FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MAY 08, 2007
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888
WICHITA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE THREAT ABOUT PUTTING BOMB ON PLANE
WICHITA, KAN. - Travis D. Anton, 26 , Wichita, pleaded guilty Monday
to making false claims about putting explosives on an aircraft.
Anton entered the plea during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Monti
L. Belot. In his plea, he admitted that at about 10:45 a.m. Dec. 20, 2006,
he attempted to board an American Eagle Flight at Mid-Continent Airport
in Wichita. He was informed that his carry-on bag was too large to fit
in an overhead compartment and it would have to be checked. When Anton
refused to have the bag checked, the captain of the flight was summoned.
Anton became agitated and raised his voice. He stated loudly that there
was a bomb in his bag. He repeated the claim more than once, resulting
in airport security to be called. As a result, the airplane was delayed
while security determined the claim about a bomb was false.
Sentencing is set for July 23. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in
federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.