Blackfoot Man Pleads Guilty to Homemade Bomb Possession

Matthew Gage Burgett, 25, of Blackfoot, Idaho, admitted in federal court yesterday to possessing homemade bombs engineered for use as weapons. The guilty plea, entered in U.S. District Court in Pocatello, lands Burgett on the brink of a decade behind bars for amassing a cache of volatile devices in his residence.

On September 24, 2015, a coordinated raid by multiple law enforcement agencies descended on Burgett’s home. Search warrants executed that day uncovered four fully assembled explosive devices, each equipped with a main charge container and fuzing system. Investigators also seized three partially-built bombs and raw explosive material, all of which Burgett later admitted were intended for destructive use.

The indictment, handed down by a Pocatello grand jury on October 27, 2015, charged Burgett with unlawful possession of destructive devices—a federal offense carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. No evidence surfaced linking the bombs to a specific planned attack, but the design and assembly indicated clear weaponization intent.

Adding to the severity of the case, Burgett was legally prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of the search. He had previously been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility, disqualifying him under federal law from owning guns. Officers recovered two firearms inside the home, a violation that could trigger separate charges or sentencing enhancements.

U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson confirmed the plea and emphasized the threat posed by unlicensed explosives in civilian hands. ‘The possession of homemade bombs designed as weapons is not only illegal—it’s dangerous,’ Olson stated. ‘This case underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in neutralizing potential threats before tragedy strikes.’

Burgett is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2017, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Pocatello. The investigation was jointly conducted by the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Blackfoot Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.