A young Cornelia woman faces up to 20-years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to federal charges of making and possessing pipe bombs.
Celia Savage, 24, left the federal courthouse in Gainesville without commenting to reporters.
“Federal law requires anyone who makes a destructive device, which includes a pipe bomb, you have to apply… with the Department of Internal Revenue,” said Assistant US Attorney Bill McKinnon, who prosecuted the case. Savage, he said, did not do that.
Savage was indicted in June of 2012 after the FBI raided her rural home in Habersham County, confiscating bombs, bomb-making materials and firearms. Savage described herself as an anarchist who hated the government. She admitted to making the pipe bombs and further admitted she knew it was against the law.
Supporters said she should have been free to do whatever she wanted on her own property. McKinnon took strong issue with that.
“Anyone who manufactures any kind of destructive device that has the power to injure maim and potentially kill people – however they plan to use it – is (in) serious violation of federal law and we will aggressively investigate and aggressively prosecute,” said McKinnon.
Savage now faces up to 20-years in prison and $500,000 in fines. So far her sentencing date has yet to be determined, pending a pre-sentencing investigation.