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A pizza cook who admitted making a hoax call warning of liquid explosives on a plane, causing the flight to be diverted, must write an apology letter to every delayed passenger.
Kenneth Smith Jr., 26, pleaded guilty Monday to malicious false information about an explosive, and false information and hoaxes, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Eastern District of Pennsylvania Office.
The Philadelphia man's call to airport police led to US Airways flight 1267, bound for Dallas-Forth Worth, being diverted back to Philadelphia airport shortly after take-off on Sept 6.
Sixty-nine passengers and five crew members were on the plane.
Smith faces up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 when he is sentenced on April 16. He has agreed to pay restitution and write an apology letter to every passenger who was on the flight when it was delayed, and reimburse the emergency response costs, prosecutors said.
Smith’s reasoning for the hoax, according to federal prosecutors, was to target a passenger on the flight, Christopher Shell, who was at the time identified as the ex-boyfriend of Smith’s girlfriend.
Reportedly Shell had posted a compromising photo of the woman on Facebook.
Shell was removed from the airplane in handcuffs. He later wound up making it to Dallas where we was arrested on two outstanding warrants, police said. NBC Dallas spoke to Shell in October about the plane hoax and how it derailed his career.
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Stupidity knows no bounds, nor the lengths others will go to, nor numbers they put others through for mind games. Neither does the capacity for some idiots to willingly abuse good, decent and hard working professionals, willing to put their life on the line keeping others safe, manipulating them, just for petty self absorbed vengeance.
How glad I am that this immature individual must write letters to all he has caused problems for.Bringing home the more personal consequences he has created for so many others by his actions. That he must pay for the damages he caused in peoples lives, time and resources wasted and hopefully will serve a long sentence. He will need it to perhaps, grow up and serve as a warning to all the other foolish folks out there(though I KNOW they will still think it doesn't apply to them, they are TOO SMART) willing to try to "teach"someone a lesson.
What a stupid idiot. Your not 12. He'll never be able to pay the fines.
Whether he can pay the fines or not - once released from prison he should serve community service, never again receive a tax refund, and have his wages garnished until he retires. Furthermore, he should never be eligible for any government assistance except for social security once he retires. That is if social security will even exist once he retires.
gm Windy
Maybe he should get out of the pizza cooking business and start driving a NYC school bus.
This chick needs to do a better job vetting boyfriends. Idiots.
@david Unless your makeing a joke. I'am not venting I'am just not stupid. Are you kidding are are you going to be the next to do something this stupid.
@denver Have a great day.
@jennifer This is no joke. They always give them community service. What kind of job would you let an idiot like this do.
@Mary Jane....You claim that you're not stupid yet your spelling is very indicative.
@7.62x39 I can't spell but I can spell 50 cal. If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the pourch.
ty. You too.
I think his girlfriend is named Mary Jones.
The next time you have a thought ....... let it go. Better yet, learn that you don't have to limit your use of good manners to a quest for sex.
I think he has dog shi! for brains. But you take care.
@Mary Jones, you are a moron. Please take a .50 cal and suck it while pulling the trigger. If you want to talk a lot of smack about people but show no intelligence, it is better to just shut up. FYI, The state can garnish his wages for the rest of his life until paid back. They might not get it all, but they will get theirs. Also, it is porch, not pourch. Also, threatening with a .50 cal can put YOUR dumb arse in jail. MORON.
David Puddy
This chick needs to do a better job vetting boyfriends. Idiots.
Mary Jones-1616541
@david Unless your makeing a joke. I'am not venting I'am just not stupid.
That's "vetting", which means to research with the purpose of elimination of undesirables, not "venting", which means to spew emotional garbage for cathartic purposes.
I think every one of those passengers should get a shot at his nuts.
Wow! That is like waaaaay over the top!
What - is he still living his junior high days?? What a doofus! Not funny. I hope they put his rear end in jail.
I agree that he needs to pay the price. However the price has to be relative to what he did. He can not be punished FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. People make mistakes and regardless of how foolish the person the law can not abuse them.
@Mary Jones-1616541 The gentleman above said the "girlfriend needs to better vet her boyfriends" you replied with "I'm not venting". Vet and vent are two different things. You made yourself sound really stupid in this thread. Advice: stop writing.
Yea Mary...step away from the keyboard until you know how to better comprehend comments and articulate your thoughts.
Thanks to those who came to my rescue. And, no, I was not kidding. Both guys are idiots--the other guy with 2 outstanding warrants--and usually it is pretty obvious if one has a chance to observe them in public for a few minutes.
G-morning Bill.
Mary Jones..
