Gretna Man Pleads Guilty to Arson Threats

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — DAVID PATRICK MCGUIRE, age 62, a resident of Gretna, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to a three count indictment for threats to injure an individual and to destroy a building, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, MCGUIRE that worked for Shell Exploration & Production Company until he retired in 2009. MCGUIRE admitted today, beginning in February, 2010, he started making harassing phone calls to his former supervisor at Shell’s office located on

Poydras Street

in New Orleans, LA. Further, on May 3, 2010, MCGUIRE used a telephone to specifically threatened to injure his former supervisor by fire, to destroy his former supervisor's home by fire and he to destroy the Shell offices.

The defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, three (3) years of supervised as to each count. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 15, 2010.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera.