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Press Release

Grand Forks, ND, Man Arrested for Interstate Communication of a Threat to Injure Persons and for False Information and Hoax

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of North Dakota

Fargo – United States Attorney Drew Wrigley announced that on June 24, 2020, Steven Ralph Lindblad, appeared in Federal Court at an initial appearance and arraignment hearing. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury indicted Lindblad on the charges of Interstate Communication of a Threat to Injure Persons and False Information and Hoax. Specifically, the Indictment alleges that on August 15, 2019, Lindblad made a telephone call to a customer service representative at his cell phone service provider, during which he stated he had explosive materials and was going to commit a mass shooting.

The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker is prosecuting the case.

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Contact

Terry W. Van Horn 701-297-7458 terry.vanhoprn@usdoj.gov

Updated June 24, 2020