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Man targeted in Philadelphia plane hoax arrested on drug charges

It was a rough day for a young man on a plane flight out of Philadelphia. Earlier this month, the 29-year-old was heading home on his birthday to celebrate with family and friends when the plane he was on turned around and landed in Philadelphia because authorities believed he was carrying explosives. Authorities took him off the plane at gunpoint.

As it turned out, he was the victim of a cruel hoax, but his day got even worse when police later arrested him on outstanding warrants related to drug possession. Specifically, he was wanted for possession of marijuana and less than 28 grams of an unidentified controlled substance.

The young man was apparently unaware that he was suspected of carrying a dangerous substance onto the plane. Shortly after the plane had returned to Philadelphia, he posted on his Facebook page, “We just spent a half-hour in the air to be notified that the plane ‘has technical difficulties’ and had to fly back! Flight 1267 CANCELED.”

Eventually, the man was cleared of the bomb allegations. However, when he finally made it to his destination, Dallas-Fort Worth, police were waiting for him.

Federal authorities also arrested the 26-year-old man who allegedly called in the fake warning. His charge is more severe than the drug charges faced by his acquaintance. The 26-year-old could face a maximum of 10 years in prison, restitution payments and a maximum fine of $250,000.

What is clear is that both young men will need a strong criminal defense to fight the charges against them.

Source: Fox News, “Victim of Philadelphia plane explosives hoax later arrested in Texas,” Sept. 7, 2012

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