Man Accused Of Planting Fake Bomb Outside FL FBI Field Office

TAMPA, FL — A Largo man was arrested Tuesday for a bomb hoax at the FBI Tampa field officer, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Nicki Wayne Goodman, 49, of Largo was charged with conveying false information to perpetuate a hoax. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

The FBI Tampa field office found a suspicious black backpack outside the main security gate, as well as a cardboard sign, Tuesday around 6:30 a.m., the DOJ said.

The sign referenced a YouTube account belonging to Goodman and identified current and former FBI agents with the Birmingham office, the criminal complaint against him said.

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The sign also reads “Abolish Government” and “Trump you need me,” as well as racial epithets. Other similar cardboard signs were found near the main gate.

Surveillance footage from Monday night showed Goodman placing the bag and signs outside the security gate, the DOJ said.

Once the backpack was found, law enforcement responded to the office, including the Tampa Police Department’s bomb squad and patrol units, and Tampa Fire Rescue engines and ambulances. Roads nearby, including those accessing local businesses, and the FBI office were closed down for about five hours.

No explosive materials were found in the backpack, the DOJ said.

Medical needles, men’s undergarments, a bottle of air freshener, deodorant, feminine products and folded-up aluminum foil were found inside the bag, the complaint said.

While first responders were at the scene, Goodman posted a short video from nearby showing the first responders and their vehicles in the background.

“See all the way down that street right there? Guess that’s ‘cause of me … I, uh, the FBI office right down the road there. Look at that (expletive). That’s crazy, huh? Wrote a few notes. Found a bag,” he said in a short video he posted from nearby while first responders were on the scene, the DOJ said.

He also said, “They got the SWAT team … Look like they got a bomb squad or something going on there.”

When arrested, Goodman claimed that he “placed the backpack at the FBI so that children would not find it,” the complaint said.

Bomb technicians and other agents familiar with explosives believe he placed the backpack and signs in a way so that those responding to the scene would believe there was explosive material inside.

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