NFL Bomb Threats - Arrest Made (1 Viewer)

[Mario Kart]

Milwaukee Journal Link

Tosa grocery store clerk charged in stadium hoax threat

Man, 20, posted "targets" on the Internet

Associated Press

Posted: Oct. 20, 2006

Newark, NJ - A Wisconsin grocery store clerk described as artsy and quiet surrendered Friday on charges in an Internet hoax threatening a ''dirty bomb'' plot against U.S. football stadiums, federal authorities said.

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Stadium Threat

Jake J. Brahm, 20, of Wauwatosa, is charged in creating a false terror threat against NFL stadiums.

Recent Coverage

10/20/06: Trail of stadium threat leads here

10/19/06: Threat to NFL stadiums doubted

Jake J. Brahm, of Wauwatosa, admitted that between September and Wednesday he had posted the same threat about 40 times on various Web sites, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said.

Brahm surrendered to the U.S. Marshal's Service on Friday morning and was scheduled to appear in court in Milwaukee later in the day.

He was charged in a sealed criminal complaint filed Thursday in Newark, Christie said. One of the seven stadiums allegedly targeted was Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

''These types of hoaxes scare innocent people, cost business resources and waste valuable homeland security resources. We cannot tolerate this Internet version of yelling fire in a crowded theater in the post-9/11 era,'' Christie said.

Brahm was first taken into custody by police in Wauwatosa on Wednesday based on information authorities received that he was the source of the Internet threat, federal authorities said.

FBI agents interviewed him that night, and the FBI said Thursday it had determined the threat was a hoax.

A joint statement from the FBI and Homeland Security Department said fans ''should be reassured of their security as they continue to attend sporting events this weekend.''

An FBI official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is still under investigation, told The Associated Press that the man acknowledged posting the phony stadium threat as part of a ''writing duel'' with a man from the Brownsville, Texas, area to see who could post the scariest threat.

The Texas man corroborated the story, the official said.

The threat, dated Oct. 12, appeared on the Web site ''The Friend Society,'' which links to various online forums and off-color cartoons. Its author, identified in the message as ''javness,'' said trucks would deliver radiological bombs Sunday to stadiums in Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Cleveland, Oakland, Calif., and the New York City area, and that Osama bin Laden would claim responsibility.

The agency alerted authorities Wednesday in the cities mentioned, as well as the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. But the FBI and Homeland Security said there was no intelligence indicating such an attack might be imminent.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said stadiums are well protected through ''comprehensive security procedures'' that include bag searches and pat-downs.

Relatives of Brahm declined to comment Friday.

Brahm worked as a grocery clerk at Outpost Natural Foods, a co-op near his house, said Jeremy Layman, assistant store manager. He said Brahm made his shifts on time and was not a concern.

''He was a normal guy. That's all we're going to say at this time,'' Layman said.

Mallory McKenney, 21, graduated the year before Brahm from Wauwatosa East High School. She described him as artsy and quiet, but friendly.

''He seemed like a nice guy. He was quiet but always seemed friendly whenever we were in a group of people together. I just remember him being very friendly in the halls,'' said McKenney, a waitress at a restaurant across the street from the school's football field.

Erik Vasys, spokesman with the FBI in San Antonio, said there would be no charges against the Texas man.

''I was advised he interacted with this gentleman in Milwaukee, just downloaded some things, but he was not part of the hoax writing,'' Vasys said.

Did not see this posted before.

 

[AnonymousBob]

Wisconsin? Another reason to hate the Packers. Stupid cheeseheads.

 

[Mario Kart]

Wisconsin? Another reason to hate the Packers. Stupid cheeseheads.

The problem is not Wisconsin... the problem is Wauwatosa and the school he went to. Wauwatosa East is the suck and the Red Raiders are more of the suck. Wauwatosa sucks so dont let them make an example of Wisconsin.Devin Harris is pretty cool though.

 

[paz1]

Wisconsin? Another reason to hate the Packers. Stupid cheeseheads.

 

[Idiot Savant]

Shick! should check to see if this is a FBG message boarder.

 

[Billy Ball Thorton]

I hope someone beats this kid about the chest and head. Seriously!

 

[428143]

I'm sickenened the media made a "big deal" out of the whole saga. They knew it was a joke from the start. Friggin politics in this country extends to everything...

 

[Bad_Mo]

When I heard on the radio that they identified a "man in Winsconsin" as the one who made the threats, my first thought was..............Koren Robinson.

 

[fatness]

There's not a lot to do in Wisconsin before the bars open.

 

[dawgtrails]

Wonder if that one commish who posted here is still planning on cancelling this weeks matchups to keep intact the "integrity of the league".

And hopefully that one dude, who posted in the other thread that he and the rest of the Texan faithful would "take care of any Muslim looking guy carrying a backpack", reads this thread.

 

[BassNBrew]

When I heard on the radio that they identified a "man in Winsconsin" as the one who made the threats, my first thought was..............Koren Robinson.

My first thought was Psycho Kev.

 

[Idiot Savant]

When I heard on the radio that they identified a "man in Winsconsin" as the one who made the threats, my first thought was..............Koren Robinson.

My first thought was Psycho Kev.

Man, you ain't kidding.

 

[redman]

I'm sickenened the media made a "big deal" out of the whole saga. They knew it was a joke from the start. Friggin politics in this country extends to everything...

Yeah, I mean, can't you joke about bombing stadiums on the interweb anymore?

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Any mention of a 'bomb' from Wisconsin is an idle threat.

Especially when the Packers are on offense.

 

[BassNBrew]

Any mention of a 'bomb' from Wisconsin is an idle threat.Especially when the Packers are on offense.

Explains how the FBI "intercepted" this.

 

[428143]

I'm sickenened the media made a "big deal" out of the whole saga. They knew it was a joke from the start. Friggin politics in this country extends to everything...

Yeah, I mean, can't you joke about bombing stadiums on the interweb anymore?

Of course you can, and I guess you can expect the media to create a stir even though the crap posted is from some 20 year drunk wisconsinites myspace page. It has to be legit! That this "story" was the lead on almost every news-outlet for 2 days is simply mind-bending. No agenda here...

 

[Mario Kart]

When I heard on the radio that they identified a "man in Winsconsin" as the one who made the threats, my first thought was..............Koren Robinson.

My first thought was Psycho Kev.

 

[Idiot Savant]

I'm sickenened the media made a "big deal" out of the whole saga. They knew it was a joke from the start. Friggin politics in this country extends to everything...

Yeah, I mean, can't you joke about bombing stadiums on the interweb anymore?

Of course you can, and I guess you can expect the media to create a stir even though the crap posted is from some 20 year drunk wisconsinites myspace page. It has to be legit! That this "story" was the lead on almost every news-outlet for 2 days is simply mind-bending. No agenda here...

It got TV ratings. It sold newspapers. Mission accomplished as far as the media is concerned. But that's not a new concept.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Any mention of a 'bomb' from Wisconsin is an idle threat.Especially when the Packers are on offense.

Explains how the FBI "intercepted" this.

Touch 'em all!