Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 | 5:15 p.m.
A Las Vegas man who had bragged that he could kill many people because of his stockpile of weapons and ammunition has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing and making explosives at his home, Nevada’s U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden announced today.
Steven Fernandes, 19, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, officials said. Fernandes, who faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 18.
The plea agreement states that Fernandes possessed at his home explosive parts and devices that were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Fernandes also transported explosive materials in Nevada, Utah and Arizona and detonated destructive devices in the Arizona desert in September 2012.
Court records indicate that, from January to September 2012, several people reported to the FBI that Fernandes believed he was a sniper and commanding officer of a militia preparing to go to war with the government or an invading country.
Fernandes boasted that he could walk into a restaurant and kill as many people as he wanted because of his large firearm and ammunition collection. Fernandes also said he was trained in building homemade explosives, including chlorine bombs, and had made numerous pipe bombs.
Federal agents arrested Fernandes Sept. 13, 2012, as he was driving away from his residence with a loaded shotgun in his vehicle.
While searching his vehicle and residence, authorities found numerous firearms, explosive devices and chemical substances and tools that could be used to build explosives, such as napalm, ammonium and sodium sulfate, sulfur and cannon fuses.
Authorities also discovered two inert hand grenades, five rifles, four handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, in addition to instructive materials for making explosive devices.
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Clark County Fire Department and Metro Police investigated this case.
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