SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A federal complaint was filed on Tuesday against a Sacramento man by the Department of Justice after he was taken into custody for the unlawful possession of explosive materials in a airport.
The United States Department of Justice says that 49-year-old Kimani Osayande Jones, also known as Kimani Osayande Jackson, tried to board a flight at Sacramento International Airport at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped him at the airport checkpoint.
Court documents revealed that Jones was found to be carrying an M-type explosive device and a torch lighter capable of igniting it in his carry-on bag. TSA officers also located a knife, scissors, scissor blades, an aerosol can and zip ties.
The Department of Justice says that Jones also had five cellphones in his possession.
One phone had a 15-minute timer ready to start, and another displayed a message from an unidentified number that read, “We will be awaiting your call.”
Sacramento County Sheriff Bomb Technicians and an FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician were called out to the incident and were able to safely remove the explosive device.
Testing that was conducted on the device confirmed the powder and fuse were viable and energetic.
Authorities say the explosive device had the potential to cause injury. If it had detonated next to a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, the explosion could have damaged the aircraft and caused a possible loss of cabin pressure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation into the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice says that Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
However, any sentence that is handed down to Jones will be determined at the discretion of the court after the consideration of any and all applicable statutory factors and the federal sentencing guidelines, which will take into account different variables.
The United States Department of Justice says that the charges are only allegations, and Jones is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.