SANTA ANA : Man Pleads Guilty to Pipe Bomb Charges

A reputed white supremacist who allegedly told federal agents he built pipe bombs to “rip off” black and Latino drug dealers pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to possess more than a dozen explosive devices.

Eric Lord Jeffrey, 21, of Santa Ana faces five years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 10 by U.S. District Judge Gary L. Taylor.

Acting on a tip that Jeffrey was manufacturing pipe bombs, federal agents in July seized 14 homemade devices from his home in the 1300 block of South Poplar Street.

Federal authorities also found paraphernalia indicating Jeffrey’s interest in white supremacy and satanic worship, according to federal court records.

The guilty plea means that Jeffrey admitted to manufacturing devices to be used to rob or extort money from drug dealers, according to U.S. Atty. Steven G. Wolfe.

Jeffrey’s mother, Yvonne, said the charges against her son are “garbage.” She said that her son is not a racist and that the devices authorities call deadly pipe bombs are actually harmless, homemade firecrackers.

But law enforcement officials who examined the pipe bombs said they determined they were dangerous devices.

The arrest took place shortly after the arrest of several reputed white supremacists accused of plotting to spark a race war in Southern California, but authorities say there are no links between the two cases.

Jeffrey’s attorney could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Jeffrey has prior convictions on vehicle theft and drunk driving charges, and at the time of his arrest was wanted by law enforcement officials for failing to comply with probation requirements.