ONARGA, Ill. — A 40-year-old Onarga man will spend the next five years in federal prison for possession of a bomb during a standoff that took place in April 2025. James R. Nelson was sentenced on Monday, with his prison term to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, Nelson’s legal troubles began on April 3, 2025, when an Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office detective stopped him for a suspended vehicle registration. When the detective informed Nelson about an outstanding warrant for felony aggravated fleeing and eluding, Nelson refused to exit his vehicle.
As the officer attempted to remove him from the car, Nelson reached into the back seat and pulled out a gray cylindrical device, which he claimed was a bomb. He threatened to detonate it and then fled through residential neighborhoods while holding the device.
Nelson eventually made his way to his mother’s house, where he barricaded himself for approximately eight hours. Law enforcement eventually forced their way into the attic where he was hiding and arrested him. The bomb, later confirmed to be functional, was found near where Nelson was taken into custody.
Nelson was indicted in July 2025 on a single count of possession of an unregistered destructive device. The statutory penalty for this offense can be up to ten years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated this case with assistance from the Kankakee County Emergency Response Team and the East Central Illinois Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres represented the United States in the prosecution.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of Illinois, Nelson sustained injuries during his arrest and was transported to Iroquois Memorial Hospital for treatment.
This case highlights the serious consequences of violent confrontations with law enforcement and the dangers posed by explosive devices. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation with authorities during such situations.
