CHARGES: Anchorage man sold C4 explosives to FBI informant

An Anchorage man was arrested Thursday after he told an FBI confidential informant that he had access to 72 cases of C4 and was looking to sell the explosives.

Reginald Jesse Hawley is charged with being a felon in possession of explosives and selling explosives without a license, according to an affidavit by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. Hawley was previously convicted of attempted sexual assault in 2009 and sentenced to five years in prison.

The investigation into Hawley began on June 1, when the FBI informant picked him up from a home in the Campbell Park area.

“During the vehicle ride, Hawley made statements to the effect that he could get [the informant] C4 explosives for $1,000 per ‘brick,’ and that he had access to 72 cases of C4,” the affidavit reads.

Hawley later described the size and red packaging of the explosives to the informant and even sent the informant pictures of the explosives, according to the affidavit.

On the morning of June 7, special agents with the FBI and ATF conducted an operation where the informant purchased about four pounds of C4 from Hawley for $2,000. The transaction was recorded by the agents. Following the meeting, investigators were unable to find any evidence that Hawley had a federal explosives license, the affidavit says.

According to court records, authorities executed an arrest warrant on Hawley on Thursday and he is listed as in custody by the Alaska Department of Corrections.