious decision to violate laws concerning the registration of short-barrel rifles. “The Court is not confident that Mr. Spafford would be any more respectful of the imposed conditions of release,” she stated.
Defense lawyers contended that the prosecution has failed to demonstrate that Spafford intended to commit acts of violence. They pointed out that he has an unblemished record, is married, works as a machinist, and has not threatened anyone. Their argument questioned the functionality of the explosives, suggesting that the devices were only usable when manipulated by professionally trained technicians.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz asserted that investigators had been monitoring Spafford since January 2023, during which period he posed no threat. “What has he done during those two years?” he asked, listing positive life developments such as buying a home and nurturing his family.
However, federal prosecutors noted that information regarding Spafford’s explosives capabilities remained limited until an informant disclosed details about his homemade bombs. After Spafford revealed on a recorded wire that he kept an unstable primary explosive in his freezer in October 2024, authorities acted quickly. During a raid on his Isle of Wight County home in December, investigators uncovered over 150 pipe bombs and various other homemade explosive devices, many located in a detached garage filled with tools and bomb-making supplies.
Among the devices seized were additional apparent pipe bombs discovered unsecured in a backpack inside his home, which he shares with his wife and children. The inquiry was initiated when an informant alerted authorities about Spafford’s stockpiling of firearms and ammunition. This informant, who is reportedly a friend with ties to law enforcement, informed authorities that Spafford had been using images of the president for shooting practice and had volatile views on political violence.
Law enforcement and bomb tech teams conducted thorough searches of Spafford’s property on December 17. They discovered not only the unregistered firearm but also multiple explosive devices, some of which were marked as “lethal” and others configured into a wearable vest. Most of these hazardous items were detonated on-site for safety concerns, while several were retained for further examination.
In an earlier hearing, while a federal magistrate considered allowing Spafford to serve house arrest at his mother’s residence, he opted to keep him detained as prosecutors prepared additional arguments. Although prosecutors conceded that Spafford had not engaged in visible violence, they argued that his behavior—including his interest in making lethal pipe bombs and employing riot gear—suggested a troubling inclination toward violence and aggression.
In her ruling, Judge Allen concluded that Spafford represented an “extreme” threat to both his family and the broader community, referencing the vast scale of his operations. “The Court has not found a comparable case in terms of scale,” she remarked, noting that even cases involving smaller caches of dangerous materials had led to pretrial detention.