Not sure what you're thinking but it seems David was talking about the dude in this story's "girlfriend" and not you. Uh Oh.... Now what?! Too late....
David,
You just beat me to it.
Buba will adjust his smirk when gets to prison..
Use in a sentence:
"I think we need to do a better job of vetting posters who use the forum for venting."
i had a burrito ...now i need venting...Mona Lisa millions of dollars ...x girlfriend on facebook naked priceless...
Way to go, inMYday, gave me the first real laugh of the day. Thanks!
By the way, glad someone pointed out the smirk on this moron's face. Since part of the punishment is supposed (keyword - SUPPOSED. I'm not going down that debate road) to result in rehabilitation, and an indication of rehabilitation is acceptance and remorse for the illegal actions, I'm think "the rest of his life" is not so far out there. This guy will probably remain a hero to his clique and those like him for a long time. Sad.
The one problem I am having here is that he is going to be fined $500,000.00 . Now lets consider if he can make that payment which I doubt he will be able to do since he is going to prison for the next 15 years. Who is going to get that money? If the gov gets that money then why? Shouldn't the airline get a large chunk of it considering the damage that was done to their reputation from his actions. Just thinking out loud here and would like to know what others opinions about this are.
He won't be fined $500,000.00 or be sentenced to 15 years in prison. The article reports UP TO 15 years in prison and UP TO $500,000.00 in fines.
Ed-376----, Your statement is a valid one. The real problem is he will NEVER have the resources to pay any of this, including the costs to the airline. The only thing this idiot understands is he IS an idiot, and I'm not sure he'll even have the maturity or self control to understand that. As far as a letter of apology, that's a laugh. His court appointed lawyer is going to write it, have him sign it, and then the lawyer will mail them out, or just post it in different local newspapers. He will have lost nothing in this effort, as he won't even understand it. As stated earlier in this post, he is an unmitigated idiot, (better known as a total moron.)
I don't know what a true remedy for this type of foolishness is, but perhaps we can start with installing "personal responsibility" as a requirement in all elementary school curriculums.
Any man who posts a nude picture of his ex on Facebook, is far more than an idiot, he is total scumbag. He should be put in prison for at least 4 years for this stunt. We have raised a generation of complete buffoons. "never underestimate the stupidity of the American people"
There is plenty of stupid to go around with this story. One, The guy made a hoax phone call to the cops. Two, the other guy ran out on a drug charge., Third, the girl let a boy friend take nude pictures of her. They should start a stupid club or something.
"never underestimate the stupidity of the American people"
Sad, but true. Winston Churchill said it in a famous quote more than 50 years ago and it still holds. I often wonder how it's possible that we're the strongest country economically--and militarily. Suppose it gives you an idea how much the rest of the world are even bigger idiots.
Too bad this idiot didn't do most guys in his position would do. Go to the other guy's home and beat the crap out of him. Over and done.
Or go to the other guy's home and get beaten to a pulp, then go back to the tramp all beaten and bruised. But he could always look at his honey and her naked picture on the internet.
Rather than face the problem head-on he decided to do what kids in school have done: call in a bomb threat or pull the fire alarm. Did it even occur to him if this plane crashed and resulted in even one death, just like those responding to a fire/bomb threat, that he could be charged with murder?
Both guys are sluts. In a sense, they both got their karma.
As the article mentions, he faces fines UP TO $500,000.00. It is very unlikely he will be sentenced to that amount. With no prior convictions, most likely he will be looking at paying for the costs involved and a much lesser amount. He will also serve time. But the Judge will want him to be able to pay what he owes.
As someone who has testified in court many times and seen judges sentence those who needed to pay fines, I can tell you, often individuals will be given both sentences and probation, with fines which the judge feels will both cost the criminal something which reflects the harm he has caused to the community, while also serving as a reminder to provide a lesson he will not forget soon.
However, he also wants to give the opportunity, depending on the crime, for the criminal to start with a fresh slate at some point, after he has paid his due to society. Recognizing there will always be a shadow which follows any criminal. Paying ones due includes restitution and fines. Making it so high, a criminal can never pay it over a normal life, is counter productive for smaller stupid acts like this case. Most likely actual costs incurred, plus a much smaller amount as punitive will be added. But sometimes judges will go beyond standard practice, just to create an example to deter others.
Jamie -729593
Too bad this idiot didn't do most guys in his position would do. Go to the other guy's home and beat the crap out of him. Over and done.
