'Pipe Bomb' At Hospital Lands Philly Man Federal Prison Time

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man will spend about 6-and-a-half years in federal prison after he brought a "pipe bomb" to a Lehigh Valley hospital in 2021.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Brian James Kunsman, 46, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 77 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for possession of an unregistered destructive device.

In October 2021, Kunsman had a "pipe bomb" inside the emergency room at St. Luke’s University Hospital in the Fountain Hill section of the City of Bethlehem.

An attending nurse discovered that Kunsman had brought the homemade destructive device in his backpack while he was a patient at the emergency room.

Following the discovery, the emergency department of the hospital was evacuated for a four-hour period and all incoming trauma patients had to be diverted to other local hospitals.

"Homemade explosive devices are a dangerous threat in any circumstance; prompting an evacuation in an emergency department where patients are receiving acute medical care is unconscionable," Romero said. "We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for working quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of everyone impacted by Kunsman's actions."

"The defendant engaged in incredibly reckless behavior, endangering the lives of the hospital staff, patients, and first responders," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. "We appreciate the support of the United States Attorney’s office and our state and local law enforcement partners throughout this investigation."

Kunsman was charged in 2022 with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of being a felon in possession of an explosive.