St. Louis Man Sentenced for the 2008 Bombing in a Clayton Parking Garage

ST. LOUIS, MO—Milton Ohlsen, III was sentenced to 20 years in prison involving the 2008 bombing in the Carondelet Plaza garage that injured Clayton attorney John L. Gillis.

With his plea last September, Ohlsen admitted that on October 15, 2008, he transported a bomb to the parking garage at 190 Carondelet with the intent that the bomb would cause death or serious bodily injury to the intended victim. He concealed the explosive device in a gift basket and placed the basket next to an Acura TL that he incorrectly believed belonged to the intended victim. On October 16, 2008, the bomb exploded and caused permanent bodily injury to John Gillis, who had moved the basket because it was blocking access to the driver’s door of his Acura TL.

Milton Ohlsen, III pled guilty to one felony count each of transportation of explosive with intent to injure; malicious use of an explosive devise; being a previously convicted felon in possession of an explosive; and possession of an unregistered destructive device. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber.

The case was investigated by ATF, the St. Louis County and Clayton Police Departments, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Evidence Response Team. Prosecutors from both the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office also assisted in the almost three- year-long investigation. First Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.