Kansas City, Missouri Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing Unregistered Destructive Devices

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Mo. man was charged in federal court for possession of unregistered destructive devices, in violation of U.S. law.

Lake Ethan Roberts, 26, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a one-count criminal complaint. Roberts had his initial appearance this morning/afternoon.

Court documents, allege that Roberts was a member of a group called the "Red Legs." The Red Legs has been active since at least November 2023. Red Legs members frequently communicated with each other using a private chat group. In their chat, Red Legs members discussed plans to commit acts of violence directed towards government entities and property, particularly the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), the National Guard, and other opposing political groups.

Some of Roberts' communications to the group included the following messages:

"We need to plan decisive action against ice and dhs."

"What are the chances we could get away with using drones to drop incendiary's [sic] to demolish key infrastructure."

"I like the idea of using drones carrying cocktails to demolish key structures.

"After we build our ranks and adequately arm ourselves, we can look into escalation."

"If ice moves to kc, thoughts on an armed response."

As part of their preparations for armed conflict with the federal government, Red Legs members also periodically trained by shooting firearms at a local firearm range.

According to the complaint, on May 14, 2026, Roberts and another Red Legs member met with an undercover law enforcement officer in Richmond, Mo. Roberts had brought with him two devices that were wrapped in duct tape and had an apparent fuse. Roberts referred to the devices as "alcohol shooters filled with black powder surrounded with steel BBs." Roberts brought the devices to test how they worked. Roberts detonated both devices in a rock quarry area. The FBI Laboratory Explosives Unit provided an opinion that the two devices constituted improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

According to an explosive expert's opinion, IEDs, also called homemade bombs, generally consist of an explosive main charge, method of initiation, and sometimes a container and/or enhancements. These devices were described as small liquor bottles containing the low explosive black powder with a cannon fuse used as the method of initiation. Properly assembled, the described IEDs would be capable of causing property damage, injury, and/or death. Investigators conducted an inquiry of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Firearms Act Branch and determined that Roberts had not registered any destructive devices as required by the National Firearms Act of 1934.

The allegations contained in the complaint are accusations, not evidence of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted of unlawfully possessing an unregistered destructive device, Roberts would be subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. In the federal judicial system, there is not the possibility of parole. These maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and they are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.