A South Los Angeles man was arrested Saturday on federal charges of illegally transporting tons of explosives he purchased in Nevada – including dangerous homemade devices that were detonated by police, leading to a massive explosion that destroyed a specially designed containment vehicle and injured 17 people, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Center District of California said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a statement that Arturo Ceja III, was arrested by ATF special agents pursuant to a criminal complaint filed late Friday that charges him with transporting explosives without a license.
According to the statement, the officers found over 500 boxes of commercial grade fireworks in large cardboard boxes at Ceja’s house. The initial investigation by local authorities estimated that approximately 5,000 pounds of fireworks were found, AFT said. The ATF determined that Ceja was storing approximately 32,000 pounds of fireworks in his backyard.
Ceja will remain in custody until an initial appearance expected on July 6 in United States District Court in Los Angeles, officials said.
The charge of transporting explosives without a license carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General; and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating this matter.
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