D’Hanis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Manufacturing Pipe Bombs

In San Antonio today, United States District Judge David A. Ezra sentenced 21-year-old Michael Anthony Keich of D’Hanis, TX, to 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for manufacturing a destructive device announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

On May 22, 2015, Keich pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful making of a destructive device.  By pleading guilty, Keich admitted that he manufactured three pipe bombs.   Two were seized by federal law enforcement and rendered safe.  The third was discharged, but no one was injured as a result of the explosion.

The first pipe bomb was used to destroy a motorcycle in Hondo, TX, on February 27, 2014.  The second was recovered by ATF agents in a Hondo motel parking lot on April 14, 2014.  The third was recovered by FBI agents while executing a search warrant at a Hondo residence on May 2, 2014. 

Federal authorities also recovered a suspected pipe bomb as well as materials used in the production of explosive devices when executing a search warrant at Keich’s residence on May 20, 2014.   That device was later determined to be a hoax bomb.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, San Antonio Police Department Bomb Squad, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, and the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Eric Fuchs prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.