An Anderson, Indiana man has been handed a federal prison sentence for posing as a Homeland Security officer and possessing firebombs. Joshua W. Stearman, 42, was sentenced on August 7th to serve 65 months, with an additional three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Details from a U.S. Department of Justice release state that Stearman was found guilty in April of 2025 of possessing incendiary bombs and falsely impersonating a federal officer. The conviction stems from a December 12, 2023 incident in which police responded to a suspicious person report. Stearman was spotted near a home that had been previously targeted and attempted to quickly leave the scene when confronted.
When approached by officers, he tried to fully convince them of his authority by presenting a fake government ID alongside his driver's license. Stearman was equipped with what appeared to be homemade bombs—four bottles filled with gasoline, each with a cloth wick and wood pieces. This arsenal was complemented by a lighter, found in his vehicle, a red Toyota RAV4.
"This defendant not only endangered lives by bringing homemade firebombs into a residential neighborhood but also sought to evade detection by impersonating a Homeland Security officer," U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler highlighted in a statement. The local police and federal agents were quick to work together, ensuring that a potential threat was neutralized before any harm could occur. The joint efforts of ATF and the local police departments were crucial in the investigation and eventual prosecution of Stearman.
At trial, ATF experts confirmed the destructive nature of Stearman's devices, classifying them as incendiary bombs—a federal crime to possess. Stearman's sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, as reported by the Department of Justice.
The prosecution of this case was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter, with the U.S. Attorney expressing his gratitude for their dedication and diligent work.
