Philadelphia Man Formally Charged in Airport Hoax
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 05, 2012 |
PHILADELPHIA—An information was filed today against Kenneth W. Smith, Jr., 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in connection with a hoax called in to authorities about explosives on an aircraft. Smith is charged with malicious false information about an explosive and false information and hoaxes, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the information, on September 6, 2012, Smith placed a telephone call to the Philadelphia Airport Police reporting that someone had allegedly carried an explosive substance onto an aircraft when Smith knew the statement was false.
If convicted of both charges, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, special assessments, supervised release, and possible restitution for the costs associated with the crimes.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Philadelphia Police Department; the Transportation Security Administration; and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.