AUSTIN, TX – Neil Ravi Mehta, 31, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, is cooling his heels in a federal holding cell after a six-day nationwide chase ended with his arrest in Austin, Texas. Mehta, an arms dealer, wasn’t wanted for trafficking illegal firearms – he was building a bomb. An improvised explosive device was discovered during a raid of his Free Ferry Road residence, prompting the manhunt when he vanished.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Mehta’s Fort Smith home and found the IED tucked away on the kitchen island. Bomb techs confirmed it was a functional, unregistered destructive device. They carefully disarmed and collected it as evidence. The feds aren’t talking about the specifics of the device itself, but sources confirm it was capable of causing significant harm.
The arrest wasn’t a solo operation. The FBI, ATF, and a host of other federal agencies – including the Bureau of Industry and Security, IRS-CI, and the Department of Labor’s Inspector General – all contributed to the investigation and manhunt. The sheer number of agencies involved suggests this wasn’t a simple case of a misguided hobbyist.
Mehta now faces a single federal charge: unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device. While that carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence, federal prosecutors are hinting at the possibility of additional charges. They’re digging into Mehta’s motives, potential connections to organized crime, and exactly what he intended to do with the bomb.
The public played a crucial role in Mehta’s capture, providing tips that helped narrow the search. Law enforcement initially considered him armed and dangerous, increasing the urgency of the manhunt. Details from the search warrant reveal the bomb was located in the top left corner of the kitchen island, a seemingly casual placement for a potentially lethal device. Photos documenting the scene are currently being processed as evidence.
Mehta’s case will now move to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas. A grand jury will review the evidence and decide if further charges are warranted. While Mehta is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the feds are treating this case with the utmost seriousness. This isn’t just about an illegal weapon; it’s about a potential threat to public safety that was neutralized just in time.
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Key Facts
- Category: Weapons
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