911 call turns into horror show: Florida felon caught with silencers, ammo, and a pipe bomb ready to blow
Florida – A Florida man with a history of criminal activity has pleaded guilty in federal court to numerous offenses relating to firearms and explosives that happened during a police response earlier this year. The plea ends a case that investigators say includes illegal weapons, unregistered devices, and an attempt to deploy an explosive.
Federal prosecutors say that 31-year-old Jesse William Korff pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment that included possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and attempted malicious use of an explosive. The charges carry significant potential penalties, including lengthy prison terms, though a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the Department of Justice, court records show that things started on May 19, 2025, when police officers from Fort Myers were sent to a home after a 911 call. When the police got there, they said the situation inside the house was tense and dangerous. Officers saw a man, subsequently identified as Korff, fighting with a woman and stepped in to stop him.
During the fight, officers found a gun and a silencer that had come loose. They also saw a dangerous item sticking out of Korff’s pocket. Because the device was a direct threat, more resources were sent to the location.
The local sheriff’s office Bomb Squad sent a robot to carefully remove what turned out to be a pipe bomb. There were no further incidents once Korff was arrested. The Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives later examined and tested the device and found that it had been changed in a way that suggested an attempt to set it off.
The investigation expanded beyond the initial scene. Law enforcement officers searched Korff’s vehicle and found another firearm, an additional silencer, and ammunition. Further searches connected to the case led authorities to Korff’s residence, where they discovered additional materials commonly used in bomb-making.
Federal authorities emphasized that Korff was legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. His criminal history includes convictions related to the transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure a person in a foreign country.
The case was investigated jointly by the local police and sheriff’s office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prosecutors noted that the coordinated response by local and federal agencies was critical in safely resolving the incident and preventing further harm. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.
