week announced that an Illinois man has been indicted for threatening to detonate an explosive device at a mosque. The man also threatened to burn a Qoran, but that is not violation of the law.
Roman O. Conaway, 50, was charged on a two-count indictment with making a false threat to detonate an explosive device and with trying to influence a federal officer by threat.
According to the criminal complaint, on September 21, agents of the FBI and U.S. Secret Service went to Conaway’s Fairview Heights residence in southern Illinois. 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 would burn a copy of the Qoran 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 a maximum of five years in prison for the false threat charge and a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment on the other charge.