David Risse Sentenced

A Washburn, Iowa man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a pipe bomb. David Risse, 39, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm on April 11, 2013.

The incident that led to Risse’s sentencing occurred on November 10, 2012, when deputies from the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a larceny in progress in Elk Run Heights, Iowa. Risse was observed attempting to steal and load a riding lawn mower onto a trailer. When deputies arrived, Risse ran off but was later apprehended and placed in handcuffs.

As Risse was about to be put in the squad car, he removed a pipe bomb from his waistband and threw it on the ground. The pipe bomb, a metal tube capped at both ends with a fuse hanging out of it, was filled with gun powder and capable of being detonated. This was not Risse’s first brush with the law, as he had previously been convicted of numerous offenses, including assault with injury, assault domestic abuse, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, two burglaries, six thefts, and three convictions for operating while intoxicated.

Risse was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. He was sentenced to the legal maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, as well as a $100 special assessment. Risse must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. As there is no parole in the federal system, Risse will have to serve the full 10 years.

The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Risse is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl, with the case file number being CR 13-2004. This sentence serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of possessing and using dangerous weapons, and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in keeping communities safe.

The sentencing of David Risse is a significant outcome for the people of Iowa, and a testament to the hard work of law enforcement officials and prosecutors who work tirelessly to bring criminals to justice. As Risse begins his 10-year prison term, the community can rest a little easier knowing that a potentially dangerous individual is off the streets.