A 12-inch pipe bomb stuffed with match heads, pyrotechnic powder, and BB pellets was found hidden inside a North Las Vegas home — and Christopher Michael Robinson, 46, is now staring down federal charges for building and leaving it behind. The explosive device, capable of shredding flesh and splintering walls, was discovered after the homeowner claimed Robinson had been evicted for unpaid rent and threatened to “blow up the house.”
Robinson, a convicted felon with a violent past, was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His initial court appearance is set for March 1, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe. Prosecutors say the device was so unstable it required robot extraction by bomb technicians from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and the FBI.
According to the criminal complaint, on January 11, 2018, North Las Vegas police requested emergency backup after the homeowner reported the threat. Investigators found the pipe bomb lodged in a concealed area of the residence. After disarming and analyzing the device, authorities confirmed it was functional and potentially deadly. Robinson later admitted to law enforcement that he had constructed the bomb — and chillingly revealed he was currently on parole in Hawaii for manufacturing a nearly identical device in the past.
The indictment details a pattern of criminal behavior stretching across state lines. Robinson has multiple prior felony convictions in both Clark County, Nevada, and Hawaii, making his possession of any weapon — let alone a homemade explosive — a federal offense. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, he could face two decades behind bars.
Federal and local agencies moved in tandem to bring Robinson to justice. The FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all played key roles in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. is leading the prosecution.
This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat violent crime by strengthening cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Announced for reinvigoration by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in October 2017, PSN has become a cornerstone of the DOJ’s crackdown on armed offenders. For more on the program, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.
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