United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

LOCAL MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO
DISTRIBUTING AND RECEIVING EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

Today, in U.S. District Court in Dallas, Eric Duane McNairy pled guilty to an indictment charging one count of distribution of explosive material to a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. McNairy’s co-defendant, Charles Andrew Brunston, pled guilty in September to one count of the indictment charging receipt and possession of explosive material by a convicted felon. McNairy, age 41, of Cedar Hill, Texas, entered his guilty plea today before United States Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney, who set McNairy’s sentencing date for February 21, 2007. Brunston, age 42, of Dallas, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2007. Both men, who are currently on bond, arrest in August 2006, face a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

On November 23, 2004, state and federal law enforcement authorities responded to the discovery of military explosives at a gas station and convenience store in Duncanville, Texas. The explosives, one United States Military 66 mm M74 Incendiary Rocket, with rocket launcher, one M75 Blast Grenade, and two M21 “pineapple-style” grenades, old Vietnam war era explosives, were in a luggage bag on top of a trash container. Affixed to the strap of the bag was an American Airlines luggage tag bearing McNairy’s home address. Authorities then executed a search warrant at McNary’s home and discovered a matching luggage bag. Although McNairy made inconsistent statements about the luggage bag containing the military explosives found on top of the trash container, he initially denied having any knowledge about the matter.

However, approximately two months later, McNairy informed FBI agents that he wanted to be truthful about his involvement in the matter. He stated that the military explosives belonged to his brother, who was serving a prison sentence for a drug crime and that he had been holding them for him for two or three years in a shed in his backyard. McNairy admitted that sometime in the fall of 2004, he decided he no longer wanted the explosives at his home and he contacted convicted felon Charles Andrew Brunston, a person he identified as a drug partner with his incarcerated brother, to take the explosives. McNairy admitted that he knew Brunston had been convicted for a felony drug offense and that he had recently been released from prison. Brunston admitted to the FBI on January 25, 2005 that he received the luggage bag containing the military explosives from McNairy.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Duncanville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Tromblay.

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