Former “Silicon Valley” star T.J. Miller was arrested on Monday night at LaGuardia Airport in New York for allegedly reporting a false bomb threat in March, according to the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Miller, 36, was charged with “intentionally conveying to law enforcement false information about an explosive device on a train traveling to Connecticut.” He appeared on Tuesday before a U.S. district judge in New Haven and was released on a $100,000 bond. The charge carries a maximum five-year prison term.
According to a press release from authorities, the actor allegedly called 911 on March 18 in New Jersey, and reported that he was on an Amtrak Train traveling from Washington, D.C., toward New York City’s Penn Station, and that a female passenger “has a bomb in her bag.” A bomb squad found no evidence of any explosive devices on the train.
The officer who spoke to the comedian — who kept changing his description of the woman — suspected that Miller was under the influence of alcohol. Miller told the officer, “This is the first time I’ve ever made a call like this before. I am worried for everyone on that train. Someone has to check that lady out.”
Investigators found that the “Emoji Movie” star had actually been traveling on a different train than the one he reported. Inspectors examined the second train and again found no explosive materials. An Amtrak attendant said Miller had been removed from the train in New York because he was intoxicated. “The attendant also advised that Miller had been involved in hostile exchanges with a woman who was sitting in a different row from him in the First Class car,” according to a press release.
The complaint alleges that Miller, motivated by a grudge against the woman, called 911 to relay false information about a bomb on the train.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, Connecticut State Police, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, and Westport Police Department.
