Mansfield Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Making Bomb Threats

A Mansfield man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for making threats to courthouses in Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, and Mississippi, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the Northern District of Ohio.

Lonny L. Bristow, 39, pleaded guilty today to with six counts of willfully making threats. He admitted to calling in bomb threats in November and December 2012.

U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster sentenced Bristow to 51 months in prison.

Bristow made the threats using prepaid calling cards that purchased at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, according to court documents. Bristow had purchased several pre-paid calling cards, and those pre-paid calling cards were linked to the false bomb threats placed to various courthouses spanning five states, according to court documents.

“These threats caused fear and panic throughout courthouses around the country,” Dettelbach said. “The FBI did a tremendous job in piecing this case together.”

“Lonny Bristow induced panic in hundreds of people across several states who were simply trying to do their work,” Anthony said. “The FBI will continue efforts to aggressively pursue charges against anyone, such as Mr. Bristow, who chooses to make reckless and malicious bomb threats.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Getz after an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.