Colorado Springs Man Sentenced for Homemade Bombs

DENVER – A Colorado Springs man is headed to federal prison after a routine traffic stop unearthed a stash of homemade bombs and illegal ammunition. Michael Robert Stevens, 49, was sentenced yesterday to 56 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of improvised destructive devices and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced.

The trouble began October 27, 2018, when Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officers responded to a report of a suspected DUI. They found Stevens passed out at the wheel of a stolen truck. While processing the vehicle, officers discovered a black bag containing two 8-inch PVC pipes capped at both ends – items that didn’t belong to the truck’s owner. An x-ray by the CSPD Regional Explosives Unit revealed suspected lead shot or fragmentation material inside the pipes, indicating they were designed to cause harm.

The bag also contained a red plastic bottle of Sterno fire starter and a glass jar filled with a dark substance mirroring the contents of the PVC pipes. These were quickly identified as improvised destructive devices. Adding to the illegal haul, officers found nine shotgun shells. Stevens, a convicted felon, was already prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

“Homemade explosive devices simply have no place in our community and will not be tolerated,” stated U.S. Attorney Dunn. “Thanks to the great work of the CSPD, the ATF, and attorneys in my office, Mr. Stevens will now have more than four years in federal prison to think about the harm he could have caused.” David Booth, ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of partnerships with local law enforcement in combating violent crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Weiss prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Denver Field Division of the ATF and the Colorado Springs Police Department. U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson handed down the sentence. This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws. The case number is 19-cr-508, and related court documents can be found on PACER.

The Department of Justice is also commemorating its 150th anniversary this year. This case underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to public safety and the enforcement of laws designed to protect communities from dangerous individuals and the threat of explosive devices. More information about Project Guardian can be found at https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

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