MUSKOGEE –Jerry Brandon Pearce, 56, of Indianola, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device), according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On Nov. 25, 2024, Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Accordingtoinvestigators, on Sept. 4, 2023, law enforcement responded to blast reports at Pearce’s residence. There, agents encountered Pearce and two bystanders suffering injuries from a detonated grenade.
An investigation of the blast site revealed that Pearce had modified the unregistered explosive before accidentally setting it off, and that Pearce also possessed assembly components for building additional grenades.
“This case underscores the serious danger posed by illegal and unregistered explosive devices,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Thanks to the swift response and thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners, a potentially deadly situation was contained before further harm occurred. Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws and to supporting initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods that protect our communities from violent crime.”
“Pearce’s actions were egregious and could have been fatal,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Pearce put his own interests ahead of the safety of the community and caused immense harm. Such caustic conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
