5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500 Hammond, IN 46320
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton September 19, 2006 PHONE: (219) 937-5603
Fax: (219) 852-2770
Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office today advised that Robert Potter, age 28, of Hebron, IN, entered a guilty plea in United States District Court to phoning in bomb threats to United States Steel Corporation - Gary Works. These threat were received at United States Steel on December 6, 2005, and were directed at the then ongoing construction of the #14 blast furnace. At the time, Potter was a contract employee at that job site. The threats shut down that site causing United States Steel significant financial loss. No bombs were ever found. Potter will be sentenced on January 3, 2007.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Steel Security. The USAO advised that all threatening communications, by whatever means, will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted.
Another bomb threat was received by United States Steel over the telephone on December 7, 2005, in the early evening. Potter was not connected to that phone call. Authorities are still investigating this incident. Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI in Merrillville at (219) 769-3719. All calls will be treated confidentially.
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