Prairie State Wire

A Collinsville resident has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a destructive device. Jeremy Barr, 49, was indicted by a grand jury in East St. Louis in March 2024 and entered his guilty plea on May 1, 2025. He received his sentence in District Court on September 3, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft stated, “Improvised explosive devices are inherently unpredictable, unstable, and indiscriminate. Jeremy Barr threatened innocent lives near a Southern Illinois school, endangering kids, and our community. We thank the brave law enforcement officers who responded, and we pledge to relentlessly pursue bomb makers to protect the public.”

An analysis conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that the device contained fragmentation capable of causing serious injury or death if detonated.

ATF Chicago Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon said, “The defendant in this case left two pipe bombs in a car parked next to a school for two days, posing a direct threat not only to the school but also the surrounding community. I want to commend the swift actions of law enforcement and prosecutors, whose efforts helped avert a potential tragedy. ATF remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt threats to public safety and hold violent offenders accountable.”

As part of his sentence, Barr must pay $15,000 in restitution for damage caused during the search of his residence by Illinois State Police executing a warrant. No additional devices were found at his home; however, evidence of bomb making was discovered in the basement.

The investigation involved multiple agencies: ATF; Wood River Police Department; Collinsville Police Department; Illinois State Police; FBI Springfield Field Office; and Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Device Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke prosecuted the case.