David Michael Ansberry Indicted in Bomb Plot

A 64-year-old man, David Michael Ansberry of California, has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly planting a destructive device at the Nederland Police Department in 2016. The one-count indictment, returned late yesterday by a federal grand jury in Denver, charges Ansberry, also known as Jessie Howard, with Use and Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, on October 11, 2016, Ansberry knowingly used and attempted to use the destructive device against persons and property within the United States, acting without lawful authority. The indictment does not specify the nature of the device, but federal law defines a destructive device as including bombs, grenades, and similar instruments capable of mass harm.

Ansberry was arrested in Chicago and remains in custody pending transfer to Colorado. No initial court date has been scheduled in Denver. Prosecutors say once he is transported, formal arraignment will follow. The case has lain dormant for years, but investigators confirmed the statute of limitations does not apply to charges of this severity.

If convicted, Ansberry faces any term of years up to life in federal prison, along with a maximum fine of $250,000. Federal prosecutors assigned to the case include Colorado Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Holloway and Trial Attorney Mara Kohn from the Counter Terrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

The investigation was led by the FBI, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the Nederland Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support in building the case, officials said.

The charges against David Michael Ansberry are allegations. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Grimy Times will update readers once court proceedings are scheduled.