Thread by @FordFischer

BIG THREAD: Today, I attended the preliminary/detention hearing for Brad Spafford, charged with possessing a short barrel rifle.

Federal prosecutors say more charges are coming and that his arrest yielded the "largest seizure of finished explosive devices in FBI history."

2) I first reported the case December 19 following Spafford's arrest by the feds, who used a Confidential Human Source (CHS) for two years to get the warrant to arrest Spafford for the alleged Short Barrel Rifle.

3) Rachelann Cardwell, a Suffolk Detective assigned as an officer on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, took the stand today.

She testified that the investigation into Spafford began in January 2023 when the CHS reported Spafford disfiguring his hand with a homemade explosive.

(Photo: Suffolk PD)

4) So who was this informant?

Detective Cardwell testified that the CHS had a 20 year law enforcement career, which Spafford knew, as a long-time friend and neighbor who often wore his police uniform and badge.

5) The government introduced these memes enjoyed by the defendant as exhibit 1 to demonstrate Spafford's alleged "support for violence."

Cardwell also testified that when Spafford went to a shooting range with his cop friend who was a CHS, he used photos of Biden as targets.

6) As noted in this filing docketed after the hearing, Agent Cardwell also testified that Spafford told the CHS following the Trump assassination attempt "that he hoped the shooter doesn’t miss 'Kamala.'"

7) Detective Cardwell revealed today in her testimony that the informant wore a wire while visiting Spafford's property in October, where Spafford allegedly told his former law enforcement friend he doesn't believe in registering short barreled rifles.

8) As also described in the document below, Detective Cardwell testified that Brad Spafford told his former law enforcement friend (then an informant wearing a wire) that he had primary explosive HMTD and secondary explosive ETN, and that he could fortify his property with a 50 caliber turret on the roof.

9) When the FBI raided Brad Spafford's home, Detective Cardwell testified they found primary explosive HMTD in the freezer "next to Hot Pockets and corn on the cob."

She said Spafford was "cooperative" and admitted to both the SBR and HMTD.

10) The gun, which was the subject of the search warrant and currently the only item for which Spafford is charged, was found in his safe.

The barrel length was determined to be 10.5 inches (the tip can be screwed off and therefore doesn't count), which is allegedly too short.

11) Detective Caldwell testified that the feds discovered 150 "destructive devices" which technicians assessed to be "pipe bombs" mostly color-coated and/or labeled by completion and lethality.

12) The feds allegedly recovered one "improvised claymore" as well.

Caldwell said all but 9 explosives were detonated on scene.

This would explain the "loud booms" reported by @WAVY_News - the feds blowing up approximately 140 explosive devices.

13) The feds say they found six devices, connected in pairs, in a backpack with a patch labelled "#NoLivesMatter."

14) Lastly, the feds say they found a journal including an inventory and recipes for explosives.

15) Larry Woodward, for the defense, then cross examined Detective Caldwell, who testified:

-The CHS had reported on Spafford since early 2023, but never saw any explosives himself.

-The CHS wore a wire on more occasions than the October 2024 meeting.

16) Cross-exam, cont'd:

-"As of now" FBI has no knowledge of steps taken to commit assassinations or anti-gov't activities, only rhetoric.

-No threats that they're aware of.

-The FBI began surveilling Spafford but never themselves witnessed him engage in illegal activity.

17) Woodward asked what Caldwell meant in her affidavit by "other physical evidence."

Caldwell admitted there was no physical evidence at the time she wrote it, and called this phrase a "mistake."

18) Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard found probable cause and moved on to detention.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz argued for Spafford's release.

Prosecutor Emily Gantt called this "the largest seizure of finished explosive devices in FBI history."

19) Prosecutor Emily Gantt argued that additional charges forthcoming could include up to 10 years prison for each bomb in addition to the 10 years faced for the SBR.

She called Spafford an "extreme danger" to the community: "After disfiguring his own hand continued to keep these explosives."

20) Defense attorney Jeffrey Swartz argued that Spafford has two children, steady employment, no criminal history, and in two years of FBI investigation, there was never any evidence of threats or intent to use any explosive device.

21) The judge ultimately ordered the release of Brad Spafford, noting that he'd been under investigation for two years. Conditions included:
-$25,000 unsecured bond
-Home detention/electronic monitoring
-Resume employment
-No contact with any witness including the CHS.

22) The prosecution said they would appeal Spafford's pre-trial release, and as of this thread, that has already occurred.

Brad Spafford remains detained for now, pending the outcome of the government's appeal.

23) NEW: Brad Spafford’s response to the government’s motion to revoke his order of release.

“The United States' position that Mr. Spafford is a danger is rank speculation and fear mongering. There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical.”