Onarga Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Functional Bomb

URBANA, Ill. — A 40-year-old Onarga, Illinois man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after admitting to possessing an unregistered destructive device determined to be a functional bomb.

James R. Nelson received a 60-month sentence on February 23, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The court also imposed a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment.

A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment in July 2025 charging Nelson with possession of an unregistered destructive device in violation of federal firearms and explosives statutes. Nelson entered a guilty plea in October 2025.

Evidence presented at sentencing established that in April 2025, a detective with the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office conducted a routine traffic stop involving Nelson. During the encounter, the detective informed Nelson that he had an outstanding warrant on an unrelated charge. Nelson refused to exit the vehicle. As the detective attempted to remove him, Nelson reached into the back seat and retrieved a gray cylindrical device, stating that it was a bomb.

Rather than surrender the device, Nelson fled on foot through residential neighborhoods in Onarga while carrying the object. He entered his mother’s residence and barricaded himself inside. Law enforcement responded with coordinated containment measures. The standoff lasted approximately eight hours.

Authorities eventually located Nelson hiding in an attic space within the residence. He was taken into custody without further injury. The device was recovered near the location where he was apprehended.

Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that the device met the federal statutory definition of a destructive device and was functional. Under federal law, destructive devices include explosive bombs and similar improvised explosive devices that are capable of detonation. Federal regulations require such devices to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Possession of an unregistered destructive device carries a statutory maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Kankakee County Emergency Response Team and the East Central Illinois Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres prosecuted the case.

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