A resident of California has been charged at the federal level following an incident where he allegedly tried to bring an explosive device onto a flight. The man, identified as Kimani Osayande Jones, also known by the name Kimani Osayande Jackson, aged 49, hails from Sacramento. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced these charges.
Incident Details
Authorities reported that on May 30, Jones attempted to go through a security checkpoint at Sacramento International Airport around 9 p.m. He was preparing to board American Airlines Flight 2464, heading from Sacramento to Charlotte, North Carolina. During this attempt, Jones concealed his face with a scarf and wore blue latex gloves.
A criminal complaint revealed that a search of Jones’ carry-on bag at the checkpoint uncovered an M-type explosive device, tools such as a torch lighter, a knife, scissors, a scissor blade, an aerosol can, and zip ties. Descriptions in court documents noted the explosive as a brown cylindrical piece about 2.5 inches long with a green fuse sticking out.
Response and Investigation
After his arrest at the airport, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI bomb technicians secured the area. They placed a bomb-suppression blanket on the device and restricted the area while examinations were conducted. Jones initially claimed ignorance of the items in his bag, saying he would discard them, but later denied ownership of the backpack when informed about the severity of the situation.
Jurisdictional Procedures
Court documents state that Jones was also carrying five cellphones. Investigators found tape over the front cameras of all phones, and one phone had a text from an unknown number stating, “we will be awaiting your call.” Moreover, a 15-minute timer was set to start on one of the phones. Testing indicated that the powder and fuse of the device were functional, containing about 9.29 grams of potentially explosive material. Pending laboratory results are expected to confirm the exact substance.
According to legal documents, detonating the device near an aircraft window at high altitude could have led to cabin pressure issues, posing a severe threat. Despite the risks, further checks on his luggage loaded on the Charlotte-bound flight showed no anomalies.
Legal Proceedings
Jones had prior communications with the FBI, alleging threats and being monitored. Post-arrest, Jones remained silent, invoking his legal rights. Prosecutors disclosed his possible sentence, which may include up to five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and two years of supervised release. Another related case file remains confidential.
Stepheny Price, a writer at Fox News, specializes in sector-specific stories encompassing crime, regional news from the West Coast and Midwest, and international affairs.