Parking Rage Spirals Into Federal Bomb Threat

Man yelling inside a car, looking frustrated.

A Louisiana man’s inability to pay $5 in parking fees spiraled into a federal bomb threat that could cost him a decade behind bars, exposing how quickly frustration can transform into felony territory.

Quick Take

Corey Johnson, 35, allegedly called in a bomb threat to New Orleans airport after his payment card declined in the parking garage
He made two threatening calls to airport communications, demanding someone be paged and threatening violence against operators
Federal charges carry up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and supervised release
The November 7, 2025 incident demonstrates how minor disputes can escalate into serious federal crimes with life-altering consequences

When Frustration Becomes Federal Crime

On the evening of November 7, 2025, Corey Johnson faced every traveler’s nightmare: his payment card declined at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport parking garage exit. Instead of calling his bank, trying another card, or asking for help, Johnson refused to move his vehicle and remained in a standoff with parking and airport police for hours. What happened next transformed a minor inconvenience into a federal investigation that would haunt him for years.

The Escalation That Changed Everything

Johnson called the airport’s Aviation Communications Center and made the first bomb threat. Forty-five minutes later, he called again, this time making explicit verbal threats toward the operator. These weren’t vague warnings or coded messages. They were direct, aggressive communications designed to terrorize. Law enforcement located Johnson in the surface parking lot shortly after and arrested him. What started as a parking dispute had become a federal crime.

Understanding the Legal Weight

Federal bomb threat statutes exist for critical reasons. Under Title 18, U.S. Code Section 844(e), conveying bomb threats carries maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000. These aren’t arbitrary numbers. They reflect the government’s assessment that bomb threats pose catastrophic risks to public safety. Every threat must be treated as credible until proven otherwise. Airport security protocols demand immediate response, evacuation procedures, and resource mobilization. Johnson’s actions triggered exactly this machinery.

On November 20, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Johnson on one count of willfully conveying a bomb threat. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson noted that the indictment represents a charge, not a conviction, and guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. However, the affidavit detailing Johnson’s actions paints a damning picture of deliberate, calculated threats made to airport staff.

The Real Cost of Escalation

Johnson now faces bail conditions, legal fees, potential imprisonment, and permanent federal conviction on his record. A parking garage fee that likely cost less than twenty dollars has potentially cost him his freedom, his employability, and his future. The airport staff who received his threats experienced genuine fear and trauma. Law enforcement resources that could have addressed other crimes were diverted to manage this incident. The ripple effects extend far beyond one man’s poor decision-making.

Why This Matters Beyond the Headlines

This case illustrates a dangerous truth: escalation happens faster than most people realize. Frustration is universal. Declined payment cards happen to millions daily. But the choice to threaten violence, to weaponize fear, to deliberately terrorize airport workers—that choice belongs entirely to the individual. Johnson had alternatives at every step. He could have asked for assistance, waited for the payment system to process, or accepted responsibility for a situation beyond his immediate control. Instead, he chose threats.