FBI Media Release
Special Agent in Charge Manuel E. Mora
660 Mesa Hills Drive El Paso, TX 79912
To: All print and broadcast media
Contact: Special Agent Andrea Simmons, 915.832.5373
August 15, 2007
Laser-Wielding Clint Man Arrested
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) arrested an individual for attempting to disable commercial aircrafts. Clinton Udet Pinckert, 47, of the 300 block of McKinney, Clint, Texas, was arrested without incident last night at his home.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed today, Pinckert allegedly shined a Class IIIb laser product at a plane flying over his house. If convicted, Pinckert faces up to 20 years in prison.
Pinckert is expected to have his initial appearance at 2:00pm today before United States Magistrate Judge Norbert Garney.
“We take this matter very seriously,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Manuel E. Mora. “The safety of hundreds of people were at stake had the laser disoriented the pilots.”
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso Police Department, Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshal also assisted the JTTF in this investigation.