FORT SMITH, AR – Neil Ravi Mehta, 31, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, is in custody after a six-day manhunt culminated in his arrest yesterday in Austin, Texas. Mehta is facing federal charges for possession of an unregistered destructive device – a homemade bomb – discovered during a raid of his residence.
The bust originated with a federal search warrant executed at Mehta’s home on Free Ferry Road in Fort Smith. According to court documents, law enforcement officers discovered an “improvised explosive bomb” positioned on the kitchen island. Bomb technicians were immediately deployed, x-rayed the device, and rendered it safe before collecting it as evidence. The discovery triggered an immediate, multi-agency investigation and a public appeal for assistance in locating Mehta, who was considered armed and dangerous.
Mehta is currently charged in a Criminal Complaint with a single count of Unlawful Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device. This isn’t just about a forgotten registration; it’s about a potentially lethal weapon built and held illegally. A Grand Jury will convene to review the evidence and determine if further charges will be filed against Mehta, potentially broadening the scope of this investigation.
If convicted of the current charge, Mehta faces a maximum sentence of ten years behind bars. However, the final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors. The feds aren’t playing around with this—an unregistered bomb is a serious threat.
The investigation is a joint effort led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG). The sheer number of agencies involved signals the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Mohlhenrich and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser are prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and Mehta is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But the evidence, as laid out in court documents, paints a grim picture of a man allegedly possessing a dangerous and illegal weapon. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas announced the arrest.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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