A Henrico man, Xavier Louis Lopez, has been sentenced to eight years and one month in prison for possessing destructive devices. This decision was made by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Court documents reveal that in August 2020, Lopez, then 25, was seen pacing his suburban neighborhood with a knife, slashing the tires of cars owned by neighbors whose political views he disagreed with. Upon arrest, Lopez resisted violently and attempted to seize control of a knife while assaulting police officers.
Following his arrest, investigators found over a thousand rounds of ammunition at Lopez's residence along with high-capacity magazines, rifle parts, and machining tools. These items were confiscated after Lopez's 2021 plea agreement on felony vandalism charges.
After being released from prison in November 2022, authorities discovered eight Molotov cocktails at his home. These destructive devices contained Styrofoam mixed with gasoline to create improvised napalm. Nearby were also found a box of 9mm hollow-point ammunition and evidence of attempts to 3D-print parts for a handgun build kit purchased online.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. They acknowledged the support from the Henrico County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office during the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Garnett and Peter S. Duffey prosecuted this case.
Further details about this case can be accessed on the websites of both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER under Case No. 3:23-cr-79.