Dustin Jay Ammons, 44, pleaded guilty Thursday to a pair of federal charges over two attempted ATM bombings in San Antonio in September 2025, along with illegally possessing firearms and explosive materials. He now faces up to 15 years in prison on the firearms count and up to 10 years on the explosive-transport count, with a federal judge set to determine his sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, court filings say Ammons placed pipe bombs at ATMs outside two San Antonio banks on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, 2025. Surveillance footage reportedly shows him pulling up in a black Ram 3500, wearing black skeleton-pattern gloves and a dark hoodie. The release notes that the devices detonated and produced blasts but did not breach the machines, and investigators later tied the incidents to Ammons through video and other evidence. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas.
Federal Raid Turns Up Explosives Lab And Weapons
When ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Ammons’s home on Dec. 12, 2025, they found what investigators described as a homemade explosives lab. Authorities seized Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) residue, a short-barreled 9mm rifle, a .40-caliber pistol and parts consistent with pipe bombs. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the vehicle at the residence matched the Ram seen in the ATM surveillance footage and that agents recovered suspected destructive devices in various stages of manufacture. San Antonio Express-News.
Charges, Penalties And Prosecution
Prosecutors say Ammons, who has prior felony convictions including possession of a stolen firearm and burglary, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of transporting explosive materials as a non-licensee. The U.S. Attorney's Office notes that those counts carry maximum prison terms of 15 years and 10 years, respectively, and that Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas.
Neighbors, Partners And Context
Neighbors told local reporters they heard loud controlled detonations during the December operation and were temporarily evacuated while bomb technicians worked to render the scene safe, according to KSAT. Officials said the ATF, the FBI, the San Antonio Police Department Arson Bureau and Bexar County fire officials all assisted in the investigation, which remains ongoing. KSAT.
Why This Matters To Banks And Security
ATM bombings, often involving improvised devices and powerful precursors like PETN, have cropped up across the country as criminals target unattended cash machines. In response, banks and ATM vendors have been investing in tougher anti-theft technology and closer coordination with law enforcement. Industry trade outlet ATM Marketplace has tracked similar incidents and the way banks and security vendors have responded. ATM Marketplace.
Sentencing in Ammons’s case will be set by the federal court after a presentence investigation and arguments over the applicable guidelines. No date was announced in the release. The U.S. Attorney's Office also shared the announcement on its social feed, and that post is embedded above. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas.
