© 2024 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Carbondale Man Pleads Guilty to False Threat

Images

A southern Illinois man has admitted he made a false threat to blow up a military recruiting center in Carbondale.

The U.S. attorney says 42-year-old George Rita II of Carbondale pleaded guilty Tuesday.
Rita had been named in a one-count indictment charging him with intentionally conveying false information about a bomb threat, which is a federal offense. According to the indictment, on June 28th, Rita sent a threatening anonymous message to an FBI tip line in Clarksburg, West Virginia, claiming that he was heading to a recruitment center to blow it up and that no one could stop him.

Although no location was originally given for the threatened recruitment center, the FBI was able to determine the message came from southern Illinois and ultimately tracked the source of the message to an IP address assigned to Rita's apartment, which is in close proximity to the U.S. Army Recruiting Office in Carbondale.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 27th. Rita faces up to five years in prison.
 

As a news producer and news anchor on All Things Considered, Brad provides the listeners with a recap of the day's top local and state news as well as breaking news at any given time. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.