The FBI reported on January 14th that a Philadelphia man has pled guilty to playing a hoax at the Philadelphia International Airport.
PHILADELPHIA—Kenneth W. Smith, Jr., 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
pleaded guilty in federal court today in connection with a hoax called in to
authorities, on September 6, 2012, about explosives on an aircraft. Smith was
charged with and pleaded guilty to malicious false information about an
explosive and false information and hoaxes. U.S. District Court Judge Gene E.K.
Pratter scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 16, 2013. On September 6, 2012,
Smith placed a telephone call to the Philadelphia Airport Police reporting that
someone had allegedly carried an explosive substance onto an aircraft bound for
Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport when Smith knew the statement was false. The report
resulted in the flight being turned around and brought back to Philadelphia.
Smith admitted he told police that an individual had carried liquid explosives
onto the plane and that he targeted that individual in order to “avenge” a
female.
Smith faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up
to $500,000, special assessments, supervised release, and restitution for the
costs associated with the crimes. He has agreed to write a letter of apology to
every passenger on board the flight, to reimburse the costs of emergency
response, and to pay restitution to his victims.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Philadelphia Police
Department, the Transportation Security Administration; and the U.S. Department
of Transportation Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.
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