Cresco Bomber Gets 7+ Years

CRESCO, IA – A Cresco man is facing a long stretch behind bars after admitting to building and possessing a homemade bomb. Bjorn Luster, age 34, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison today, a grim reminder that homemade explosives remain a serious threat, even in quiet corners of Iowa.

Luster received 87 months’ imprisonment – handed down by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade in Cedar Rapids – following a September 19, 2013, guilty plea to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, specifically, a destructive device. The case originated with a search warrant executed at Luster’s Cresco residence back in January 2013.

What officers found wasn’t some backyard firework. It was a fully constructed homemade bomb, along with a container of explosive powder. Investigators quickly determined Luster wasn’t just tinkering. He made the bomb, and made it with malice. The device was deliberately wrapped with shrapnel – BBs and nails – designed to maximize carnage and inflict severe injury.

Beyond the prison sentence, Luster was slapped with a $100 special assessment and will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release after he’s released from custody. Don’t be fooled by the term ‘supervised release’ – there’s no parole in the federal system. Once Luster begins his sentence, he’ll serve the full term.

Currently in the custody of the United States Marshals, Luster awaits transport to a designated federal prison. This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal agencies focusing on the aggressive prosecution of gun-related crimes. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt led the prosecution, with crucial investigative work provided by the Cresco, Iowa, Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Those seeking further details on the case, including court file information, can access it at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 13-CR-2021. This conviction serves as a stark warning: messing with explosives will land you in a federal prison, and for a very long time.