ABINGDON, Va. – As he called in one of a dozen bomb threats to Walmart in May, Michael Fred Atkins watched the store manager frantically respond, his feet slipping out of his shoes as if he were wearing flip-flops.
He began to laugh, he told investigators.
On Wednesday, Atkins, 37, pleaded guilty to phoning in more than 10 threats to the Exit 7 store where he worked, and to lying to investigators about a co-worker’s involvement. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Atkins, of Chilhowie, must also pay restitution, according to the terms of his plea agreement. Greg Cunningham, the store manager Atkins laughed at, has previously estimated the cost of evacuating his store at between $40,000 and $50,000.
In a May 11th interview with law enforcement, Atkins admitted he was responsible for some of the bomb threats – made using a prepaid cell phone that the Tire and Lube Express department used to communicate with customers, according to testimony in court Wednesday. But Atkins also fingered his co-worker, James Dale Williams, for involvement.
As a result, authorities arrested and charged Williams, 31, with making a bomb threat in Washington County General District Court. A hearing is set for Sept. 1.
On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer said in court that Williams “had nothing to do with” the bomb threats. He said that he anticipates the charge against Williams to “go away.”
Atkins is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 8.
dgilbert@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2558
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