Bryan Man Convicted in Texas State University Bomb Threat Case

HOUSTON—Dereon Tayronne Kelley, 22, of Bryan, has been found guilty on all counts for communicating a bomb threat to an academic institution, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The verdict was returned less than an hour ago after two days of trial and approximately one hour of deliberation.

Kelley was accused of three counts of using the Internet to convey a false threat involving an explosive device in order to intimidate individuals at Texas State University (TSU).

According to evidence and testimony presented in court, Kelley used his cell phone and hacked into his former girlfriend’s Yahoo e-mail account and sent three separate e-mails threatening to bomb the Admission’s Office at Texas State University. Kelley’s girlfriend was a former student at TSU.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that the crime was committed by some other person. However, this assertion was contradicted by the e-mail header and cell phone service provider records.

The intensive investigation was initiated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)-College Station Resident Agency, working together with the Texas A&M University Police Department. The JTTF is composed of the FBI, Bryan Police Department, Texas A&M University Police Department, College Station Police Department, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, and Waller County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, who presided over the trial, has set sentencing for May 2013, at which time Kelley faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney S. Mark McIntyre and Craig Feazel.