Christopher Arthur, Bombmaking, North Carolina 2023

Bombmaking Instructor Who Taught How to Kill Law Enforcement Sentenced to 25 Years

A bombmaking instructor who taught an individual how to make and use an explosive in order to kill federal law enforcement was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Christopher Arthur, 40, was convicted by a jury in July 2023 of nine counts, including teaching bombmaking to target law enforcement and possessing unregistered devices.

Arthur's sentencing hearing revealed the extent of his crimes, including a video series on how to overthrow the government. The court applied the terrorism enhancement for sentencing, resulting in a maximum sentence on each of the nine counts of conviction.

According to court documents, Arthur taught an individual in Mount Olive, North Carolina, how to create IEDs and how to place them to create 'fatal funnels' that could be used to maim or murder anyone entering the home. He also showed the individual how to create an electric initiator for homemade grenades and bombs and how to make a homemade trip wire.

The investigation into Arthur began after a shootout with police in New York in May 2022. Search warrants related to the event resulted in the location of numerous Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and firearms along with multiple 'Tackleberry Solutions' tactical instructional manuals which named Christopher Arthur as the author.

Arthur was arrested after a confidential source working with the FBI requested training from him. The source attended training on explosives at Arthur's Mount Olive home in May 2021 and discussed plans with Arthur to use the training to target law enforcement.

Christopher Arthur was sentenced to a total of 300 months' imprisonment for his crimes. He was convicted of teaching another individual how to make and use an explosive knowing that the individual intended to use that instruction in the murder or attempted murder of federal law enforcement.

Defendant: Christopher Arthur

Criminal Charges: Teaching bombmaking to target law enforcement, possessing unregistered devices

City and State: Raleigh, North Carolina

Exact Date: July 2023 (conviction), January 2022 (search warrant executed)

Sentence or Outcome: 25 years in prison (300 months)

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/bombmaking-instructor-who-taught-how-kill-law-enforcement-sentenced-25-years