Florida man built, sold homemade pipe bomb to undercover detective, ATF says

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — A South Florida man is facing a host of federal charges after authorities said that he built a pipe bomb and sold it to an undercover detective.

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In a Wednesday press conference, Roger Handberg, U.S. Attorney for the middle district of Florida, said the case began Nov. 1 when James John Hall of Zephyrhills sent text messages to someone who had purchased firearms from him before.

Handberg said Hall then shared multiple photos of a pipe bomb that he built in his home. The photos showed three to four plastic jars painted camouflage and taped together with a pipe on top, WTSP reported.

Hall also stated in the text messages that he had considered using the pipe bomb to target someone with whom he was angry, Handberg said.

“What Hall did not know was the person he was sharing that information with was a confidential source with the Tampa Police Department,” Handberg added.

In turn, Tampa police coordinated with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Pasco and Hillsborough County sheriff’s offices for an undercover detective to meet with Hall the following day, WTSP reported.

According to WTVT, Hall sold the undercover detective the homemade pipe bomb for $800. He also sold the detective a Glock 17 pistol and told him that he had enough materials to make six more of the explosive devices.

Hall faces one count of unlicensed distribution of explosive materials, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of unlawful making of a destructive device, Handberg’s office confirmed.

ATF bomb technicians safely disassembled the device while Hall was arrested, WTSP reported.

Hall faces as many as 30 years in prison if convicted.