Joshua Eugene Rickey, Manufacture of Unregistered Destructive Devices, Missouri 2022

HANNIBAL, MO – Joshua Eugene Rickey, 34, of Hannibal, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for six years after admitting to a spree of illegal pipe bomb construction and detonation throughout the summer of 2022. The sentencing, handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Ross, reflects the escalating danger posed by Rickey’s homemade explosives.

According to court documents, Rickey manufactured a series of increasingly potent pipe bombs between July 4th and August 13th, 2022, utilizing plastic and metal pipes, and scavenging materials from fireworks. He didn’t just build them; he detonated two of them, raising immediate concerns for public safety within the Hannibal community. The brazen disregard for human life clearly influenced the judge’s decision.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj detailed during the sentencing hearing a disturbing pattern of escalation. Rickey’s bombs weren’t static – they grew in size and complexity with each iteration, compounding the threat. One device seized by authorities was deemed so unstable it required a controlled detonation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to prevent an accidental explosion during handling.

“This case illustrates ATF’s commitment in preventing attacks instead of responding to their aftermath,” stated Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen of the ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. The statement, while standard agency boilerplate, underscores the proactive stance federal investigators took in this case – stopping Rickey before he could cause serious harm. Hansen further emphasized that the conviction and sentencing are a direct result of the agency’s “steadfast efforts to hold accountable individuals who threaten the safety of our communities.”

Rickey pleaded guilty in July to one count of manufacture of one or more unregistered destructive devices and one count of possession of one or more unregistered destructive devices in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the ATF and the Hannibal Police Department, demonstrating the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling dangerous weapons offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj led the prosecution. While six years is a substantial sentence, many in law enforcement will see it as a necessary measure to deter others from pursuing similar, reckless behavior. Rickey’s case serves as a stark reminder that manufacturing and possessing illegal explosives carries severe consequences under federal law, and that the ATF will aggressively pursue those who put communities at risk.

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