Man Charged with Attempting to Carry an Explosive Device onto an Airplane
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 29, 2012 |
Joseph Picklo, 29, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, was charged today by criminal complaint with attempting to carry on an explosive device on a plane, following an incident at Philadelphia International Airport. Picklo was being screened for a United Airlines flight to San Francisco this morning when a plastic bottle filled with an explosive substance was found in his luggage. Picklo was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department. He was transferred to federal custody this afternoon. He made an initial appearance in federal magistrate’s court today and had a federal defender appointed to represent him. A continuance was granted until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. The defendant must still be formally charged by indictment or information.
The case is being investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, and the FBI.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.