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. The court also imposed a $300 fine.
Riggle was arrested on April 28, 2025, after authorities discovered he had planted a destructive device inside a storage trailer located on the property of a drilling company in Weston County. The device was found on November 30, 2024, when an employee detected the smell of propane coming from the trailer. Inside the trailer, investigators found a battery-powered device with wires, a timer, and a fuse next to an open 100-pound propane tank that was releasing gas. Authorities believe the timer was intended to delay ignition so the suspect could leave the area before detonation.
Although the device did not ignite, law enforcement officials determined it was capable of causing significant harm. Footprints at the scene led investigators toward Riggle’s home about two-thirds of a mile away. On December 11, 2024, officers executed a federal search warrant at his residence and found footprints matching those at the crime scene as well as items similar to those used in constructing the device: a matching 6-volt battery, safety fuse, wires, and soldering tools.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith.
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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case.
Case No. 25-CR-00149
