Fmr. TSA employee faces prison after leaving fake bomb notes

TULSA, Okla. (KFOR) - A former TSA employee faces up to five years in prison after allegedly leaving fake bomb threat notes in a Tulsa airport bathroom on two separate occasions last March, according to authorities.

U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced Tuesday, a former TSA employee made an initial appearance before the federal court for leaving notes in the airport restroom, claiming there was a bomb in the airport. Sharon Jean Devine, 48, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of False Information and Hoaxes in an unsealed indictment.

“My office has no tolerance for threats of violence, especially bomb threats within an airport,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

“Every time a threat is made, a sophisticated law enforcement response is set into motion to ensure public safety,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Bomb hoaxes like the ones alleged to have been fabricated by the defendant put the community at risk and will not be tolerated.”

Tulsa International Airport Police received a report of a bomb threat on a handwritten note that was located in the pre-security side of the airport. Airport police immediately responded and secured the area and determined that there was no threat to public safety. Airport police then conducted an investigation where they identified a possible suspect and contacted the Tulsa FBI office. Tulsa FBI took over the investigation from that point forward and proceeded with their own investigation.

Statement from the Tulsa International Airport

As a result of the investigation, a criminal indictment was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Oklahoma. Court records detail Devine left a note in the restroom on March 5, 2024, and March 23, 2024. The notes stated there was a bomb located in the airport.

If convicted, Devine faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 dollars, and up to three years of supervised release.