Ray GhanSham Persaud, Hoax Bomb Threat, Minnesota 2019

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - A former St. Thomas University student pleaded guilty to making a hoax bomb threat against the university's St. Paul campus.

Ray GhanSham Persaud, 21, called in a bomb threat to the University of St. Thomas on September 17, 2019, causing a massive disruption to the campus. The threat led to the evacuation of buildings, re-routing of traffic, and a full response by the university's Public Safety personnel.

According to the defendant's guilty plea and court documents, Persaud called in the bomb threat on three separate occasions: April 17, 2019; August 20, 2019; and September 17, 2019. Persaud admitted that he was unprepared for class and had failed to complete his homework on the dates of the threats.

The case is a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Docherty is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

RAY GHANSHAM PERSAUD, 21, Blaine, Minn. Convicted:

Using an instrumentality of interstate commerce to maliciously make a threat to damage and destroy any building, by means of explosives, 1 count

At the time of sentencing, the U.S. Attorney's Office will ask the Court to dismiss the April 17, 2019, and August 20, 2019, charges. Persaud pleaded guilty to count three of the indictment, charging him with the September 17, 2019, bomb threat.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Docherty. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.

According to the court documents, Persaud admitted that he made the threats because he was unprepared for class and had failed to complete his homework. The bomb threats caused a significant disruption to the university, including the evacuation of campus buildings and a full response by the university's Public Safety personnel.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/former-st-thomas-student-pleads-guilty-hoax-bomb-threat-against-universitys-st-paul