Hutchinson Man Pleads Guilty to Reporting False Bomb Threat to FBI
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 28, 2010 |
A 26-year-old Hutchinson, Minnesota man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Minneapolis to providing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) with false information regarding a supposed bomb threat involving an Oklahoma sports arena. Appearing before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis, Daniel Gerald Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of offering false information and hoaxes. He was indicted on April 12, 2010.
In his plea agreement, Peterson admitted that on September 13, 2009, he conveyed a false tip to the FBI that a third party was planning to bomb the Bank of Oklahoma Center, a sports arena, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a result, the FBI conducted an extensive investigation, ultimately determining the threat was fabricated, and the claim made to authorities was false.
For his crime, Peterson faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison. Chief Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Hutchinson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.