Grimy Times has learned that Jason Gentzke, a 25-year-old Tonawanda man, has been charged with making a false bomb threat at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center on Sheridan Drive in Tonawanda.
According to the complaint, on May 27, 2014, Gentzke entered the center and threw a suitcase that appeared to contain electronics, cords, and wires into the office and made threatening statements. After the building was evacuated, the Erie County Bomb Squad inspected the suitcase and discovered that it contained a power strip cord, a fish tank filter, and other materials and was not an explosive device.
The charge carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. White is handling the case.
The case is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tonawanda Police Department under the direction of Chief Anthony Palombo, and members of the Erie County Bomb Squad under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.
Gentzke will make an appearance on the charges at a later date. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and Gentzke is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The incident highlights the importance of taking threats of violence seriously, especially in sensitive locations such as military recruiting centers.
A full investigation is ongoing, and further details may be released as the case unfolds.
RELATED: Clarence Man Faces Life Sentence for Attempted Rape of Minor
RELATED: Cheektowaga Man Indicted in Child Pornography Case
Related Federal Cases
- NYPD Shoots, Kills Dmitry Zass After Gun Threat · New York
- Ricin Letters: Texas Woman Nabbed in Obama Threat Case · New York
- Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Tonawanda Bank Robbery · Texas
- Waqar Ghumman, Mohsin Zamir Indicted in Tonawanda Bank Heist · New York
- Columbia Fire Volunteer Jailed for VA Bomb Hoax · South Carolina
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
