GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—A Clifton man who threatened to blow up a propane tank at an oil refinery in Fruita has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years on supervised release.
Michael Leroy Schonlau was sentenced Monday. He pleaded guilty in April to willfully making a threat, maliciously conveying false information, and being a felon with a firearm.
According to his plea agreement, Schonlau called the FBI on Aug. 5 saying he had an explosive device that was connected to a propane tank at the refinery. It was later determined he didn’t have the materials needed to detonate explosives there, but a railroad was shut down for about two hours while authorities investigated. Nearby roads also were closed, and homes and business were evacuated.
