A Pekin man is in hot water with the feds after being slapped with charges for having a cache of homemade explosives and a gun, despite his rap sheet of prior felonies. Dalton Lee Mattus was busted after cops pulled him over, which led to the discovery of several syringes, a scale, and a locked bag in his vehicle, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris.
Inside the nefarious stash, officers found a stolen handgun, two explosive devices with pyrotechnic fuses, and a generous helping of BBs embedded in glue, the Justice Department reported. A further search of Mattus's apartment turned up more explosives, live ammo, and bomb-making materials. His arrest on May 17, 2024, was for unlawful possession of the firearm; he was then stashed behind bars, pending his preliminary hearing set for June 4.
A criminal complaint is nothing more than an allegation, and Mattus is playing the "innocent unless proven guilty" card. But, if the courts find him guilty of dabbling in DIY destruction while being a convicted felon not permitted to touch firearms, he could face a lengthy 15-year vacation in federal prison.
The investigation into Mattus's activities was a group effort featuring the ATF, FBI, and both Pekin and Peoria police departments, with prosecutor Ronald L. Hanna leading the government's charge. The dangerous devices landed Mattus in deep trouble, proving that crime doesn't pay, especially when you're a felon with a fondness for firepower.
