A Richmond County man has been sentenced to federal prison for threatening to blow up Augusta’s Social Security office. Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 39, of Augusta, received a 36-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to using a telephone to make a threat to injure a person or damage a building by explosives. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also mandated that Dickens serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia stated, “Threats of violence against workers and customers of any facility are completely unacceptable.” She commended law enforcement partners for ensuring the safety of those in the Social Security office and holding Dickens accountable.
According to court documents and testimony, Dickens was notified in September 2023 about overpayments he had received in his Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and that the Social Security Administration intended to recoup the funds from future SSI checks. In response, Dickens called the Social Security Administration office in Augusta and said, “I’m going to shoot the office up and I’m going to blow it up. I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do.”
Dickens later visited the Social Security office carrying a backpack and showed a security guard a note that read “I have a bomb.” The officer alerted the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, leading to a lockdown and evacuation of the building. No bomb was found, and deputies took Dickens into custody.
Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Matthew Ploskunak of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta Resident Agency commented, “Americans should not have to fear for their lives simply for doing their jobs or going about their daily errands.” He praised local law enforcement's quick response in investigating the case thoroughly.
Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, emphasized their commitment to public safety: “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to public safety and the serious consequences of making threats of violence.”
Michelle L. Anderson, Acting SSA Inspector General, added: “Keyon Dickens’ malicious actions are criminal and intolerable. This sentence demonstrates that threats to Social Security employees and offices are felonious and will not be ignored.” She expressed gratitude for the immediate response from security officers at the local SSA office as well as law enforcement agencies involved.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.