Morris County, New Jersey, Man Charged With Making Bomb Threat To Religious Institution

NEWARK, N.J. – A Pompton Plains, New Jersey, man was charged today with maliciously calling in a bomb threat to a religious institution, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

James Triano, 36, is charged by federal criminal indictment with one count of maliciously conveying false information about an explosive. The defendant is scheduled to appear later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case:

On March 21, 2017, Triano allegedly called a religious institution in Livingston, New Jersey, and maliciously conveyed false information concerning an attempt being made to kill, injure, and intimidate individuals inside, and to damage and destroy the religious institution, by means of an explosive.

The count with which Triano has been charged is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark and officers from the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Gary Marshuetz, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine R. Murphy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charge and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.