Two Navy contractors were arrested and charged Wednesday for allegedly giving false information about two separate hoax bomb threats made to Naval Base San Diego, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Joshua Rice, 26, and Roberto Rubio, 22, were charged in two separate incidents that prompted mass evacuations aboard Navy ships and the nearby pier where they were docked, according to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.
According to the news release, Rice reported that he found the word "bomb" written on the inside of a portable toilet located near three Naval vessels docked at the Naval Base on May 17, 2016.
The bomb hoax prompted a security response, including from military K-9 officers. Work on nearby ships and the pier was shut down as well.
A few hours later, the area was deemed safe and the scene was cleared.
That hoax was the 17th threat to Naval facilities in San Diego since Nov. 2015.
Officials say the other threats are not connected.
You can read more about the incident here.
Rice had been working as a contractor for American Marine during at the time.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 30, 2017.
In a separate incident, Roberto Rubio was charged with writing "9-24-16 400 bomb" on a wall aboard USS Cowpens on Sept. 24, 2016, according to the indictment.
Rubio then allegedly reported the writing to another contractor, which once again prompted a security response on the San Diego Ship Repair Facility. Work on the ship was stopped until authorities deemed it was safe.
He was working as a welder for BAE Systems, a contractor for the Navy.
BAE Sytems spokesperson Karl Johnson told NBC 7 that Rubio worked for the company from August 2015 to October 2016.
“We'll continue to cooperate with authorities going forward," Johnson said.
Rubio is expected to be in court on Jan. 9, 2017.
“Everyone should know that making false bomb threats is taken very seriously by federal law enforcement, and it is a felony offense,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy in a statement.
Since November, there have been 32 separate bomb hoaxes at Naval Base San Diego, BAE Shipyards and NASSCO, according to the U.S. Navy.
The threats were made in similar ways—written on the wall of a Navy ship or inside a portable toilet.
“The bomb threats on and around Naval Base San Diego since November 2015 have had a huge negative impact on the efficiency and productivity of the shipyard's efforts to maintain Navy readiness,” said Gunnar Newquist, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Southwest Field Office.
But the prosecution suggests it was a ploy to end work early.
"Our biggest concern is we don't want someone doing it because they think it is an easy way to get off work we want people to understand it is a serious crime," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Pettit.
Pettit told NBC 7 that Rubio and Rice are only faces charges related to those two separate incidents.
In August, a $20,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest of anyone involved in the falst threats.
If convicted, both Rice and Ruibo could face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego