A Virginia man who allegedly used photos of President Joe Biden for target practice has been jailed after police discovered what authorities are calling the largest stash of homemade explosives in FBI history.
Brad Spafford, a self-described “ultra MAGA man,” was arrested earlier this month after an investigation into a relatively minor charge—possession of an unregistered short-barrel rifle—turned into something far more serious. When FBI agents searched his home, they found over 150 homemade explosive devices, including pipe bombs.
Spafford, 36, deemed by authorities as an “extreme danger to the community,” lived on a 20-acre property in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, with two young children. In addition to the explosives, investigators uncovered troubling items like a backpack with a grenade-shaped patch that read “#NoLivesMatter”—a reference to a far-right, nihilistic ideology linked to violent rhetoric.
Court documents revealed that some of the devices were labeled “lethal,” and others contained unstable materials marked “dangerous” and “do not touch.” The FBI also found pipe bombs in a bedroom, along with a history of violence: Spafford had reportedly injured his fingers in a homemade explosion back in 2021.
The investigation also revealed that Spafford had expressed support for political violence. FBI agents noted he had used images of President Biden for target practice, talked about political assassinations, and recently trained in sniper shooting at a local range. He was also suspected of stockpiling weapons and ammo.
A federal judge ruled this week to keep Spafford in custody, with prosecutors arguing his release would pose a serious risk to the community, including his family and law enforcement. His defense team, however, pushed back, claiming there’s no evidence that Spafford ever directly threatened anyone, calling the government’s concerns “fear mongering.”
For now, Spafford remains behind bars, facing serious charges as authorities continue their investigation.
