James Cherry Pleads Guilty to Union Station Bomb Hoax

James Cherry, 58, of Washington, D.C., admitted in federal court to unleashing chaos across the nation’s capital with a series of fabricated bomb threats — including one that forced the full evacuation of Union Station during rush hour, disrupting hundreds of commuters and costing Amtrak over $36,000.

Cherry pleaded guilty to one count of threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive, a charge that carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces 30 to 37 months behind bars and a fine up to $55,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

The first call came on July 25, 2016, at 6:20 p.m., when Cherry told 911 there were two bombs set to detonate — one at 1818 Pennsylvania Avenue, home to Edward R. Murrow Park, and another three blocks away. That area surrounds the White House and includes the World Bank building, whose facade displays the numbers 1818. The Secret Service was activated. Two follow-up calls were made minutes later, one silent, the other repeating the bomb claim. A callback reached a voicemail registered to “James.”

Two days later, on July 27, 2016, at 5:06 p.m., Cherry struck again — this time targeting Union Station, the busiest transit hub in Washington, D.C. Using the same cell phone, he called 911 and declared, “There are eight bombs at Union Station set to go off,” before launching into a racial tirade, threatening to kill “all you white people” and calling them pigs.

Law enforcement responded with full anti-terror protocols. The station was evacuated and swept by Amtrak Police, Capitol Police, and Metro Transit Police K9 units. The FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force launched an immediate investigation, while the Metropolitan Police Department secured the perimeter. No explosives were found. Six Amtrak trains, five MARC commuter trains, and two VRE trains were disrupted.

As part of his plea agreement, Cherry must pay $36,153 in restitution to Amtrak. The incident not only triggered massive operational delays but also exposed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to malicious hoaxes. U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, FBI Assistant Director Andrew Vale, and Amtrak Police Interim Chief Neil Trugman confirmed the resolution of the case, underscoring the federal commitment to holding threateners accountable — even when the bombs don’t exist.