Richard Sandberg, Colorado Man With 'Right Wing' Manifesto, Had Explosives, Chemicals, Guns: Officials

A Colorado man, who is reportedly a former U.S. Marine with a “right-wing declaration of independence/constitutionalist political manifesto,” was allegedly caught with an arsenal of explosives, chemicals and guns, and arrested after officials say he tried to trade homemade explosives for cocaine.

Richard Sandberg, a 35-year-old from Morrison, Colo., was arrested by federal agents Thursday morning after bomb squad units and Denver law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home, KMGH-TV reports.

Officials received a tip that indicated Sandberg had an
arsenal of firearms, homemade bombs and military hand grenades and wanted to trade them for cocaine.

After receiving the tip, an undercover agent contacted Sandberg -- who identified himself as former Special Ops Recon SS Marine Corps -- to strike up a deal for an explosive, according to the District of Colorado's affidavit. Sandberg reportedly claimed he specialized in demolition, saying his "homemade s**t" is "not firecrackers, not things to play with," but "life or death."

When the two met, the undercover agent made note of Sandberg's anti-government mentality (via District of Colorado affidavit):

Sandberg claimed a right-wing declaration of independence/constitutionalist political manifesto and made disparaging remarks about the current administration and them wanting to take away his guns. Sandberg made numerous threatening statements towards law enforcement (LE) and specifically ATF, stating if any LE or ATF came inside his house, to take his guns, it would be a bad day for them and lots of them would die. Sandberg stated that he was ready and willing to die.

KDVR reports that the U.S. attorney’s office confirmed Sandberg has threatened to kill people in the past.

From the Denver Post:

Investigators later examined the devices Sandberg gave the agent. Each device contained "explosive powder, a fuse and a shrapnel in the form of stainless steel ball bearings."

Sandberg was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm, which includes explosive devices, the Associated Press notes. He is currently being held without bond and awaits a detention hearing and preliminary hearing scheduled for Tuesday.