TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A man accused of detonating an explosive device in Tampa pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered destructive device on Monday.
According to court documents, on April 11, members of the Tampa Police Department Bomb Squad were conducting training on North 12th Street when they heard a loud explosion.
Officers saw a large smoke plume several blocks away, rising above East Columbus Drive.
They canvassed the neighborhood and ended up at the home of Joseph Caltagirone, 61.
Inside Caltagirone’s home, officers found PVC pipe, a hobby fuse and precursor chemicals such a potassium nitrate and sulfur.
Officers also found an assemble destructive device resembling a pipe bomb.
The pipe contained an explosive mixture called Tannerite and exploding the device would have projected PVC pipe fragments at high speeds in all directions.
Caltagirone admitted to having constructed the device.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as the Tampa Police Department.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Caltagirone faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
