Arrested for Threatening to Put a Bomb on Plane

Airline Contract Employee Who Worked at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport Arrested for Threatening to Put a Bomb on Plane


May 14, 2010 - LUBBOCK, TX—A contract employee who worked at Preston Smith International airport in Lubbock, Texas, Johnathan Ivins, 20, was arrested by FBI agents late yesterday at his residence in Lubbock County on charges in a federal indictment alleging offenses related to his threat to bomb an airplane, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Ivins cleaned airplanes for one of the airlines operating out of the airport. He will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy M. Koenig tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.

The indictment alleges that on April 1, 2010, Ivins conveyed false information, which he knew was false, that he intended to place a destructive device on an airplane, when Ivins, using the screen name “TexasAssKicking,” posted a “channel comment” on YouTubeService, stating, in pertinent part:

“I’m building a bomb as you speak. I work at the airport as a Technician. I go inspect planes and get paid $20 an Hour. You think you won. Well I got plans for implanting a 10 hour bomb in one of the vents. Hahahahaha when that plane goes boom you’ll know what I’m talking about. I don’t care if I get caught. They call me the hero. Your asses is going down I’m just waiting for the right time. I’m also implanting an another bomb somewhere in a big city. Plus there’s muslim country’s who want to destroy the American satellites. I look too much of american but I have a quarter of a muslim in me plus 1/16 of a jew in me so. Don’t worry you’ll go your turn f...... Yankee doodle dandy.”

Ivins is charged with one count of imparting and conveying false information regarding the destruction of an aircraft, one count of making a bomb threat and one count of false information and hoaxes. Upon conviction, the bomb threat count carries a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each of the other two counts carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, upon conviction.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dick Baker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, Texas.