Miami airport bomb threat nets man 3 years’ probation, fine

MIAMI (AP) – A Pennsylvania man must serve three years of probation and pay a $1,000 fine for yelling that he would detonate a bomb last fall at Miami International Airport.

U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga decided Monday not to add more prison time to the six months Joseph Rivera has already spent behind bars since his September arrest. Altonaga did also order Rivera to perform 100 hours of community service.

Court documents show Rivera and his stepfather were flying from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia with a connection in Miami. Rivera admitted yelling he was going to “blow this place up” several times. No bomb was found.

Rivera told police he made the threat after a verbal altercation with a woman and some children he felt were disrespecting him.