Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

RENO – A California man made his initial court appearance yesterday for allegedly stealing explosive materials from a mill in Hawthorne, Nevada.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Evan Ray Atkinson, 38, with multiple counts of Theft of Explosive Material from Licensee; Theft of Explosive Material Moved in Interstate Commerce; Transport of Explosives by a Non-Licensee; Possession of Stolen Explosives; and Improper Storage of Explosives. Atkinson was arrested on January 4, 2022 in Henderson. U.S. District Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb scheduled a jury trial to begin on March 28, 2022, before Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.

According to allegations in the indictment, on December 24, 2021, Atkinson stole approximately 100 pounds of detonating cord, boosters, and dynamite from a Federal Explosives Licensee. Atkinson then drove the explosives to Henderson and stored them in his hotel room and vehicle. On January 4, 2022, after evacuating the hotel, law enforcement safely recovered the stolen explosive materials from Atkinson’s vehicle and hotel room.

If convicted, Atkinson faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the ATF, Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, FBI, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn Johnson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.