United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the sentencing of ERIC JAMES REINBOLD, 41, to five years in federal prison for illegally possessing unregistered pipe bombs. REINBOLD was convicted on July 20, 2018, following a three-day trial before Chief Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

“The defendant possessed multiple pipe bombs and other items that presented a potentially dangerous situation for the Red Lake County community,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Allyn. “It is because of a courageous decision made by relatives of the defendant to report the pipe bombs, that the community is safe.”  

"Those engaged in building illegal improvised explosive devices are a threat to the community, therefore, this sentence is well deserved," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the St. Paul Field Division. "We are grateful that a member of the community came forward and provided information regarding a public safety risk. We are thankful for, and appreciative of, the partnerships we have with local authorities who were an important part of this case."

As proven at trial, on October 22, 2017, law enforcement responded to a report of possible pipe bombs and bomb making materials on hunting land in Oklee, Minnesota. Specifically, they found a plastic tote containing pipe bombs, jugs of gunpowder, fuses, and other bomb making material as well as a receipt for the fuses containing REINBOLD’S name and address.

As proven at trial, on November 2, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at REINBOLD’S residence in Oklee. Officers recovered materials similar to those found on the hunting land as well as handwritten notes related to manufacturing pipe bombs, making homemade explosives, how to use pipe bombs, and diagrams of bombs that match the bombs found in the tote.

Chief Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced REINBOLD today in U.S. District Court in Fergus Falls.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Red Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.

Assistant United States Attorneys Julie E. Allyn and Angela Munoz-Kaphing prosecuted this case.

Defendant Information:

ERIC JAMES REINBOLD, 41

Oklee, Minn.

Convicted:

• Possession of unregistered destructive devices, 1 count

Sentenced:

60 months imprisonment

3 years supervised release

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600