ATF's $10,000 Reward Led to Recovery of Stolen Explosives in Rural Nevada

LAS VEGAS, April 6, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Special Agent in Charge Stephen K. Martin of the San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Sheriff Anthony L. DeMeo of the Nye County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that ATF paid a Nye County resident $10,000 for information that led to the recovery of explosives that were reported stolen between May 12, and May 17, 2006 from the Sand Hill Mine.

Vanderbilt Minerals Corporation, owner of the Sand Hills Mine, reported the theft, which occurred in a remote area southwest of Highway 27, near the California and Nevada border. Two hundred seventy, quarter pound Cast Boosters, twenty-five pounds of ANFO and ten rolls of Ignita Cord were reported stolen. In conjunction with the Nye County Sheriff's Office, ATF posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft.

As a result of the information provided, one adult, identified as Nick Matteson, age 18, resident of Nye County, and one juvenile were convicted and subsequently sentenced in April 2007, in the Superior Court of Inyo County on state charges related to the stolen explosives charges.

"ATF's concern was to locate the stolen explosives before they could bring harm to innocent people. Upon hearing about the $10,000 reward, a concerned citizen came forward and made the recovery possible", said Special Agent in Charge Martin.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating explosives incidents. More information on ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.

    Contact:
    Nina Delgadillo, PIO, ATF
    Pager: 888-416-4533