Pleasant Hills Man Admits Calling in Bomb Threat to Pleasant Hills 911 Center
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 21, 2011 |
PITTSBURGH—A resident of Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court on April 19, 2011, to a charge of violating federal laws concerning making false bomb threats, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Edward A. Elm, 20, pleaded guilty to one count before Chief United States District Judge Gary L. Lancaster.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on Sept. 12, 2009, Elm conveyed a bomb threat by telephone to the Pleasant Hills Police Department 911 Center, saying that a bomb would go off at 6:00 a.m. at 2600 East Carson Street. The threat proved to be false. The incident was investigated by the FBI. Elm admitted to FBI agents that he had made the call as a ploy for attention.
Judge Lancaster scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Elm on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret E. Picking is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the Pleasant Hills Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Elm.