HOUSTON—Cody Matthew Tackett, 23, has entered a plea of guilty to a criminal information charging him with making a hoax bomb threat, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Tackett has admitted he willfully sent a false threatening communication through an instrument of interstate commerce to the University of St. Thomas-Houston concerning an attempt to unlawfully damage real property by means of an explosive. Specifically, on November 20, 2013, he sent an e-mail to school officials stating that there was a bomb on the campus.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr., who accepted the plea, has permitted Tackett to remain on bond pending sentencing, scheduled for June 20, 2014. At that time, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
FBI investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Feazel.
Showing posts with label bomb threat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bomb threat. Show all posts
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Laredo Resident Arrested for Threatening to Blow Up Federal Building
LAREDO, TX—Cristina Lara, 43, has been charged with threatening to blow up the building that houses the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Laredo, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
The criminal complaint, filed under seal March 17, 2014, was unsealed this morning as she was taken into custody by federal authorities. Lara is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga tomorrow morning.
According to the charges, the DEA received a voicemail message on the morning of February 21, 2014, from an anonymous caller threatening to blow up the building. The entire building, which houses the DEA offices as well as other federal agencies, was evacuated immediately.
The FBI traced the message to a phone number located within the Laredo Medical Center, which is allegedly attached to a particular phone located in the reception area of the building. Video surveillance allegedly shows Lara using the phone at the same time the call was made.
If convicted, Lara faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by FBI is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonah Lee.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
The criminal complaint, filed under seal March 17, 2014, was unsealed this morning as she was taken into custody by federal authorities. Lara is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga tomorrow morning.
According to the charges, the DEA received a voicemail message on the morning of February 21, 2014, from an anonymous caller threatening to blow up the building. The entire building, which houses the DEA offices as well as other federal agencies, was evacuated immediately.
The FBI traced the message to a phone number located within the Laredo Medical Center, which is allegedly attached to a particular phone located in the reception area of the building. Video surveillance allegedly shows Lara using the phone at the same time the call was made.
If convicted, Lara faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by FBI is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonah Lee.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Houston Man Charged with Threatening to Bomb Synagogues
WASHINGTON—The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced today that a federal grand jury in Houston returned a six-count indictment charging Dante Phearse, 33, with calling in bomb threats to two Houston synagogues, a municipal courthouse, and a private business.
Phearse, of Houston, has been charged with two civil rights violations for threat of force with an explosive device against two synagogues, which allegedly obstructed members of the synagogues from enjoying the free exercise of their religious beliefs. Phearse is also charged with four counts of using an instrument of interstate commerce to communicate a threat to kill and injure people and destroy a building by means of an explosive device.
The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2013, Phearse telephoned two different synagogues in Houston, Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Or Ami, and left voicemails threatening to bomb the buildings and cause other harms to the members. According to the indictment, on the same day, Phearse also called in and threatened to bomb the City of Houston Municipal Courts building and a private business.
If convicted, Phearse faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each civil rights violation and a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of making bomb threats over the phone. Phearse has been in custody since his arrest. He is expected to make an initial appearance on the indictment in the near future, at which time the U.S. expects to request his continued detention pending trial.
This case is being investigated by the Houston Division of the FBI in cooperation with the Houston Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas Murphy and Saeed Mody of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruben Perez and Joe Magliolo of the Southern District of Texas in cooperation with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process of law.
Phearse, of Houston, has been charged with two civil rights violations for threat of force with an explosive device against two synagogues, which allegedly obstructed members of the synagogues from enjoying the free exercise of their religious beliefs. Phearse is also charged with four counts of using an instrument of interstate commerce to communicate a threat to kill and injure people and destroy a building by means of an explosive device.
The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2013, Phearse telephoned two different synagogues in Houston, Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Or Ami, and left voicemails threatening to bomb the buildings and cause other harms to the members. According to the indictment, on the same day, Phearse also called in and threatened to bomb the City of Houston Municipal Courts building and a private business.
If convicted, Phearse faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each civil rights violation and a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of making bomb threats over the phone. Phearse has been in custody since his arrest. He is expected to make an initial appearance on the indictment in the near future, at which time the U.S. expects to request his continued detention pending trial.
This case is being investigated by the Houston Division of the FBI in cooperation with the Houston Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Nicholas Murphy and Saeed Mody of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruben Perez and Joe Magliolo of the Southern District of Texas in cooperation with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process of law.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
New Jersey Man Sentenced on Federal Bomb Threat Charge
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William H. Klein, age 47, was sentenced today after pleading guilty to interstate communication with threat to injure charge.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on July 5, 2013, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts received a call at approximately 9:52 p.m. in which a male caller stated, “If One Direction plays tomorrow, the stadium will blow up.” The stadium was placed on lockdown before the concert, a bomb sweep was performed, and a bag check was performed on all patrons coming into the stadium.
The call was made from a New Jersey number. Further investigation determined that the number is assigned to a pay phone outside of a 7-Eleven convenience store located in Northfield, New Jersey. Through video surveillance the caller was positively identified as William H. Klein.
On February 25, 2014, the United States District Judge Yvette Kane sentenced Klein to eight months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release with two months to be served on home detention with electronic monitoring.
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation stands in close partnership with the local law enforcement community to identify, thoroughly investigate, and prosecute such criminal conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Derry Township Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on July 5, 2013, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts received a call at approximately 9:52 p.m. in which a male caller stated, “If One Direction plays tomorrow, the stadium will blow up.” The stadium was placed on lockdown before the concert, a bomb sweep was performed, and a bag check was performed on all patrons coming into the stadium.
The call was made from a New Jersey number. Further investigation determined that the number is assigned to a pay phone outside of a 7-Eleven convenience store located in Northfield, New Jersey. Through video surveillance the caller was positively identified as William H. Klein.
On February 25, 2014, the United States District Judge Yvette Kane sentenced Klein to eight months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release with two months to be served on home detention with electronic monitoring.
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation stands in close partnership with the local law enforcement community to identify, thoroughly investigate, and prosecute such criminal conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Derry Township Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Making Bomb Threats Against Kodak
ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Omer Fadhel Saleh Mohammed, 31, of Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty to making false bomb threats before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce, who is handling the case, stated that on September 24, 2012, the defendant made three phone calls to 911 and told the operator that his acquaintances were terrorists and were going to blow up the Kodak Corporation. Mohammed made a fourth call on January 24, 2013, claiming that an acquaintance had explosives hidden at a location in Rochester and planned to use those explosives to bomb Kodak. The 911 calls resulted in emergency responses by the Rochester Police and Fire Departments and by Kodak security personnel, but searches failed to turn up any bombs or evidence that someone had attempted to plant a bomb at any of Kodak's facilities.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 4, 2014, before Judge Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce, who is handling the case, stated that on September 24, 2012, the defendant made three phone calls to 911 and told the operator that his acquaintances were terrorists and were going to blow up the Kodak Corporation. Mohammed made a fourth call on January 24, 2013, claiming that an acquaintance had explosives hidden at a location in Rochester and planned to use those explosives to bomb Kodak. The 911 calls resulted in emergency responses by the Rochester Police and Fire Departments and by Kodak security personnel, but searches failed to turn up any bombs or evidence that someone had attempted to plant a bomb at any of Kodak's facilities.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 4, 2014, before Judge Siragusa.
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