Matthew Henry Jacober, a 44-year-old resident of Bakersfield, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing explosives as a felon and manufacturing methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents show that in July 2025, Jacober had 50 pounds of dynamite hidden in a cave near his travel trailer residence. In 2021, he was convicted in Kern County Superior Court for making a destructive device without a permit, which is a felony offense. As a result of this conviction, Jacober was legally barred from possessing explosives.
Authorities also discovered that Jacober was manufacturing crystal methamphetamine inside his trailer. Law enforcement found both finished methamphetamine and product still transitioning from liquid to crystal form during their investigation. On November 24, 2025, Jacober pleaded guilty to the charges related to these offenses.
The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, and the Kern County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Pataca prosecuted the case.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” according to the press release.
