Former Student Arrested And Charged For Bomb Hoax On College Campus

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), Christopher G. Raia, announced the arrest of NIGEL TRENH in connection with a bomb hoax that resulted in the evacuation of a college dormitory in the Southern District of New York in August. TRENH was arrested by the FBI on December 8, 2025, in Los Angeles and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve Kim in the Central District of California. He will make his initial appearance in White Plains federal court on December 18, 2025.

"As alleged, Nigel Trenh used social media to spread false information about a bomb and active shooter on a college campus, forcing an evacuation of students, family members, and college staff on their move-in day," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Hoaxes related to explosives and violence sow fear and panic, and waste limited law enforcement and emergency resources."

"Nigel Trenh allegedly posted misleading warnings of a bomb and active shooter at his former college, resulting in the full evacuation of a dormitory and first responders rushing to an empty scene," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. "Trenh's alleged hoax unnecessarily incited fear on one of our local campuses and diverted law enforcement resources from legitimate calls. May this arrest serve as a deterrent to others; the FBI is committed to investigating any individual who cries wolf about mass violence, regardless of where they may be located."

As alleged in the Complaint filed in White Plains federal court:[1]

TRENH, a former student at a college in the Southern District of New York ("College-1"), published the following anonymous post on August 29, 2025, on the social media platform Fizz, which warned of a bomb in the third-floor restroom of a College-1 dormitory and an active shooter on campus:

When College-1 students saw the post on the morning of August 29, 2025, they reported it to College-1 security personnel, who in turn reported it to local law enforcement. Within minutes, law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded to the report and converged on campus, evacuating the dormitory to conduct a full sweep of the premises with the support of K9 units. This sweep ultimately confirmed that the post was a hoax.

As alleged, the August 29 Fizz post was part of a broader pattern of unsolicited threatening and/or harassing communications sent by TRENH to College-1 personnel, including e-mails and messages making express reference to on-campus violence and school shootings. TRENH's communications continued even after he was questioned by federal law enforcement officers regarding the August 29 bomb hoax.

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TRENH, 22, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with maliciously conveying false information involving an explosive, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and false information and a hoax involving explosives and firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Office Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, together with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the New York State Police, and the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarlitto is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.