On January 27, U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced David Riggle, a 40-year-old resident of Upton, Wyoming, to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release for possessing a destructive device. Riggle was also fined $300.
Riggle’s arrest followed an incident on November 30, 2024, when a worker at a drilling company’s property in Weston County noticed the smell of propane coming from a storage trailer. Authorities discovered inside the trailer a battery-powered device equipped with wires, a timer, and a fuse placed next to an open 100-pound propane tank that was leaking gas. Investigators determined that the timer was likely set to delay ignition so the suspect could leave the area before detonation.
Although the device did not ignite, law enforcement stated it had the potential to cause significant harm. Footprints found at the scene led investigators toward Riggle’s home, located about two-thirds of a mile away. A federal search warrant executed on December 11, 2024, at Riggle’s residence uncovered items matching those used in the device: footprints similar to those found at the scene, a matching 6-volt battery, safety fuse, wires, and soldering tools.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith commented on the case: “This was not a harmless or symbolic act. The defendant placed a functioning propane-based explosive inside a work trailer, putting employees, nearby residents, and an entire community at risk of serious injury or death. While the device failed to ignite, the fear and disruption it caused were real—employees were afraid to return to work, business operations were delayed, and a sense of safety in Upton was shaken. The law does not measure harm only by what detonates, but by the danger created and the lives put in jeopardy.”
Riggle waived indictment and pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025. The investigation involved multiple agencies including Weston County Sheriff’s Office, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case.
Case No. 25-CR-00149
