Suspect In 9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat At LAX Pleads Not Guilty
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former Transportation Security Administration screener at Los Angeles International Airport accused of making threats on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary entered a not guilty plea Monday.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Nna Alpha Onuoha, 29, was charged in September with six federal counts, including three counts of making threats over the phone and three counts of false information and hoaxes.
Suspect In 9/11 Anniversary Terror Threat At LAX Pleads Not Guilty
Onuoha allegedly called LAX police and the TSA on the eve of the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror strikes and claimed he would deliver a message to America and the whole world, according to court documents.
A manhunt was launched after authorities say Onuoha resigned from his job and returned several hours later to leave a package at TSA's airport headquarters that was addressed to a manager.
Onuoha is originally from Nigeria and formerly served in the National Guard.
A bomb squad found no explosives or harmful contents in the package but discovered an eight-page letter in which Onuoha expressed disdain for the U.S. and referenced the event that led to his suspension, investigators said.
Onuoha, who had worked for TSA since 2006, was suspended for a week in July following an incident at LAX where he allegedly told a 15-year-old girl to cover up.
A trial date was set for late November, though the case was expected to be continued to January.
Attorneys on both sides refused to comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson was not available because of the partial government shutdown.
Onuoha faces up to 15 years if convicted.
