GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Casey Richard Newman, 40, of Muskegon, Michigan, is headed to federal prison for 40 months after admitting to possessing a dangerous, unregistered destructive device. U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff handed down the sentence Friday, adding a three-year supervised release period following Newman’s confinement.
The case originated in August 2019, when Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) officers responded to a residence regarding a suspicious object. What they found was no mere curiosity – a crudely constructed explosive consisting of a plastic bottle packed with explosive powder and BBs, wrapped tightly in electrical tape, and rigged with fuses at both ends. Thankfully, the device never detonated, preventing potential tragedy.
“The citizens of the Western District of Michigan should be able to move about their communities without fear of harm or danger by homemade destructive devices,” declared U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark A. Totten. “Those who engage in these dangerous crimes will be held accountable.” Newman pleaded guilty to the offense on January 25, 2023.
ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir emphasized the gravity of Newman’s actions. “Casey Newman’s reckless actions could have resulted in an explosion that killed and injured many people,” Deir stated. “This investigation, conducted in conjunction with our state and local law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was essential in ensuring Newman was held accountable.”
The GRPD Bomb Squad responded to the scene, rendering the device safe and conducting initial testing. Subsequent forensic analysis was performed by the ATF Forensic Science Laboratory, confirming the object’s dangerous nature. GRPD Captain Michael Maycroft, Bomb Squad Commander, highlighted the interagency cooperation. “Although this type of investigation and conviction is a rare event in the city of Grand Rapids, it was our primary mission to take a dangerous improvised explosive device off the streets and identify the culprit before anyone got hurt.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegal explosives and the commitment of federal, state, and local agencies to protect the public from such threats. Newman’s 40-month sentence sends a clear message: building and possessing unregistered destructive devices carries severe consequences.
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