HOLLAND MAN CHARGED AFTER ALLEGED BOMB THREAT FORCES EVACUATIONS AT GEORGIA POWER FACILITIES

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 23-year-old Holland, New York, man has been arrested and charged in federal court after authorities say a bomb threat sent to Georgia Power triggered evacuations, lockdowns and a large-scale emergency response at company facilities in Georgia.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Joseph Leone was charged by criminal complaint with maliciously conveying a false threat to use an explosive device on a building. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, Georgia Power received a private message on April 26, 2026, through its publicly available Instagram account. The message claimed to have been sent by an active Georgia Power employee and stated that a detonation device had been placed inside the company’s headquarters.

The message also demanded action regarding residents of Little Neck Road in Savannah and referenced the removal of what the sender described as a 300-year-old oak tree. It imposed a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday for the company to address the matter.

Federal prosecutors said the message was sent from an Instagram account using the username “joe_1eone.”

Georgia Power alerted law enforcement. The threat produced an extended response involving federal, state and local authorities, along with fire department personnel and bomb squads.

Operations were disrupted at two Georgia Power headquarters facilities, one in Atlanta and another in Savannah. Employees were evacuated or placed under lockdown while bomb squads and supporting police and fire personnel searched the facilities for explosive devices.

No explosive device was found.

The response still carried substantial consequences. Work was halted, emergency resources were deployed for an extended period and both facilities experienced operational and financial disruption.

The case also illustrates the scale of response that can follow a threat directed at a major utility operator. Georgia Power operates nuclear power plants in the State of Georgia, adding to the seriousness of any reported explosive threat involving company facilities.

Investigators subsequently traced the Instagram username used to send the message to Leone, according to federal prosecutors.

The FBI is leading the investigation under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly is prosecuting the case.

Leone has been charged by criminal complaint. The allegations have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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