Department of Justice
United States Attorney John C. Richter
Western District of Oklahoma
December 19, 2008

CONTACT: Bob Troester 405/553-8999

STUDENT SENTENCED TO 27 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR FALSE TERRORISM THREAT AT UCO

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – John C. Richter, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced that JASON RAY SHANDY, 19, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange to serve 27 months in federal prison for falsely reporting a plot to bomb at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO).

“This sentence sends a message that the making of false terrorism hoaxes will have very serious consequences, stated U.S. Attorney Richter. “This defendant’s action substantially disrupted the operations of UCO and law enforcement. As the Court found at sentencing, the University and responding law enforcement were diverted from their real mission and forced to devote substantial time and resources ‘chasing ghosts in the dark.’ I want to commend the fine work of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the UCO Police Department, and Edmond Police Department in this case.”

Around 10:30 p.m. on April 22, 2008, Shandy made an emergency 911 call to the Edmond Police Department reporting that he had overheard three individuals at a 7-Eleven talking about blowing up UCO. Based on the report, a comprehensive response was immediately initiated by civilian and law enforcement authorities, including the Edmond Police Department, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, the UCO Police, and the UCO Administration. No bomb was located. Upon further investigation, law enforcement authorities determined the report to be a hoax. Nevertheless, Shandy continued making false statements to law enforcement about the incident.

Shandy was indicted by a federal grand jury in May and pled guilty in June. In pleading guilty, Shandy acknowledged in open court that he called the Edmond Police Department’s 911 Communications Center and falsely reported that he had overheard three men talking about blowing up UCO. Shandy also admitted that he knew it was false and illegal when he made the call and that he provided detailed descriptions in order that his false report would be believed. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Shandy agreed that his sentence could be enhanced by the Court based on his attempts to impede or obstruct the investigation in this case.

At the sentencing hearing today, Chief Judge Miles-LaGrange ordered Shandy to serve 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $21,512.23 in restitution which includes expenses incurred by the FBI, UCO, Edmond Police and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Edmond Police Department, the UCO Police Department, and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney John C. Richter.