Douglas Moore, Pipe Bombs & Meth, Missouri 2023

BYRNES MILL, MO – Douglas Moore, 47, is facing federal time after admitting to possessing two pipe bombs and methamphetamine. The bust, a result of a routine traffic stop gone sideways, adds another layer of trouble for a man already walking a thin line with the law.

On May 11, 2021, a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department deputy pulled over Moore while he was driving a 2004 Suzuki Aerio with expired plates. The deputy quickly discovered an active warrant for Moore’s arrest. It was during a search of the vehicle following the arrest that the dangerous cargo was found – two crudely constructed pipe bombs and a quantity of methamphetamine.

Moore’s legal troubles don’t end with this federal plea. He was already on probation and currently faces pending charges in both Ste. Genevieve County and Jefferson County circuit courts, indicating a pattern of disregard for the law. This latest conviction will almost certainly impact those ongoing cases.

Moore pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one felony count of possession of an unregistered destructive device. The charge carries a hefty potential sentence: up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. Sentencing has been scheduled for July, leaving Moore to await his fate.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF’s involvement underscores the seriousness of possessing homemade explosives, even in a state with relatively lax gun laws.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is handling the prosecution, aiming to put Moore away for a significant period. The case serves as a stark reminder that even a minor traffic violation can unravel a web of criminal activity, and that possessing dangerous devices like pipe bombs will draw the full force of federal law enforcement. The Kansas City Field Division of the ATF spearheaded the federal investigation.

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