DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida

For Immediate Release

Friday, November 6, 2015
Wifredo A. Ferrer
, United States Attorney

Kendall Man Charged With Possessing Unregistered Destructive Device

A Kendall man unlawfully possessed the components of four pipe bombs, in violation of the National Firearms Act. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Carlos Canino, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), J.D. Patterson, Director, Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD), David Downey, Fire Chief, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, and Joseph Steadman, Chief, State of Florida – Fire Marshal’s Office, made the announcement.

Jonathan Cristian Dittemore, 24, of Miami-Dade, was charged, by complaint, with possessing a National Firearm Act (NFA) firearm not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d). If convicted Dittemore faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.  This afternoon, Dittemore had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber.

According to court documents, on October 23, 2015, a Miami-Dade County sanitation vehicle exploded in the area of 10620 SW 129th Court in Miami, Florida.  An investigation into the explosion led law enforcement to Dittemore’s former residence.  Inside Dittemore’s residence, including a bedroom allegedly used by the defendant, law enforcement discovered various explosive powders and components to construct destructive devices (pipe bombs).   According to a record query, Dittemore possessed the components of the destructive devices in contravention of the requirements of the National Firearms Act. 

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ATF, MDPD Arson and Bomb Disposal Units, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department and the State of Florida – Fire Marshal’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Kobrinski.

A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

 

Miami Field Division