U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax | U.S. Department of Justice
A man from Sioux City, Iowa, Daniel Graben, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for illegally building and firing two improvised explosive missiles. The sentence was handed down on December 5, 2024, following Graben's guilty plea on July 18, 2024, to possession of a firearm by a felon.
The incident dates back to February 28, 2022, when a resident in rural Plymouth County reported seeing what appeared to be "low flying mortar" over his house that exploded at a distance. A second object followed the same trajectory with another explosion. Witnesses also reported hearing "a very large explosion," and an unexplained grass fire was discovered near Plymouth County Roads C44 and K18. The Akron Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.
Law enforcement linked the wreckage of two improvised explosive missiles to Graben after searching his home in Sioux City under a federal search warrant. In his townhouse located near a school in a populated area, authorities found firearms, ammunition, military-grade explosives, bomb-making materials consistent with those found at the missile site, and numerous non-missile explosive devices.
Graben had previous convictions including arson and threatening crime with intent to terrorize in California (2008), as well as possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Idaho (2012).
U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Graben to 120 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He was also fined; however, there is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through community-based strategies targeting violent offenders.
Graben remains in custody under the United States Marshal until he is transported to federal prison. The investigation involved several agencies including the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and ATF among others. Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild prosecuted the case.
