Date: 12-22-2016

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:15-cr-20234-SHL

Judge: Sheryl H. Lipman

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Shelby County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Stephen Hall

Defendant's Attorney:

Amber Vazquez Bode

Description: Memphis, TN - Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Falsely Reporting Shooting Threat on Megabus

A Texas man pleaded guilty to falsely reporting a shooting threat to delay the departure of a Megabus.

According to information presented in court, Kirk Stuart, 35, of Austin, Texas, planned to travel from Memphis to Dallas via Megabus on February 7, 2015. After realizing that he was going to miss the bus’ departure, he strategized a scheme to hinder it from leaving Memphis.

Using a companion’s phone, Stuart called a Memphis 911 operator and falsely advised that he and his brother were at the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) North End bus terminal awaiting the Megabus’ departure. He informed the operator that his brother had a gun and was about to do "something for Allah, a Muslim thing for Allah," implying a shooting was about to take place on the bus.

Stuart provided a false description of his brother to the operator. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) was notified and officers were dispatched to the MATA terminal. On arrival, they discovered that a Megabus had recently left the terminal heading to Dallas. Officers determined the bus was traveling through Arkansas and advised Arkansas State Police (ASP). The Megabus was later located in Little Rock and searched by law enforcement. No one matching the description that Stuart provided to the 911 operator was found on the bus.

Through further investigation into the matter, law enforcement developed Stuart as a suspect of the false report. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents interviewed Stuart in Dallas. He admitted to placing the fake emergency call in an effort to delay the Megabus long enough for he and his girlfriend to make its Dallas departure.

On Tuesday, December 20, 2016, Stuart pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton to one count of willfully and maliciously conveying false information.

He faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when sentenced.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Outcome: Guilty

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Defendant's Experts:

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