NEW YORK — A West Virginia man was arrested in Texas on Wednesday for a hoax threat to bomb the Statue of Liberty, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
The hoax call in April caused the evacuation of more than 3,200 people from Liberty Island in New York Harbor.
Forty-two-year-old Jason Paul Smith was arrested in Lubbock, Texas, and is charged with one count of conveying false and misleading information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
According to Bharara, on April 24, 2015, Smith called 911 from his iPad using a service that assists hearing-impaired individuals with making and receiving telephone calls. During the 911 call, Smith identified himself as “Abdul Yasin,” and described himself as an “ISI terrorist.”
According to Bharara, he made threats saying that “we” are preparing to “blow up” the Statue of Liberty.
As a result of the phone calls, law enforcement evacuated the island and eventually determined the threats were unfounded.
Bharara said the iPad registered in Smith’s name has been used to make at least two other similar calls. In May 2015, a caller from the iPad identified himself as “Isis allah Bomb maker.”
The caller threatened to attack Times Square and kill police officers at the Brooklyn Bridge.
Smith is expected to appear in federal court in the Northern District of Texas on Wednesday.