Arizona man Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, was arrested Wednesday on federal charges after sending a bomb threat email targeting the White House and other Washington, D.C. sites.
Threat Email Sent to Local Station
Hicks emailed a Tucson television station on September 23, claiming an “imminent bomb strike” against the White House and additional locations in the capital, according to the criminal complaint.
The station notified law enforcement, prompting a swift federal investigation.
Charges and Court Appearance
Federal prosecutors charged Hicks with making an interstate threat to injure, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced.
He made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday, where a magistrate judge set a detention hearing for next week.
Law Enforcement Response
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine emphasized the seriousness of the case, praising the news station and the FBI for their rapid cooperation.
“We must take threats of violence like this one seriously,” Courchaine said in a statement.
“I am grateful to our local news station for referring this threat to law enforcement, and to the FBI for addressing the situation quickly, professionally, and with the level of commitment it required,” he added.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day credited the community partner who reported the threat, noting that cooperation is essential to protecting the American people.
Additional Evidence
Investigators uncovered further email drafts dated September 23, addressed to other news outlets and containing similar threats against the White House and Washington, D.C. locations, according to court filings.
The FBI is leading the probe with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, which also participated in the investigation.
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