JEFFERSON CITY Friday March 28, 2008—State Fire Marshal Randy Cole announced today that Robert B. McGee, 35, of Bonner Springs, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge William A. Knox March 27, 2007 to the charges contained in an Aug. 23, 2007, federal indictment.
State Fire Marshal Investigator David Owens began the investigation based on a hotline call complaining McGee was setting off large fireworks from his lake home in the Turkey Creek area of Edwards. The caller complained that the fireworks were causing homes to vibrate when they exploded. Another resident also told a Fire Marshal’s Office investigator that she was very concerned about the explosions and the safety of her family and property.
“I am proud of David’s investigative work on this case. It is important the public realizes m-80 and m-1000 type devices are not fireworks, but actually homemade explosives,” Cole said. “These homemade explosive devices are capable of producing explosive forces similar to that of dynamite or a pipe bomb.”
A search warrant executed by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the State Fire Marshal’s office and Benton County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 7, 2006, at McGee’s lake home, resulted in the recovery of several Class B fireworks or display fireworks stored in the home as well as illegal M-1000 and M-80 class explosive devices.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation by providing for the secure storage of the illegal explosives. McGee is not licensed either federally or on the state level to have in his possession any explosive materials or display fireworks.
By pleading guilty, McGee admitted he transported explosive materials from Kansas to Missouri in late June or early July 2006. Those materials included at least 144 M-80 explosive devices and 95 M-1000 explosive devices. McGee also admitted he stored those explosive devices and display fireworks at his lake home in Edwards, Mo., which does not conform to the federal requirements for storage of explosive materials.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. Under federal statutes, McGee could be subject to a sentence of up to 11 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $350,000.