December 11, 2023
Man Receives Prison Term for Lighting Business Bomb Threat
North American Lighting Company awarded $456,000 restitution. Man to serve 41 months in prison.
A district judge sentenced a man from Marshall, Illinois, to spend more than three years in federal prison after he called in a bomb threat to automotive lighting maker, North American Lighting Company, in Paris, Illinois. North American Lighting is a Tier 1 supplier to auto makers in the United States, Canada and Mexico, providing a range of products including forward lighting, signal lighting, rear combination lighting and accessory lighting.
Justin L. Switzer, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of willfully threatening the use of explosives.
According to court documents, Switzer called in a bomb threat to North American Lighting Company, Inc. in Paris, Illinois on Nov. 2, 2022. He admitted to calling the business and stating “two minutes to detonation”.
In response to the bomb threat, North American Lighting evacuated personnel, which caused the company to lose approximately $456,000 in gross revenue. In addition to his prison sentence, Switzer was ordered to pay $456,000 in restitution.
FBI Springfield Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Burke and Liam Coonan prosecuted the case.
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North American Lighting Company has issued the following statement:
NAL is grateful for the support and quick response demonstrated by the Paris Police, Paris Fire, Edgar County Sheriff, Terre Haute Police, Marshall Police, Clark County Sheriff, IL Law Enforcement Alarm System and Illinois Secretary of State Police Departments as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations during this challenging situation. Their coordinated efforts were instrumental in ensuring the safety of our Team Members and mitigating our potential risks that day. We also want to extend our appreciation to Paris Police Chief Terry Rogers and U.S. Attorneys Kevin Burke and Liam Coonan for their commitment in pursuing justice in this case. The collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies underscores the importance of a united front against threats to public safety. “NAL is proud of how our Team Members and management handled the situation that day, and their commitment to following our emergency procedures,” stated Chad Thompson, Corporate GM of Human Resources at NAL. “North American Lighting remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and security of its Team Members, and the company will continue working closely with law enforcement agencies to uphold a safe and secure working environment,” Thompson added. |
