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Bomb Threats at MSP Airport and MOA: Man Pleads Guilty
MINNEAPOLIS—Dana William Ashey, a 22-year-old man from Maine, pleaded guilty to making bomb threats at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America (“MOA”) on April 12, 2013.
Ashey, who was indicted on May 13, 2013, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson. He is facing a potential maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for his crime.
According to the plea agreement, Ashey admitted to making the bomb threats, which resulted in a massive search of the airport and the mall. The first bomb threat was received by the airport’s police dispatch at 2:37 a.m., with a warning that a bomb placed in a restroom could go off by 3:00 a.m.
Just hours later, another bomb threat was phoned in to security dispatch for the MOA at 2:42 a.m. The caller stated that the bomb had been placed in a restroom, prompting a search of the mall. However, no bomb was found.
At 2:17 p.m. that same day, the mall’s switchboard operator received yet another bomb threat. Authorities traced the call and found the man still inside the MOA. The man, later identified as Ashey, possessed the cell phone that was used to deliver the bomb threats.
The case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police, the Bloomington Police, and the MOA Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.
Judge Nelson will determine Ashey’s sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. The investigation and prosecution of this case highlight the importance of cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating terrorist threats.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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