PITTSBURGH — The FBI and the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh returned two indictments charging a resident of Dublin, Ireland, with a series of crimes related to emailed threats targeting the University of Pittsburgh, three federal courthouses and a federal officer.
Investigators said Adam Stuart Busby, 64, of Dublin, Ireland, is facing dozens of charges including international extortion, wire fraud and maliciously conveying false information.
According to the indictment, from March 30 until April 21, Busby sent more than 40 emails targeting the University of Pittsburgh's campus. He also is charged with threatening U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton, who heads the Pittsburgh office.
"Today we announce the indictment of Alan Stuart Busby of Dublin, Ireland. Busby has been charged with emailing numerous anonymous bomb threats targeting the University of Pittsburgh this past spring," Hickton said.
A separate but related four-count indictment alleges that on June 20- 21, Busby conveyed false information on the Internet claiming that bombs had been placed in the U.S. Courthouses in Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown.
Busby is currently in custody in Ireland on unrelated charges, officials said.
Federal prosecutors would not reveal how or why Busby targeted Pitt, but told reporters he emailed more than 40 bomb threats, which resulted in more than 100 evacuations.
Authorities would also not comment on what led them to Busby, saying that any information released about their investigation could interfere with future similar cases.
Target 11 investigator Rick Earle learned that Busby does have a long history of threatening people and has a reputation in the international crime community.
Sources close to the investigation told Earle that Busby has no connection to the University of Pittsburgh and it was just a random target.
Scotland Yard officials confirmed Thursday that they assisted the FBI with their investigation into Busby.
Irish police said they refer to Busby as Moriarity, Sherlock Holmes’ arch enemy.
A senior police officer told a reporter, “He holds extremist views and is fanatical about his cause. While his behavior is highly unpredictable, he is not a stupid man. With the terrorist links he has developed, he could well have been capable of planning and carrying out something big.
Busby, who calls himself the founder of the Scottish National Liberation Army, sent letter bombs to oil companies and high-profile public figures.
Authorities said he emailed threats claiming that bombs were on board two flights to New York in 2006.
Earle also learned that Busby has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair.
Busby's son was also convicted of sending suspicious packages in 2009.
Meanwhile, a third indictment charges two Ohio men with additional online threats against the university.
Federal authorities charged Brett Hudson, 26, of Hillsboro, Ohio, and Alexander Waterland, 24, of Loveland, Ohio, with engaging in a conspiracy against Pitt using interstate threats claiming they were associates of the computer hacking group Anonymous.
These threats were posted on YouTube, sent via email and publicized via Twitter.
The threats attempted to extort Pitt’s chancellor into placing an apology on the university’s Website, according to officials, who did not specify what the apology was for.
Nordenberg said Wednesday that he thinks fall enrollment may be impacted.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there was some kind of impact entering class this fall,” Nordenberg said.
The FBI charged Waterland six weeks after they said he posted a YouTube threat that came after six weeks of bomb threats.
More than a hundred threats were emailed or written on bathroom walls on campus from February through April, emptying dozens of campus buildings and dorms and disrupting classes and the routines of students and faculty.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey released the following statement after law enforcement announced indictments in the Pitt bomb threats case: "Today's indictments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement officials who doggedly pursued this case. Earlier this year I asked the Department of Justice to work closely with local law enforcement and Pitt to aid this investigation, and I'm pleased that this collaborative effort helped to bring a suspect into custody. The threats that took place during the spring semester were deeply concerning, but ultimately showed the strength and resolve of the entire Pitt community."
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