Man accused of threatening Obama indicted for mosque bomb attempt

Man accused of threatening Obama indicted for mosque bomb attempt

2010-10-07 05:50:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

BENTON, ILLINOIS (BNO NEWS) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday announced that a Fairview Heights, Illinois man was indicted on Tuesday for threatening to detonate an explosive device on a mosque.

Roman O. Conaway, 50, was charged on a two-count indictment with making a false threat to detonate an explosive device and with influencing a federal officer by threat.

According to the criminal complaint, on September 21, agents of the FBI and U.S. Secret Service went to the Fairview Heights residence of Conway. The agents were investigating allegations that he had threatened an individual associated with a mosque in the St. Louis area.

Conaway allegedly threatened the individual in a phone call that he will burn a copy of the Quran and videotape it for distribution to three television stations. He said he intended to start a war between Christians and Muslims and to kill President Obama and other government officials.

The defendant walked out of his home to confront the federal agents wearing what appeared to be an explosive device in a bulky belt in his torso. After a seven-hour standoff with authorities, Conaway ultimately surrendered. The device was carrying inert material similar to clay.

If convicted, Conaway faces up to five years in prison for the false threat charge and a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment in the other charge. He also faces up to six years of supervised release.

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