Blackfoot man pleads guilty to possession of homemade bombs - East Idaho News
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Blackfoot man pleads guilty to possession of homemade bombs

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The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for Idaho.

POCATELLO — Matthew Gage Burgett, 25, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of destructive devices, which Burgett designed for use as a weapon, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said.

The Blackfoot man was indicted by a Pocatello grand jury on Oct. 27.

On Sept. 24, law enforcement officers served search warrants at Burgett’s residence and found several explosive devices, including four assembled devices with a main charge container and a fuzing system, as well as three partially-assembled devices and explosive material.

Burgett admitted that the explosive devices were designed for use as a weapon. Additionally, at the time of the execution of the search warrant, Burgett had previously been involuntary committed to a mental institution and could not possess firearms. Two firearms were also located at Burgett’s residence.

The charge of unlawful possession of destructive devices is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

Burgett is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Blackfoot Police Department, and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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