Peoria, Ill. – Cameron McKoy, 18, a former Western Illinois University student, pled guilty yesterday, April 25, 2011, to making hoax bomb threats to WIU freshmen residence halls last fall. McKoy, of Chicago, was arrested on Nov. 16, 2010, and was ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A grand jury returned its indictment in December 2010.

McKoy entered a plea of guilty to one count of making a hoax bomb threat, and admitted that he engaged in making hoax bomb threats by telephone beginning on Oct. 25, 2010. McKoy used a telephone to make the first threat, on Oct. 25, 2010, to Tanner Hall, a freshman dormitory on WIU’s Macomb campus. McKoy used an automated calling service known as RoboTalker.com to make eight additional hoax bomb threats, from Nov. 4 through Nov. 11, 2010.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Aug. 8, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. The statutory penalty for making a hoax bomb threat is up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety. Agencies assisting in the response and investigation include the Illinois Secretary of State Bomb Squad, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greggory R. Walters in cooperation with the McDonough County State’s Attorney’s Office.