FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:  DAVILYN WALSTON
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009                                           PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe                         PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881
                                                                                                    

STUDENT INDICTED FOR THREATENING UNIVERSITY GRADUATION

            BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced today that a 34-year-old Lamar University student has been indicted for sending emails threatening the school's graduation ceremony.

            DANIEL OGWOKA SIRINGI, of Beaumont, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2008 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin for an initial appearance. 

            According to the indictment, on Dec. 11, 2008, Siringi is alleged to have sent a threatening email to the President of Lamar University threatening to harm and injure individuals of Lamar University by means of a "Virginia case" type of assault if Lamar University did not allow students to graduate. 

            If convicted, Siringi faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
 
            The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brit Featherston. 

            A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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