Michigan Man Sentenced for Bomb Threat

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Patrick G. Bassett, 59, of Marquette, Michigan, who pleaded guilty to a bomb hoax, was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey, who is handling the case, stated that an investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) revealed that on February 6, 2011, Bassett called Fairport High School in Fairport, New York from Michigan. The defendant left a voicemail message stating that there was a bomb in the girls locker room. At the time, Bassett believed that the daughter of his ex-girlfriend was attending Fairport High School and he made the threat because of past issues with his ex-girlfriend. As a result of the threat, students were kept on buses and in classrooms while the building was searched. No bomb was found.

“This office takes a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bomb threats or hoaxes,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Where, as here, the hoax threatens our children, our office will continue to request that the court impose a substantial prison sentence both as a punishment for the offender, and as a deterrent to others.”

Bassett also admitted that, since approximately 2001, he made numerous telephone calls and sent letters to his ex-girlfriend and her family which they found to be threatening and harassing.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota.