CARBONDALE, Ill. - On July 2, 2018, George Rita II, 42, of Carbondale, Illinois, appeared in United States District Court on a Complaint charging him with falsely making a threat to blow up a Carbondale, Illinois Military Recruiting Center, Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced Monday.
Agents of the FBI were able to determine that the threat received in West Virginia originated in Southern Illinois and ultimately tracked the internet connection that was the source of the threat back to Rita’s Carbondale apartment. Agents also determined that the threat was against a U.S. Military Recruiting Center in Carbondale, close to Rita’s apartment.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the Carbondale, Illinois Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ranley R. Killian.