OKLAHOMA CITY — Two metro-area men have been sentenced to a combined 109 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to illegal possession of ammunition and an improvised explosive device, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced Monday.
Caleb Graves, 33, of Del City, and Robert Allen Keefe, 25, of Oklahoma City, were sentenced this month in U.S. District Court for their roles in a case involving an unregistered pipe bomb and other weapons violations.
Graves was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison. Keefe received a 37-month sentence. Both will serve three years of supervised release following their incarceration.
Federal law classifies firearms and pipe bombs as destructive devices when not lawfully registered.
Initial stop and investigation
According to public court records, the investigation began Aug. 18, 2024, when officers with the Village Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Graves and observed a loaded firearm magazine in plain view.
The following day, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Graves’ home, where they recovered several rounds of ammunition from a vehicle on the property. At the time, Graves was on pretrial release for a separate case.
On Oct. 14, 2024, while still awaiting trial, Graves was again stopped—this time by Oklahoma City Police officers. Police report they discovered a hidden pipe bomb in his vehicle. Keefe, the only passenger, was also taken into custody.
Charges and pleas
On Nov. 6, 2024, Graves was formally charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. On April 1, 2025, prosecutors filed two additional charges: possession of an unregistered destructive device and felon in possession of a firearm—identified as the pipe bomb.
Keefe was also charged April 1, 2025, with possession of an unregistered destructive device connected to the same pipe bomb.
Graves, who has multiple felony convictions, pleaded guilty June 6, 2025, to both being a felon in possession of ammunition and a felon in possession of a firearm, namely the improvised explosive bomb.
Keefe pleaded guilty June 9, 2025, to possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Prior convictions
Court records show Graves has several prior felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court:
- Second-degree burglary, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit a felony in case number CF-2010-4613;
- Possession of methamphetamine in case number CF-2016-3849; and
- Child neglect and possession of contraband in a penal institution in case number CF-2016-4096.
Sentencing and remarks
During the sentencing hearings, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell emphasized the seriousness of the offenses and said the prison terms were necessary to ensure just punishment.
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Village Police Department, and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.
Brett is the founder, and editor in chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He continues to contribute reporting and photography to the efforts of the publication as well as leadership in developing support.
