FBI offers reward to find suspect in Palm Springs pipe bomb case

Federal investigators offered a $10,000 reward Wednesday in the hope that it will help lead to the capture of a convicted felon accused of possessing pipe bombs in Palm Springs -- a man who has been missing since he fled a halfway house nearly two months ago.

Edward Allen Costa, 48, was indicted last month on six counts of possessing unregistered destructive devices and one count of escape from custody, according to a statement from the FBI. Federal investigators said that Costa — who pleaded guilty last year to being a felon in possession of a firearm — walked away in August from a Rubidoux halfway house.

In the indictment, Costa allegedly had six pipe bombs that were left in various locations in Palm Springs in May 2012. He was initially charged in June 2012 but those charges were dismissed to allow further investigation, federal officials said.

After those charges were dismissed, Costa was charged in a separate case, for allegedly carrying a .357 magnum revolver with 106 rounds of ammunition as a felon. He pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, but was ultimately assigned to the residential re-entry center in Rubidoux.

He signed out to go to a state-run employment office, but never returned.

Investigators have encouraged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact the FBI at a 24-hour number: (888) 226-8443.

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