RAPID CITY, SD – Majestic Fairbanks, 28, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after being sentenced to five years in federal prison for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, a charge stemming from a brazen act of arson and the creation of homemade explosives. U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes handed down the sentence on January 31, 2023, following a guilty plea entered on October 14, 2022, after an indictment in March 2022.
The case, as detailed by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, reveals a disturbing pattern of behavior. Between December 2019 and January 2020, Fairbanks manufactured and possessed a dangerous device: a metal aerosol canister rigged with CO2 cartridges and a commercial-grade firework packed with explosives. He didn’t just possess it; he used it. Fairbanks forcibly broke into a local business and hurled the device inside, triggering an explosion that caused significant damage.
Law enforcement wasn’t left in the dark for long. Shortly after the attack, officers located Fairbanks in possession of an identical, fully functional device. He confessed to building these destructive contraptions himself, confirming a deliberate and dangerous intent. This wasn’t a one-off incident; it was a calculated act of violence with the potential for far greater harm.
Beyond the prison sentence, Fairbanks will be subject to three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. He’s also been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a meager sum considering the damage and terror inflicted. He was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, effectively ending his reign of homemade terror in Rapid City.
Federal authorities are framing this case as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention programs, targeted enforcement, and measurable results. Whether this sentence will truly contribute to safer neighborhoods remains to be seen, but the message is clear: manufacturing and deploying explosive devices will not be tolerated.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson skillfully prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a sentence that, while substantial, may not fully reflect the gravity of Fairbanks’ actions. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by individuals willing to create and use homemade explosives, and the dedication of law enforcement to bringing them to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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