A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with allegedly making a false bomb threat at a federal building.
According to the Justice Department, on June 11, James Pearce, 40, falsely stated that he had placed explosive devices at the James Fitzgerald Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and at six other locations around Anchorage.
“Pearce allegedly made these statements under circumstances where it may reasonably have been believed that the activity actually took place. He also allegedly made references to the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City,” said the Justice Department in a statement that came from the Anchorage office.
Pearce was arrested on-site, and the building was evacuated. He is charged with one count of a bomb hoax at a federal building, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1038(a)(1).
Pearce will appear before a U.S. magistrate at a later date and if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Anchorage Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation, Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The Anchorage Police Department provided significant law enforcement support the day of the incident.
Pearce has other priors on his criminal record, including robbery and assault. In 2021, he was arrested for robbery involving a knife at the 13th Ave. and Gambell Street Carrs store. When police arrived, they questioned him and he became belligerent and then challenged them to shoot him. He was taken into custody and police found a large butcher knife on him, as well as a number of items stolen from the store.
In 2023, he was charged with criminal mischief and also removing his ankle monitor to escape detention. Although it was dismissed by the prosecutor he pled guilty to violating conditions of his release. There have been other arrests for assault and possession of illegal drugs by Pearce.
