Fort Sill Soldier Pleads Guilty to Bringing Fake Bomb into Commander’s Office

OKLAHOMA CITY—Today, JAMES JOSEPH DABROWSKI, 27, of Lawton, Oklahoma, pled guilty to making a hoax concerning an explosive device that he brought inside Snow Hall on Fort Sill, located near Lawton, Oklahoma, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Dabrowski was a first lieutenant stationed at Fort Sill. According to court records and information from the plea hearing, on April 21, 2011, Dabrowski carried a backback to his commander’s office located in Snow Hall for a meeting. During the meeting, Dabrowski removed a box from his backpack, opened the box, and revealed a 60mm mortar shell improvised with an external clock, wires, and a liquid in a separate container. Snow Hall was immediately evacuated, and the military explosive ordinance disposal unit responded. It was later determined that the device did not contain explosive material. Dabrowski was indicted on June 22, 2011.

At sentencing, Dabrowski faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Borden, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Stephens, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Captain Ahsan Nassar.