Man Charged With Sending Threatening Emails About Flight From Miami to Brasilia

Authorities say Francisco Fernando Cruz, 22, was scheduled to fly on the flight he sent threatening emails about.

A Brazilian citizen was charged with sending threatening emails about a flight from Miami to Brasilia last week.

A criminal complaint was filed against Francisco Fernando Cruz, 22, who allegedly sent emails threatening that a TAM Airlines flight would headed from Miami to Brasilia on Jan. 10 would "go down," according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The complaint says Cruz sent an email to the Miami-Dade Police Department and TAM Airlines on Jan. 8 that read:

"Flight must not take off. Targeted. It will go down. Retaliation. Cargo is dangerous. Be advised."

When police traced the email, they found it came from a computer at Montclair State University in New Jersey, according to the DOJ. The university was able to capture video of the person using the kiosk that sent the email and when a second threatening email was sent the next day, officials were able to identify Cruz.

Officials said Cruz traveled from New York to Miami and was scheduled to go to Brasilia on the flight he mentioned in the threatening email, DOJ officials said.

If convicted, Cruz faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine. The case is set for a pretrial detention hearing on Jan. 14 and arraignment on Jan. 24.
 

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