Executive Summary
- Matthew Reid Davisson was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison for possessing unregistered destructive devices.
- Authorities discovered two improvised explosive bombs, an improvised explosive grenade, components for more, homemade high explosives, chemicals, and an unregistered machinegun with a silencer at Davisson’s Jacksonville residence.
- The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Laws and Precedent
- Matthew Reid Davisson was sentenced under federal law for possessing unregistered destructive devices, including improvised explosive devices and grenades, along with an unregistered machinegun and silencer. These charges stem from federal statutes that mandate the registration of specific firearms and explosive devices with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and his sentence was handed down by a U.S. District Judge within the federal justice system.
Matthew Reid Davisson, 36, of Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison for possessing unregistered destructive devices. U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard handed down the sentence on November 14, 2025, following Davisson’s guilty plea on February 18, 2025. The arrest and subsequent investigation uncovered a cache of improvised explosive devices, chemicals, and an unregistered machinegun at his residence.
Investigation and Discovery
Davisson’s arrest on October 26, 2023, on unrelated state charges, prompted authorities to investigate his home. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received intelligence suggesting Davisson possessed significant quantities of chemicals and potential grenades. A search warrant was subsequently executed at his Jacksonville residence.
During the search, law enforcement discovered two improvised explosive bombs, one improvised explosive grenade, and components for three additional improvised explosive grenades. Investigators also found homemade high explosives, detonators, large volumes of explosive precursor chemicals, and equipment for manufacturing explosives. None of these destructive devices were registered to Davisson, as required by federal law.
Further complicating the case, a family member later surrendered a firearm belonging to Davisson. This weapon was identified as an unregistered machinegun, which also had an unregistered homemade silencer attached to its barrel.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Rachel Lasry prosecuted the case.
Commitment to Public Safety
This sentencing underscores the Department of Justice’s commitment to public safety through programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods, aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement were crucial in removing dangerous unregistered devices and weapons from the community.
