Grimy Times has learned that Jason Paul Smith, a 42-year-old man from Harts, West Virginia, was arrested on April 24, 2015, in Lubbock, Texas, for communicating a hoax threat to bomb the Statue of Liberty. The threat prompted the evacuation of over 3,200 people from Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
As alleged in the criminal Complaint, Smith initiated a call to the emergency 911 system from his iPad using a service that assists hearing-impaired individuals with making and receiving telephone calls. In the 911 Call, Smith identified himself as "Abdul Yasin," described himself as an "ISI terrorist," and threatened that "we" are preparing to "blow up" the Statue of Liberty.
Law enforcement officers responded to the threat, conducted a sweep of the areas in and around the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island with the aid of canine units trained to detect explosives, and evacuated the people on Liberty Island. Subsequently, the threat conveyed by Smith was determined to be unfounded.
The iPad registered in Smith’s name has used the service to make other 911 calls, including at least two calls in May 2015 from a user who identified himself as "Isis allah Bomb maker" and who threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge.
Smith is charged with one count of conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and thanked the United States Park Police for its assistance. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zhou in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Smith is expected to be presented later today in federal court in the Northern District of Texas.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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