Maui man sentenced for homemade explosives, wildfire risk

Jess Kiesel Lee, 43, was sentenced on December 9, 2025 in U.S. District Court to 40 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release after admitting to possession of explosive powder following multiple felony convictions in the State of Hawaiʻi. Federal prosecutors say Lee set off a homemade explosive device near Kaʻamana Street in Kula on or before August 7, 2024, and that Maui Police Department officers later encountered multiple improvised explosive devices near that location.

The FBI seized the devices and linked Lee to at least one device through his fingerprint. Laboratory testing determined that at least one device contained remnants consistent with explosive firework powder. A subsequent search of Lee’s Kula residence by the FBI uncovered user amounts of methamphetamine, firearms and ammunition, along with additional improvised devices containing flash powder which is commonly used in fireworks.

Judge Jill A. Otake emphasized that the operation of homemade fireworks near wooded areas placed the surrounding community in danger given Maui’s susceptibility to wildfires. The case was investigated by the Maui Police Department and the FBI, with assistance from the FBI Laboratory Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan D. Slack and Wayne A. Myers prosecuted the matter.

Federal officials framed the prosecution as part of a broader effort to deter unlawful construction, possession and detonation of explosive materials. "The protection and safety of our community is our highest priority," said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. "We have witnessed the serious harm and life threatening danger presented by the possession and use of illegal explosives in our local communities, including illegal fireworks. We pledge to aggressively investigate, charge, and convict those who unlawfully construct, possess, or detonate explosives and explosive materials." "Homemade explosive devices present a significant danger to our island communities," said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter.

For Kauai residents the conviction is a reminder that illegal fireworks and improvised devices are not merely nuisance issues. Dense vegetation, trade winds and limited firefighting access can elevate small incidents into broader emergencies on any Hawaiian island. The case also illustrates active federal involvement in prosecutions that cross public safety and weapons enforcement, signaling sustained attention to preventing device construction and use that endangers communities.