U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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February 7, 2003 Hoffman Estates Man Arrested for False Terrorist Threat Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of NOUMAN KHAN, age 29, of 1145 John Drive in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. KHAN was arrested at his place of employment early this morning, without incident, by FBI Special Agents. KHAN was charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier today by the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, in U.S. District Court in Rockford, Illinois with one count of making a false statement to the FBI. According to the complaint, KHAN sent an anonymous letter to the FBI's Rockford office, which arrived on February 3rd of this year. In this letter, a female resident of Schaumburg, Illinois was identified as possessing a deadly biological agent that would be released in the Chicago area, killing thousands of people. Subsequent investigation by the Chicago FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) identified KHAN as the author of this letter. As detailed in the complaint, when confronted by JTTF members, KHAN acknowledged writing and sending this letter, which was a hoax, in an effort to harass a co-worker with whom he was having a work related conflict. KHAN, who is an Pakistani national legally in the United States, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge P. Michael Mahoney in Rockford, earlier today, at which time he was formally charged. KHAN was released on bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance. If convicted of this offense, KHAN faces a possible sentence of up to 5 years incarceration. In announcing this arrest, Mr. Kneir wants to caution the public that all threats of terrorism are taken seriously and that anyone intentionally making a false threat or knowingly providing inaccurate information to the FBI in this regard, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Mr. Kneir added "In this time of heightened security, false terrorist threats cause undue concern for the public and waste valuable investigative resources." Under the direction of the FBI, the JTTF is comprised of Special Agents from the FBI, United States Secret Service (USSS) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and Officers from the Chicago Police Department (CPD). The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against KHAN is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
