Rome, GA - The United States Attorney's Office today announced that WILLIAM G. COFFMAN, Jr., 46, of Dallas, Georgia, was taken into federal custody today by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) when he was released by Paulding County authorities, and will appear in federal court to face charges of possessing and manufacturing improvised explosive devices and doing so after having been convicted of a felony offense. COFFMAN’s preliminary hearing and bond hearing is now scheduled for 10 a.m., on April 17, 2007, before Federal Magistrate Judge Walter E. Johnson in Rome, Georgia.

“Mr. Coffman’s alleged manufacture of pipe-bomb style improvised explosive devices in his home in a residential neighborhood, and his alleged possession of those bombs during a stand-off with and search of his residence by local, state, and federal law enforcement officers put at great risk the lives of those officers as well as those citizens in his Paulding County community,” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “When an individual makes or possesses such dangerous devices and so endangers the community, he will face federal prosecution.”

“Pipe bombs are serious business. They are not devices to be experimented or toyed with,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Vanessa L. McLemore. “By effectively defusing and securing a dangerous situation and then tapping into the resources and expertise of fellow agencies, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department greatly enhanced ATF’s ability to prepare the case for federal prosecution.”

According to the criminal complaint filed in this case: On April 3, 2007, Paulding County Sheriff’s Deputies went to the residence of COFFMAN, at 212 Stoker Road, Dallas, Georgia, in response to a domestic altercation involving threats of violence. According to witnesses, COFFMAN kept repeating that “he was going to kill someone and he wasn’t going to let anyone take him.” When Paulding County Deputies arrived at his residence, COFFMAN allegedly came out of his residence armed with a rifle and pointed it at one of the deputies before retreating back into his residence. A standoff with police ensued, culminating with COFFMAN’s surrender and arrest hours later. COFFMAN was allegedly in possession of several firearms at the time of his arrest.

After COFFMAN ’s arrest late on April 3rd, Paulding County authorities received a telephone call from his wife stating that she had found what she thought were pipe bombs at the residence. In the early morning hours of April 4, 2007, ATF Special Agents, Georgia Bureau of Investigations explosives technicians, and FBI Special Agents responded to assist Paulding County Sheriff’s Deputies with the execution of a search warrant for the residence. Three PVC pipe bomb-style explosive devices were allegedly found inside the residence, along with additional components used to manufacture such devices. ATF, GBI, and FBI explosives experts examined these explosive devices and then took the devices to a range to be rendered safe. When they were disrupted, the devices exploded. Records indicate that COFFMAN has been previously convicted of a felony offense.

Further charges may be filed at a later date.

This case was investigated by agents of the ATF, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Attorney’s Office, ATF, GBI and FBI would like to acknowledge the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department for its invaluable assistance in this investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Todd Alley is prosecuting the case.

For further information, please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-meus), United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.