Tampa Man Charged with Making Bomb Threat to Congressional Office

A Tampa man has been charged with making a bomb threat to a Congressional office.

Rigoberto Albizar Martinez, 56, of Tampa, was indicted by a federal grand jury for making a telephonic threat to damage and destroy a building with an explosive, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that on May 1, 2024, Martinez called the District Office of a Member of the United States House of Representatives and threatened to place a bomb in the Congressional member’s Tampa office.

According to the indictment, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police – Threat Assessment Section and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler III.

Martinez’s bomb threat was a brazen attempt to intimidate and harm innocent lives. We take these types of threats seriously and will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

The indictment serves as a reminder that making threats against public officials and their offices will not be tolerated. We urge anyone with information about this case to come forward and assist us in our investigation.