Had he done that, he would be facing assault and battery charges, plus possibly a civil lawsuit. In addition, some states have a three strikes rule. Being arrested and charged for minor things, can land one in prison for life on a third strike. Which for one guy, his girl friend accused him of stalking because he came by to visit while she had a new boyfriend he didn't know about. He admitted he came by, and was found guilty. But because he had a DUI conviction, and failure to show up for court on parking tickets warrant in his past, pushed him into that third strike. Bummer. It is always best to act with maturity. Feelings are never worth violence over.
Either way, he will spend time in prison which is not "free" ... we, the taxpayers, will spend $50K a year for his little prank.
Even just costs could be enormous. Emergency response and the cost to the airlines of parking the plane and arranging another could well run into the hundreds of thousands. If they take half this minimum wage bozos earnings he'll be paying into retirement.
Jaime.....there is absolutely no maturity to anyone in this scenario. Wonder if he's sending hallmark cards to everyone!!! Someone that stupid should really be exterminated. He's too stupid to go to jail.
Exterminated for stupidity? NAZI...
Do you think he's a Nazi? What are you trying to say?
He said what most educated people think about anonymous comments like that on the Internet and for that matter your asinine and childish 50 cal. comment is no different.
holy crap mary jones...are you handicapped?
Jean said he should be exterminated
Darren said, exterminated? NAZI (calling HER a nazi for saying he should die because of this prank)
How on earth do you come to your conclusions?
Mike, please don't insult a handicapped person by comparing him/her to Mary Jones.
This is crap. He should be charged with terrorism, regardless of what his intentions were. And if I was a passenger on that plane, I would gladly tell him to shove his apology letter fair up his arse. He's 26 years old, certainly enough to know better than to cause fear in absolute strangers on a flight. As for the $500,000 fine...that amount will not be enforced. But whatever fine is enforced needs to go to reimbursement for the airline and reimbursement for the emergency response costs. Any remaining amount should be divided amoung the crew and passengers on that flight.
He makes pizzas. You really think anything they get from him will cover the cost much less leave any to divvy up between crew and passengers?
Terrorism? I'm gonna go ahead and charge you with hyperbolism....
If this guy was Muslim he most certainly would be charged with terrorism. Lets be fair and treat all people the same. Oh wait, this is the USA, that doesn't happen.
writing letters won't make the sentence any less. it is wishful thinking on his attorney's part. The airlines are bad enough with delays and then you add this moron into the mix. it is a terrorist act, the reasons for it don't matter.
It's to the point that a pizza cook, not to mention terrorists, can affect our air travel?! Sheesh! No wonder executives are buying private jets. Guess the rest of us will have to go back to travel by auto, bus or train.
What a moron. Whatever happened to just going out and kicking the other guys a$$?
That is a crime also.
being able to do it for one!
How stupid can anyone be to me he never ever should be allowed to fly again on any plane.
Can you imagine how frightened the other passengers were?
A letter to say he was sorry to me that is so stupid. What is he is a 5 year old or what?
I hope that the fines he has to pay will be so high he has to pay for the rest of his life and more.
People today are so totally insane there aren't words to express it and that is a fact.
The immature jerk should Also have to pay Restitution to Every passenger on the flight who he convinced and scared the hell out of.
His name should also be entered into a data base so he's Unable to purchase guns.
Wow, what a perfectly reasonable and mature response. Any chance the girlfriend stays w/ him? Unfortunately, the answer isn't as obvious as it should be.
Of course she'll stay with him as she doesn't have to put out, and gets fame to boot.
Obviously the "girlfriend" is a loser too. Why else would these two be her choice of boyfriends? Why else would there be nude photos of her to put on the internet? Sleazy and loser people. Then, they harm other people and cost us, the taxpayers a lot of money, to play their sleazy, immature games. Disgusting!
In all fairness, folks, (and I feel no need to defend ANY of these 3 morons) it doesn't say nude pictures, it doesn't specify "nude" pictures, the article says "compromising" pictures. This could be pictures of her picking her nose, peeing in public, trailing toilet paper out of her pants, any number of "compromising" situations. That said, at least 2 of the stars of this little farce are complete losers, and the third's judgement is questionable at best.
He has to write "I'm sorry" letters to all the passengers?
Are we in grade school now?
Throw his ass in jail where it belongs. Christ...
Ill-bred, self-invovled creep with very little self to actually be involved with.
Tacky people. Cheesy relationship.
How déclassé!
The lower classes have no sense of propriety.
Really people? why such hate for this guy? We all made mistakes,, ,, Give him a break,,, ,,
This being a site which attracts a lot of Progressives you have to expect bigotry and hate speech 24/7.
Troll alert. Don't feed............OOPs.
bearrubman,
Are you f**king kidding me?
Most of us don't make mistakes that cause other people to have their lives put on hold and cost vast amounts of time and money because he wanted to get even with his girlfriend.
