LOS ANGELES
A San Gabriel Valley man pleaded guilty Friday to sending a bomb threat to a security guard in El Monte last year, federal officials stated.
Nearly two weeks later, he sent a fake bomb threat to himself in an unsuccessful effort to evade detection by law enforcement.
Daniel Isaac Gonzalez, 23, of Montebello, pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat and conveying false information through interstate commerce to kill another person and to damage and destroy buildings by means of an explosive.
According to his plea agreement, on July 13, 2023, Gonzalez sent a bomb threat and conveyed false information via text message to the victim, a security guard at Cathay Bank in El Monte.
The text message falsely stated, “I put a bomb where u work [expletive] I know where u work bank.”
On July 26, 2023, Gonzalez sent another bomb threat via text message, this time to his own work telephone while he was working at Cathay Bank in El Monte.
The text message falsely stated, “This Michael you did me dirty. I put a bomb by your job guy [expletive] you and see you in hell bitch. -anonymous 909.”
Gonzalez admitted in his plea agreement that the threats and false information concerned an attempt to kill, injure, and intimidate the victim and to unlawfully damage and destroy a building and other property by means of an explosive.
Gonzalez also admitted that his conduct resulted in a substantial disruption of public, governmental, or business functions or services.
U.S. District Judge Wesley L. Hsu scheduled an Oct. 25 sentencing hearing. At that hearing, Gonzalez, who remains free on bond, will face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the El Monte Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. States Attorneys Alexander H. Tran of the General Crimes Section and Daniel H. Weiner of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, are prosecuting this case.