A man from Virginia entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday in a federal case accusing him of amassing the largest stockpile of finished explosives in FBI history and using President Joe Biden’s image for target practice. Brad Spafford, 36, appeared in an orange jumpsuit with his legs chained, answering mostly with “yes” or “no” during his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. The priority of the hearing was setting a trial date for May 28 to allow sufficient time for attorneys to review a substantial amount of evidence.
Rebecca Gantt, a federal prosecutor, informed the judge that investigators are still examining evidence seized from Spafford’s residence in Isle of Wight County, where roughly 150 pipe bombs and homemade devices were found. Most explosives were detonated at the property, necessitating soil testing, while some were transported to a lab for analysis. Investigators are also scrutinizing Spafford’s electronic devices, including a phone with 500,000 images, among other materials.
Spafford is charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device and an unregistered short barrel rifle, both felonies carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. His attorney, Kenneth Woodward, noted during the hearing that the National Firearms Act lacks a clear definition of explosives. The defense has raised doubts about the functionality of the devices found on Spafford’s property, emphasizing that they required professional technicians to activate them.
The investigation into Spafford commenced in 2023 following a tip from an informant alleging his accumulation of weapons and ammunition. The informant, a friend who is also a law enforcement member, reported Spafford’s use of the president’s photos for target practice and his support for political assassinations. Despite arguments for release, a federal judge ruled last week that Spafford must remain in custody due to concerns about his potential for danger, citing a prior incident in which he lost three fingers in an explosion involving homemade explosives.
Spafford’s defense team highlighted his stable job as a machinist, lack of criminal history, and family responsibilities, including being a husband and father of two young daughters. The defense has emphasized Spafford’s lack of a history of threatening behavior or posing any immediate danger.
Spafford has never made any threats towards anyone. “And what has he accomplished in those two years?” Swartz inquired. “He has purchased a home, raised his children, maintained a wonderful marriage, and held onto a fantastic job, all of which are still part of his life.” However, according to federal prosecutors, investigators had limited information about the homemade bombs until an informant visited Spafford’s residence. Prosecutors stated in a filing that, “But when the defendant mentioned on a recorded wiretap in October 2024 that he had an unstable primary explosive stored in the freezer, the government took immediate action.”
