Lexington Woman Indicted for Making Fake Bomb Threats to City’s 911 Emergency Response Center

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington woman was indicted Thursday for making multiple false bomb threats to Lexington’s 911 emergency response center.

A federal grand jury in Lexington returned a 3-count indictment charging 31-year-old Crystal Brotherton with intimidating individuals by making threats involving explosives and the destruction of buildings. The indictment specifically alleges Brotherton called Lexington’s 911 system and told the operator there were bombs at multiple business at an intersection off of New Circle Road. She allegedly demanded the businesses be evacuated in 15 minutes or “everyone will die.” According to the indictment, Brotherton made three calls to 911 around June 20 and 21, 2018, all involving similar threats of death and destruction.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the indictment. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Lexington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Moynahan.

A date for Brotherton to appear in federal court has not yet been scheduled. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each charge. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.