FRESNO - Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 27, of Bakersfield, a former campus security supervisor at Arvin High School, was sentenced today to two years in prison for conspiring to engage in the manufacturing and dealing of explosive materials and for mailing explosive devices, as well as making false statements to FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Mendiver used an Instagram account to sell explosives and explosive materials and worked closely with a male juvenile Bakersfield high school student to fulfill transactions and send explosives in the mail to residents of other states.
In Instagram messages to the juvenile, Mendiver sent a photo of a titanium salute, an explosive device, followed by two videos of homemade explosive devices that he had made and the statement that "homemade kills all consumers." He also advised the juvenile to be "super careful, bro, that homemade shit is dangerous."
On June 1, 2023, a federal search warrant executed at Mendiver's residence resulted in the seizure of 536 pounds of uncontained explosives and explosive materials, which presented an extreme safety hazard to the residents. Agents seized another 440 pounds of uncontained explosives and explosive materials from the juvenile's residence. At both residences, agents also found items used to make explosives.
Mendiver also falsely stated to FBI agents that he did not sell explosives and did not work with anyone in committing explosives offenses. The Kern County District Attorney's Office handles the juvenile co-conspirator's case. This case resulted from an FBI investigation with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department.
In a related case, Scott Eric Anderson, 46, of Fresno, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for conspiracy to destroy property, malicious destruction using an explosive device, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between November 2022 and February 2023, Anderson committed a series of pipe bombings on unoccupied vehicles and property in Fresno. The bombings damaged vehicles belonging to two auto-related businesses on Clinton Avenue in Fresno. On Feb. 19, 2023, a bomb heavily damaged a vehicle used by a home healthcare business on Fallbrook Avenue in Fresno.
Anderson sometimes recorded his crimes by video. Law enforcement also recovered a pistol in Anderson’s bedroom. Anderson was previously convicted of carrying a loaded and concealed weapon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
