U. S. President joe biden
U.S. President Joe Biden

Man pleads guilty after stockpiling 150 pipe bombs and using Biden photo for target practice

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to federal charges after authorities discovered more than 150 pipe bombs in his possession and evidence he used an image of President Joe Biden for target practice, according to court records.

Brad Spafford, 36, entered a guilty plea Friday in U.S. District Court to one count of possessing a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Federal prosecutors said the investigation began in January 2023 when a neighbor — identified as a law enforcement officer — reported Spafford’s behavior to the FBI and began cooperating with investigators as a confidential human source.

According to court documents, Spafford had expressed support for “bringing back political assassinations” and was found to have used a photo of Biden as target practice. Agents also learned that he had previously lost three fingers while building explosive devices at home.

More than 150 completed pipe bombs were later seized by authorities.

Spafford now faces a potential prison sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.