Hephzibah Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threats About the Destruction of an Aircraft

AUGUSTA, GA—James Michael David Leach, 23, of Hephzibah, Georgia, pled guilty on Wednesday before United States District Judge J. Randal Hall for threatening the destruction of an aircraft at the Augusta Regional Airport.

United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “This defendant indicated to another that he was going to harm a pilot and destroy a commercial aircraft. Law enforcement must, and will, continue to act in response to actions that pose a threat to the safety of Americans and raise the potential for disrupting air travel in the United States.”

Evidence presented during the guilty plea hearing showed that on March 10, 2011, Leach sent texts to an acquaintance stating that he was getting ready to board a commercial aircraft and that he was going to “have fun taking the pilot out.” In later texts, Leach made references to the destruction of the aircraft. Leach’s threatening communications were reported to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Law enforcement officials later found Leach at the Augusta Regional Bush Field Airport waiting to board a US Airways’ flight to Charlotte. Leach was arrested without incident. The US Airways’ flight was delayed to allow a security sweep of the plane. Leach later told law enforcement officials that he sent the texts for their “shock value.” Leach faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Leach remains in custody pending sentencing.

The case investigated by the FBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond County Marshal’s Office (Airport Division) and the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie Bourne. For further information, please call First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.