re: Shawn Payton(the other one) indicted in New Orleans for superdome bomb threat

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A federal grand jury in New Orleans indicted a Michigan man today for allegedly calling the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Jan. 7, and threatening to blow it up as the Saints were beating the Lions in the playoff game. Shawn Payton, 34, of Jackson, Mich., was charged with sending threatening communications through interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced in a press release.


Shawn Payton
The Saints beat the Lions 45-28.

Payton called the Superdome's reception desk about 9:15 p.m., and asked if that's where the Saints played. When the receptionist confirmed it was the arena, he allegedly said there was a bomb in the building.

Payton allegedly called a second time about 45 minutes later and said, "Hi, I want you to relay a message to the sideline, if your stupid Southern team keeps winning, there wil be reper ... severe consequences, okay?" according to the indictment.

"I will blow up your building," the caller said.

The FBI investigated and traced the call to Payton, who admitted to making the calls.

He admitted as much to Times-Picayune reporter Paul Rioux in a telephone interview last month.

"I'm not a bad person," Payton told the reporter. "I was just so proud of the Lions finally making the playoffs for the first time in God knows how long. I got caught up in the heat of the moment, and I seriously, highly regret making those calls."

After the FBI filed a criminal complaint, Payton appeared before a U.S. Magistrate in Detroit last month and released on bond. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in New Orleans on Feb. 14.

If convicted, Payton faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI is investigating the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy, according to Letten's news release.

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