Waylon Blake Gilreath, Sr., Unregistered Destructive Device, Alabama 2024

A federal jury in Alabama has convicted a Georgia man of illegally possessing a destructive device.

Waylon Blake Gilreath, Sr., 43, of Williamson, Georgia, was convicted of possession of an unregistered destructive device, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.

The conviction stems from a domestic disturbance on March 20, 2024, in Hope Hull, Alabama, where Montgomery County law enforcement responded to a residence following reports of a disturbance.

Deputies arrived and found Gilreath sitting on the front porch of the residence, despite a protection from abuse order prohibiting him from being on the property.

Responding officers were advised of the order and eventually arrested Gilreath on charges related to the domestic disturbance.

During a search of Gilreath's vehicle, which was parked on the property, deputies found nine firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, several ammunition magazines, and two sets of body armor.

Several of the magazines were high-capacity drum style magazines. In addition, deputies located four prescription medication bottles that contained what appeared to be an explosive mixture of some type.

Lab analysis later confirmed that the bottles contained two common substances used in exploding targets.

Three of the devices were also found to contain shrapnel, which would enhance the destructive power of the devices.

Following this conviction, Gilreath faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdal/pr/georgia-man-convicted-illegally-possessing-destructive-device