News Releases
LOFTON CHARGED FOR FALSELY THREATENING TO DETONATE A BOMB AT THE RICHARD B. RUSSELL FEDERAL BUILDING
March 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announce that SALEM FARD LOFTON, age 41, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged yesterday for falsely threatening to detonate a bomb at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building.
According to David E. Nahmias and the documents and information presented in court: On March 21, 2005, LOFTON entered the Richard B. Russell Federal Building and proceeded to the eighth floor, where the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office is located. Once on the eighth floor, LOFTON approached the DEA main lobby receptionist. LOFTON was wearing a backpack from which visible electrical wires were protruding. LOFTON approached the receptionist and stated that he was going to "blow up the building." DEA agents responded to the receptionist's alarm signal, whereupon LOFTON again stated that he had a bomb in the bag and intended to "blow it up," holding what turned out to be a tape measure in his hand like a detonator. The DEA Agents subdued and arrested LOFTON. Upon investigation, federal agents learned that LOFTON did not have a bomb. They also learned that LOFTON had come to the Federal Building looking for a federal judge to threaten, but was unable to find a judge, and thus proceeded to the DEA lobby.
A criminal complaint was filed in court on March 22, 2005, charging LOFTON with violating a new federal statute, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1038, by falsely claiming that he planned to detonate a bomb. The case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth McBath is prosecuting the case.
For further information and details, please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney, through F. Gentry Shelnutt, Criminal Chief, at (404) 581-6065. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.