James Cherry, Making Bomb Threats, Washington 2017

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Making Bomb Threats Against Union Station

Bomb threats against Union Station have led to a guilty plea from James Cherry, 58, of Washington, D.C. Cherry’s actions caused a significant disruption to train service and resulted in a monetary loss of $36,153 for Amtrak.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Channing D. Phillips, Cherry made a 911 call last summer claiming that numerous bombs were set to go off at Union Station. This led to an emergency response by law enforcement, evacuation of the train station, and disruptions to train service until the claim was found to be a hoax.

Cherry’s call was not the only bomb threat he made. He also placed two other 911 calls with bomb threats in downtown Washington. As a result, Cherry has pled guilty to a charge of threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive.

The charge carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Cherry faces a likely range of 30 to 37 months in prison and a fine of up to $55,000. The plea agreement calls for Cherry to pay $36,153 in restitution to Amtrak.

Cherry is to be sentenced on May 24, 2017, by the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. The case highlights the importance of taking bomb threats seriously and the consequences of making false claims.

The thorough investigation by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, assisted by the Metropolitan Police Department, helped determine that the threat was a hoax. No explosive devices were found.

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