Matthew Henry Jacober, Explosives and Methamphetamine Possession, California 2025

Felony Charges Land Bakersfield Man in Prison for 5 Years

A Bakersfield man has been sentenced to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of explosives and manufacturing crystal methamphetamine, federal authorities announced.

Matthew Henry Jacober, 44, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on November 24, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to court documents, Jacober possessed 50 pounds of dynamite in July 2025, which he had hidden in a cave approximately 10 to 15 feet from a travel trailer where he was residing. Jacober was a convicted felon at the time, having been convicted in Kern County Superior Court in 2021 of making a destructive device without a permit, a felony.

As a convicted felon, Jacober was prohibited from possessing explosives. Additionally, Jacober was in the process of manufacturing crystal methamphetamine in his trailer, where he possessed both finished product and methamphetamine in the process of changing from liquid to a crystal form.

The investigation into Jacober's activities was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, and the Kern County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Pataca prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, cartel activity, and violent crime.

Defendant Information:

Defendant Name: Matthew Henry Jacober

Exact Criminal Charges: Being a felon in possession of explosives and manufacturing crystal methamphetamine

City and State: Fresno, California

Exact Date: November 24, 2025 (sentencing)

Sentence or Outcome: 5 years in prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/bakersfield-man-sentenced-5-years-prison-illegally-possessing-explosives-and