A Corpus Christi man has been sentenced to prison for illegal possession of firearms and unregistered pipe bombs. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei after the jury returned a guilty verdict for 36-year-old Robert Spencer on November 6, 2024, concluding a three-day trial.
Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Spencer to serve 15 years in prison, followed by three years on supervised release. It was revealed during the hearing that Spencer's firearm had been used in a murder earlier the same day of the incident in question.
The case stemmed from an August 3, 2022, report of gunfire in Corpus Christi. When law enforcement arrived, Spencer fled into his home, resulting in an hour-long standoff. Authorities heard two gunshots during the event before they arrested Spencer after he left his house unarmed.
A subsequent search of Spencer's home led to the discovery of a rifle, six pipe bombs, three firearms, and rounds of ammunition. Spencer admitted to assembling the pipe bombs himself. Testing confirmed that the devices were classified as destructive under the law and were not registered as required.
As a felon, Spencer is prohibited from gun and ammunition possession. The defense's attempts to argue his ignorance of the firearms and the ineffectiveness of the pipe bombs were unconvincing to the jury, leading to his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei commented, "The standoff in this case was fortunately resolved peacefully. Nevertheless, this defendant needlessly created a dangerous situation for himself, the police, and the community at large. I would like to thank the jury for their attention and service in this case."
Spencer will remain in custody until his transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility. The investigation was handled by the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and Ashley Martin.