U.S. Citizen Federally Charged in New Jersey for Alleged Attempt to Board International Flight with Concealed Weapons

NEWARK—A man arrested late last night at Newark Liberty International Airport faces a federal charge after allegedly attempting to board an international flight carrying concealed razor blades, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Michael John Davidson, 41, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with attempting to board an aircraft with a dangerous weapon. He appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court. Judge Falk ordered that Davidson be detained and sent for a mental competency evaluation.

According to the complaint filed today:

On July 9, 2012, Davidson purchased a one-way ticket on a Lufthansa flight for $2,643.32 in cash. The flight was scheduled to depart shortly thereafter to Düsseldorf, Germany, with a connecting flight to Budapest, Hungary.

Due to the circumstances of his ticket purchase, Davidson was selected for additional screening at the security checkpoint but failed to comply with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers’ instructions.

Following an x-ray examination and additional inspection, law enforcement officers discovered six razor blades concealed in Davidson’s carry-on luggage. Despite repeated warnings, Davidson continued to obstruct officers attempting to search his property.

The count with which Davidson is charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew M. McLees; and officers of TSA in Newark, under the direction of Federal Security Director Donald Drummer and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, for their work in the ongoing investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Osmar J. Benvenuto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.