North Fort Myers Felon Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Explosives and Firearms-Related Offenses

Fort Myers, Florida - Jesse William Korff (32, North Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 24 years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of unregistered silencers, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and attempted malicious use of an explosive while on federal supervised release. Korff pleaded guilty on January 14, 2026. The court also ordered Korff to forfeit the firearms, ammunition, silencers, and destructive device used to commit the offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, on May 19, 2025, Korff was at a residence in Fort Myers when the Fort Myers Police Department was dispatched to a 911 hang-up call. Officers arrived and reported a hostage situation. Officers observed a male, later identified as Korff, in a scuffle with a female. The officers restrained Korff in handcuffs and seized a firearm and silencer that had come loose during the scuffle. Officers also located a pipe bomb coming out of Korff's pocket.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) Bomb Squad used a robot to remove the pipe bomb and take Korff into custody. Further evidence and testing of the device by LCSO and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that the device had attempted to be detonated. Another silencer, firearm, and ammunition were seized from Korff's vehicle. Officers and agents also recovered other bomb-making materials inside Korff's residence.

Korff is a convicted felon and prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He was previously convicted of transfer and possession of a toxin for use as a weapon, smuggling toxins from the United States, and conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure a person in a foreign country.

This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.