Blackfoot man pleads guilty to possession of homemade bombs

A Blackfoot man will be sentenced February 28, 2017, after pleading guilty to Monday to possession of destructive devices he designed for use as a weapon. Matthew Gage Burgett, 25, entered the plea in United States District Court in Pocatello. He was indicted by a grand jury October 27, 2015. On September 24, 2015, law enforcement officers served search warrants at Burgett’s residence and found several explosive devices, including four assembled devices. The home made bombs included a main charge container and a fuzing system, as well as three partially assembled devices and explosive material. Burgett admitted the devices were designed for use as a weapon. At the time of the execution of a search warrant, Burgett had previously been involuntarily committed to a mental institution and could not possess firearms. Two firearms were also located at Burgett’s residence. Possession of destructive devices is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Blackfoot Police Department, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.