Two Men Charged with Making Bomb Threats

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that a grand jury returned separate indictments today charging APUN MAHAPATRA, 31, of Sacramento, and CAROLS RAMOS, 22, of Dixon, with making bomb threats to, respectively, Delta Airlines and the U.S. Embassy in Italy.

These cases are the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, who is prosecuting both cases, each defendant is charged with one count of making a hoax threat under Section 1038(a) of Title 18. That statute was enacted in 2004, following the investigation of several anthrax hoaxes. MAHAPATRA is also charged with one count of threatening to destroy an aircraft, and RAMOS is also charged with one count of making a threat to destroy a building with explosives.

The MAHAPATRA indictment alleges that on May 1, 2008, MAHAPATRA contacted a Delta Airlines online operator through the Delta Airlines Web site and conveyed a message that a flight leaving from Mumbai, India, for Atlanta later that day should be cancelled because of a “Hijack” and “Bomblast.” The indictment alleges that as a consequence of the threat, enhanced security measures were taken in connection with the flight.

The RAMOS indictment alleges that on October 3, 2007, RAMOS sent an e-mail to an address associated with the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy, stating that “There’s going to be a lot
of dead people when the building explodes.” The indictment alleges that as a consequence of the e-mail threat, additional security measures were taken by the Embassy.
U.S. Attorney Scott said, “Terrorist threats must be taken seriously. They can disrupt the functions of government, delay the flow of commerce, and degrade the capabilities of law enforcement and homeland protection agencies. Those who make such threats will be prosecuted.”

If convicted, MAHAPATRA faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two counts in the indictment. RAMOS faces the same penalty on the hoax threat charge and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the bomb threat charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors. The charges against each of the defendants are only allegations and each is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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