Chambers County Woman Gets 15 Years for Conspiracy Involving Bomb Making and Weapons Possession

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HOUSTON – Pamela Leggett, 32, of Anhuac, has been handed a15-year prison sentence following her conviction of conspiracy to illegallymake and possess unregistered firearms, including bombs, and to aiding andabetting illegal possession of an unlawful machine gun, United States AttorneyKenneth Magidson announced today along with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent-in-Charge Melvin King Jr. Leggettpleaded guilty March 30, 2012.
Today, U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon, who acceptedthe guilty plea, handed Leggett the 180-month sentence. Leggett was given thestatutory maximum of 120 months for possession of an unlawful machine gun and60 months for conspiracy to make and possess the unregistered firearms andbombs, with her sentences to run consecutively. At the hearing today, the Judgelistened to argument about to what degree Leggett contributed to the eventsthat led to the death of a deputy sheriff and noted the lengthy sentence shouldreflect the seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the community.
The charges and subsequent conviction arose from analtercation with local authorities on July 13, 2009, during which the deputywas shot and killed.
On that morning, two utility workers arrived at theresidence to turn off the water for non-payment of the utility bill, at whichtime Leggett fired two shots in their direction, telling them to get off theproperty. The utility workers immediately dialed 911. Four officers immediatelyresponded, one of which was aware that a man, woman and child resided at thehome. The officers approached the front door, knocked and announced themselvesto be police. When no one responded, one of the deputies loudly ordered theyopen the door or police would force entry. No one responded. Shortlythereafter, Leggett opened the front door and exited the home, at which time adeputy saw a weapon tucked into her waistband which he soon confiscated.
According to court records, deputies were told by Leggettthat there was no one else in the home, however, concerned there was a childpresent and for potential safety, officers entered the home. Hearing rustlingnoises, the officers continued to announce they were the police and to comeout, when suddenly, shots were fired through a wall and a deputy wasimmediately struck twice in the head and killed. A flurry of gunfire wasexchanged and law enforcement withdrew from the house, dragging the deputy withthem.
Shortly thereafter, additional law enforcement agenciesand officers arrived on the scene, surrounded the house and were in a perceivedstand off because no one within the home would respond. Eventually, a front endloader was utilized to tear down a wall of the home and police observed a man insidewith a fatal gunshot wound to his head. A subsequent autopsy concluded that thecause of his death was a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
A search warrant was later executed on the home where 122improvised explosive devices, stores of precursor chemicals for makingexplosives, a guide book on explosives assembly, a machine gun, an illegalshort barrel rifle and three illegal silencers, along with assorted otherweapons were discovered. Records revealed Leggett was the person responsiblefor ordering many of the precursor chemicals used to assemble the destructivedevices. She also admitted to labeling many of the storage containers that heldthose precursor chemicals. One of Leggett's fingerprints was also discovered onthe underside of tape that was affixed to one of the destructive devices duringits assembly. Law enforcement was also able to trace the paperwork for initialpurchase of the short barrel firearm and for the weapon that was laterconverted to be a machine gun. In each case, Leggett was the purchaser.
During an interview with law enforcement, Leggett admittedshe knew of the machine gun and was willing to accept responsibility for beingin possession of the weapon.
Leggett will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S.Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
This investigation leading to the federal charges wasconducted by the Texas Rangers, FBI, ATF, the Chambers County Sheriff‘s Office,the Baytown Police Department, the Bay Area Regional Bomb Squad, the TexasDepartment of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department, Metro PoliceDepartment Bomb Squad and the Pasadena Police Department. Assistant U.S.Attorney John D. Jocher is prosecuting the case.