You don't joke about committing acts of terrorism.
We don't make mistakes that cost a lot of money? One third of California's penal system costs are the result of illegal aliens. About 60 billion a year goes to support the children of losers so stupid they don't use birth control and this is what concerns you?
skibum609,
Good, then I can come to your house and hold you at gunpoint with a gun that's not loaded, then say "haha sorry it was just a prank it wasn't really loaded". Wouldn't you be pissed? That's what this guy did.
No, I'm concerned that the people on that plane thought they were actually going to die because they thought there was really a bomb. It isn't "awww, don't be hard on him, he just made a mistake". Forgetting to go to a doctor's appointment is a mistake. What this guy did was criminal, and he should be punished for it, and sued by every single person on that plane for emotional distress.
Don't go playing the "you're worried about this when x and y" card. We are talking about this one incident, not that other stuff.
Hey calm down. This guy isn't a gangbanger, and that's all that really matters. At least now we know it was an isolated incident and not some cultural failing endemic of all young men of his ilk. Hell, let's just give him a couple of years of prison time - on the country's dime, Welfare baby - then get this guy into the corporate world where obviously an enterprising man of his type can do some real damage in the community.
Besides, if his name was Jamal, Jesus, or Amed this story would either a) be the biggest news of the day: "Brown Potential Terrorist Foiled By Own Stupidity" or b) never had seen the light of day (except as some redacted DHS report noting another "package" has been promptly deposited into the Gitmo vault for indefinate deposit... Think the Ark of the Covenant at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
America eats its young, but prefers the dark and red meat
Sued by everyone for emotional distress? Spare me. The value of most people's time is about .00012 cents an hour. If the guy were black this site would be blaming George Bush.
dumbass! Hope it was all worth it for ya!
Whad'ja EXPECT from a Pizza Cook! A Bonded Vault Robbery?
Shell complained the hoax side lined his career. Methinks it was his outstanding warrants and arrest. Smith was wrong for the hoax but because of him the police made an arrest of Shell. Does Smith get any reward from crime-stoppers?
Dear passenger
I am sorry that I am a "Douche Bag"
Not sincerely
Kenneth Smith
Fined or not the money he does pay should go to the passengers he impacted with his stupidity.
"Letter of Apology'? The delayed passengers ought to get to take turns doing the Boot-Scoot Boogie on his head!
He'll be marked an ex-felon for life, most places won't hire him as a crapper-cleaner, let alone a pizza cook. Talk about messing up your life in 1 easy step!
You don't exactly need references to get a job at Dominoes and luckily starting at the bottom that's where he'll remain. Any attempt to upscale to fry cook will probably fail.
Ya can't joke about a bomb. But why is it just jokes? What about a riddle? Or a limerick? How about a bomb anecdote? Ya know, no punchline, just a really cute story. Or, suppose you meant it not as a joke, but as an ironic musing?
God I wish I could've seen him perform before he died.
And just for arguments sake, this is exactly the kind of clown that has full access to firearms.
Um, he committed a felony and is out on bail so you're wrong and for arguments sake you're not very bright either.
TalkdeTalk,
Still pushing your communist protocols on everyone while failing to tell the truth or research facts. Yep, your an ultra-lib. Just as the yin of the Ultra-right (tea partiers) swing lunacy one way, your type are the yang that swings lunacy back. Unfortunately the majority of us in the intelligent, moderate conservative and liberal areas, you all crap on our heads as you swing back and forth screaming your idiocy at each other like a bunch of Goony birds.
Hahahaha tracy that was perfect. No he currently does not have access to firearms...but thanks for trying to make this political. there's always one.
Thanks Mike
So everyone is pissed off at Smith because he made what is essentially a prank phone call, but not pissed off at Christopher Shell who had two warrants for his arrest for drug possession. And not only that, he's a douchebag, hateful ex that posts photos of his ex-girlfriend just to get back at her. I'm sorry, but guys who use pictures of their ex-girlfriends to get back at them for leaving them are pathetic. That girl, whatever the picture was of (according to Smith's lawyer it was a picture that would incense a boyfriend), obviously gave it to him or let him take it when they were in a relationship and she trusted him. Instead of deleting that picture (and whatever other pictures) he decided to post it on facebook like an ass. Guy deserved it, happy his career is ruined.
Ya, a prank phone call that cost a lot of people valuable time and money. Not to mention the stress of thinking they were gonna die because they thought there was really a bomb.
Two wrongs don't make a right. I hope Smith gets sued by every single passenger on that plane for emotional stress.
He'll probably have to pay in 50c off their next pizza coupons. You really think he has any money?