Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael D. Darling, age 41, of Gloversville, New York, was arrested earlier this week on a charge of possessing pipe bombs as unregistered destructive devices.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Gloversville Police Chief Anthony Clay.

A criminal complaint alleges that on February 12, 2021, Gloversville Police Officers observed pipe bombs in plain view while conducting a requested welfare check at Darling’s residence. Officers applied for, and received, a search warrant. While executing the warrant, law enforcement located six capped metal pipes that each appeared to contain propellant powder and small metal balls (commonly known as “BBs”). They also recovered rolls of fuse, a container of Pyrodex (a propellant) and other items that could be used to manufacture explosive devices. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Darling, who is in custody, is scheduled to appear in Albany federal court on February 24 for a detention hearing.

If convicted of the charge set forth in the complaint, Darling faces up to 10 years in prison, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

This case is being investigated by the ATF and Gloversville Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Amsterdam Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sharpe.

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