Munitions plant owned by Rep. Cory Mills explodes in North Florida

Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel on Sep 17, 2026

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Federal and state agencies are investigating an explosion that destroyed a building at a shuttered munitions plant in North Florida owned by beleaguered U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, the Central Florida Republican who lost his reelection bid in last month’s primary.

The explosion occured Wednesday night in Perry at the ALS-Pacem Defense plant, which closed last year and laid off most of its employees, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said.

A security guard and an office employee were at the plant at the time of the explosion but were unharmed, the sheriff’s office said.

“The explosion resulted in significant damage to one building at the facility, which is considered a total loss,” Stacey Walker, a sheriff’s spokesperson, said in an email. “First responders secured and maintained the perimeter until the appropriate state and federal agencies arrived on scene.”

The sheriff’s office had no additional information regarding the cause of the explosion. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Department of Defense and state fire marshal are investigating, it said.

Mills is a New Smyrna Beach lawmaker who represents Congressional District 7, which includes all of Seminole County and the southern half of Volusia County.

As he attemped to win reelection to a third congressional term, he was plagued by accusations of sexual misconduct, engaging in unethical business practices, stolen valor and hiring sex workers while traveling overseas. He denied any wrongdoing.

He lost the Republican primary despite an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Former TV newsman Ryan Elijah defeated Mills in the August GOP primary and will face Democratic candidate Dale Balton in November.

Members of his own party have called him a “disgrace” and tried to have him censured. He is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged campaign finance violations.

Earlier this summer, reports surfaced that the U.S. Department of Justice was also investigating Mills, which he has denied.

Mills started his munitions company before he was first elected to Congress and used it to help finance his political ambitions. He bought the Perry plant in 2018. Its main business was supplying grenades to the Middle East. Court records show the company owes $66 million to lenders.

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