A man with properties in Colorado Springs and Cotopaxi received his sentence this week after admitting guilt in the U.S. District Court for Colorado in Denver for possessing a firearm following a prior felony conviction. Additionally, he was instructed to surrender all 11 firearms and ammunition.
Chad Edward Keith, a 42-year-old man, received a 27-month prison sentence on Tuesday. This sentence was imposed on him for the offense of possessing firearms, despite his previous felony conviction.
Keith owns a 2.6-acre property in the town of Cotopaxi. According to a 13-page federal arrest warrant, the property features multiple underground bunkers, including one that can supposedly shield against an electromagnetic blast. Additionally, it boasts a 10,000-gallon water cistern, a 462-foot-deep well, and is completely off-grid.
Agents discovered a flyer at his Colorado Springs address that featured photos of several congressmen and senators. Interestingly, the images displayed the Star of David positioned on their foreheads, resembling targets commonly used in shooting practice.
“Rest assured, Coloradans can find solace in the fact that a dangerous individual has been apprehended and is now in custody,” stated United States Attorney Cole Finegan. He further emphasized, “In collaboration with our esteemed law enforcement allies, we maintain an unwavering dedication to ensuring that individuals with violent criminal records are prevented from possessing firearms.”
“The FBI is dedicated to maintaining the safety of our communities. This dedication encompasses preventing individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms from obtaining them. In this instance, we discovered that a convicted felon was in possession of 11 firearms,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver. “Addressing concerns regarding community safety is of utmost importance to the FBI, and we will persist in collaborating with our partners to eliminate illegal weapons from the possession of offenders.”
Federal agents seized eleven guns and ammunition at Keith’s properties in Cotopaxi and Colorado Springs in March 2023. Keith was not legally allowed to possess these guns due to a previous conviction for having a destructive device. In 2003, Keith pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a “destructive device,” a felony, which resulted in a four-year prison sentence, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to news articles and court documents from 1999 through 2004, there is a man named Keith who was charged and convicted of planting a homemade bomb in the bathroom of Coushatta High School in Louisiana. This man has the same name and age as Keith, who is currently under indictment. At the time of the incident, Keith was an 18-year-old senior at the school.
According to the Associated Press, the bomb exploded, resulting in damage to the school. However, the school was successfully evacuated before the bomb could detonate, ensuring that no one was harmed in the incident.
In April of last year, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office arrested him on charges of driving without a license and being a fugitive of justice.
According to an arrest affidavit filed by the FBI, agents started receiving tips in 2020 regarding Keith’s possession of firearms and his attempts to acquire more.
Keith has been held in federal custody since his arrest in March, as a judge deemed him a flight risk and a danger to society.
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