A man from Rossiter, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for possessing a destructive device. The sentence follows his conviction after a jury trial in August 2025.
Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer sentenced Roam L. Beer, 51, to 97 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The court found that on January 5, 2024, Beer threw an ignited homemade explosive device containing steel shot at the home of his estranged wife. She was inside the room adjacent to where the device struck but was not injured.
Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted the case. Before sentencing, Judge Fischer commented on Beer’s criminal record and said Beer “moved from threats to making bombs,” describing the act as “a very dangerous act warranting a serious penalty.”
First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti praised the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and New Kensington Police Department for their investigation leading to Beer’s prosecution.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through cooperation among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. In May 2021, the Department implemented a strategy to strengthen PSN by focusing on trust-building in communities, supporting violence prevention efforts by local groups, prioritizing targeted enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.
