INDICTMENT IN CASE INVOLVING BOMB THREATS TO AIRPORT

(McALLEN, Texas) – A 19-year-old U.S. citizen living in Reynosa, Mexico, has been indicted by a McAllen Grand Jury with two counts of providing false and misleading information in two internet threats to the McAllen Miller International Airport, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez has been charged by indictment for knowingly and intentionally conveying false and misleading information on at least two occasions to the management of McAllen Miller International Airport. On Aug. 22 and Sept. 7, 2007, the defendant conveyed through a web posting the existence of bombs or explosives at the airport that would detonate in a short period of time. In each instance, no bomb or explosives were found.

Rodriguez was arrested Oct. 30, 2007, by FBI agents and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos. At that time, the court ordered Rodriguez temporarily detained in federal custody, without bond, pending further preliminary hearings. On Nov. 1, 2007, the judge granted bond in the amount of $100,000 with a requirement of a 20 percent cash deposit.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint originally filed Oct. 29, 2007, from between Aug. 22 and Sept. 10, 2007, the McAllen Miller International Airport received four separate bomb threats via the message board on the airport’s website. Two threats were sent Aug. 22, and the other two were sent Sept. 7 and Sept. 10. All were written in Spanish and sent via e-mail with false return e-mail addresses. The threats claimed C-4 explosives were located inside the airport or in a vehicle parked in a lot by the airport, or that bombs were aboard in-bound Continental Airlines flights. In the threat sent Sept. 7, the defendant demanded airport personnel deliver $20,000 to the reception desk area of Holiday Inn hotels, but no one approached the hotel’s reception desk on either date to claim the money. On Sept. 10, the last of the four threats was received by the airport and claimed explosives were inside the airport and aboard an outbound Continental Airlines flight to Houston from McAllen.

All bomb threats prompted immediate action by the FBI, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and local law enforcement agencies to secure the airport and ensure the safety of the flying public. However, no bombs or explosives were found.

An investigation to identify the computer from which the messages originated and the location of that computer was immediately initiated. On Sept. 15, according to the complaint, a computer using the same Internet Protocol address and web browser as the one from which the threats had originated was located in Reynosa, Mexico. On Sept. 22, the computer from which the threats allegedly originated was secured at the residence of Rodriguez’s parents in Reynosa, Mexico. A forensic examination of that computer allegedly confirmed the computer was used to access the airport and Continental Airlines websites.

A conviction for providing false information and hoaxes such as these carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

A criminal indictment is merely a formal charge of a crime, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.