Man charged in MOA, MSP bomb hoaxes

Federal authorities charged a 22-year-old man Tuesday on charges that he called in phony bomb threats to the Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Dana William Ashey faces two counts of false information and hoaxes. Each count carries a five-year prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jeanne Cooney said Ashey allegedly called the airport and then the mall early in the morning on April 12.

"When yet another call came that afternoon to the Mall of America alleging yet another bomb threat, authorities were able to trace that call and found the caller still inside the Mall of America," Cooney said.

Authorities found no explosives at either the airport or the mall.

Ashey is being represented by a public defender.

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