MAN IN U.S. ON STUDENT VISA PLEADS GUILTY TO POSTING BOMB THREAT HOAX ON UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT WEBSITE

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHRIKRISHNA GURUMURTHI, age 24 (DOB 4/21/1981) of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas in Bridgeport to making a hoax bomb threat to the University of Bridgeport. GURUMURTHI is a citizen of India in the United States on a student visa, and has attended the University of Bridgeport.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, GURUMURTHI posted a threat on www.bridgeport.edu, a website hosted by the University of Bridgeport, stating, among other things, that “Indian students are going to plant several bombs in various locations of this univ.” and “Going to happen soon. Watch out.”

Judge Nevas has scheduled sentencing for May 17, 2006, at which time GURUMURTHI faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

GURUMURTHI has been detained since his arrest in Chicago on January 20, 2006.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor noted that this case is being prosecuted under the relatively new hoax bomb threat statute, which makes it a crime to convey false and misleading information under circumstances where such information indicates that a bombing, or similar activity, will take place. [18 U.S.C. § 1038(a).]

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Ring and Mark Rubino.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov