UNITED ST ATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA 

Case No. 22-8349-WM 

UNITED ST A TES OF AMERICA 

v. 

CHRISTOPHER JOHN ROGALSKI 

Defendant. 

I ---------------

CRIMINAL COVER SHEET 

1. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Central Region of the United States 

Attorney's Office prior to August 9, 2013 (Mag. Judge Alicia Valle)? Yes ✓ No 

2. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Northern Reg ion of the United States 

Attorney's Office prior to August 8, 2014 (Mag. Judge Shaniek Maynard)? _ Yes_:{_ No 

3. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Central Region of the United States 

Attorney's Office prior to October 3, 2019 (Mag. Judge Jared Strauss)? Yes ✓ No 

Respectfully submitted, 

JUAN ANTONIO GONZALEZ 

UNITED STA TES ATTORNEY 

BY: ~D~~ 

MARK DISPOTO 

ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY 

District Court No. A5501143 

500 South Australian Avenue, Suite 400 

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 

Tel: 561-820-8711 

Email: mark.dispoto@usdoj.gov 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 1 of 6
AO 9 1 (Rev. 08/09) Criminal Complaint 

UNITED STATE~r~}STRICT COURT FILED BY_.,,..,,__D.C. 

United States of America 

V. 

Christopher John Rogalski, 

Defendant(s) 

Southern District of Florida 

AUG 11 2022 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

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ANGELA E. NOBLE 

CLERK U.S. DIST. CT. 

Case No. 22-8349-WM S.D. OF FLA. - W.P.B. ..._ ____ ;.;.;;.;..;.;...;..;;. ______ _ 

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT 

I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my know ledge and belief. 

On or about the date(s) of Au ust 10 2022 in the county of Palm Beach in the ---~~~~~~---- -----------

Southern District of ---~F~lo~ri~d=a ___ , the defendant(s) violated : 

Code Section 

Title 18, United States Code, 

Section 35(b) 

Offense Description 

willfully and maliciously, and with reckless disregard for the safety of human 

life, imparted and conveyed false information, knowing the information to be 

false, concerning an attempt to do any act which would be a crime prohibited 

by Chapter 2 or Chapter 97 or Chapter 11 of the United States Criminal 

Code. 

This criminal complaint is based on these facts : 

SEE ATTACHED AFFIDAVIT 

0 Continued on the attached sheet. 

Complainant 's signature 

STEVEN TYLER MITCHELL, SA FBI 

Printed name and title 

Sworn and attested to me by Applicant via Facetime pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 4(d) and 4. 1. 

~ ,dg:ti~'c 

City and state: West Palm Beach Florida 

Printed name and title 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 2 of 6
AFFIDAVIT OF SPECIAL AGENT STEVEN TYLER MITCHELL 

IN SUPPORT OF CRIMINAL COMPLAINT 

I, Steven Tyler Mitchell, being first duly sworn, hereby depose and state as follows: 

AFFIANT BACKGROUND 

1. I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and have been 

since October 25, 2021. I currently am assigned to the Counterterrorism Joint Terrorism Task 

Force (JTTF) squad at the Miami Field Office (MM), West Palm Beach Resident Agency 

(WPBRA). In this position, I have participated in investigations dealing with international 

terrorism, domestic terrorism, and other violent crimes. Prior to my Special Agent employment 

with the FBI, I was an Investigative Specialist with the FBI from March 2016 to May 2021 . As an 

Investigative Specialist, I conducted multiple surveillance operations on various investigations of 

complex Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Criminal cases. Since becoming an Agent, I 

have participated in a variety of aspects of investigations, including interviewed victims, witnesses, 

and subjects; executing search and arrest warrants; and obtaining and reviewing records related to 

criminal crimes. As a federal agent, I am authorized to investigate violations oflaws of the United 

States, and as a law enforcement officer, I am authorized to execute warrants issued under the 

authority of the United States. 

2. I am familiar with the facts described in this Affidavit through my own personal 

knowledge, as well as through my discussion with other law enforcement officials and my 

understanding of other investigative activities conducted during this investigation. 

3. I make this affidavit in support of an application for issuance of a criminal 

complaint for Christopher John Rogalski (hereinafter "ROGALSKI"), for violation of Title 18, 

United States Code, Section 35(b), Bomb Hoax. This affidavit does not include all facts known to 

me, but rather contains facts sufficient to support the issuance of the complaint and arrest warrant. 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 3 of 6
PROBABLE CAUSE 

4. During the mid-morning hours of August 10, 2022, Palm Beach County Sheriff's 

Office Sergeant Ronnie Thaeter was on duty working at the Palm Beach International Airport 

(hereinafter "PBI") located at 1000 James L. Turnage Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33415. 

While patrolling the 2nd Level of the airport, Sergeant Thaeter was approached by ROGALSKI 

who asked where Spirit Airlines was located. The Sergeant explained that Spirit Airlines was 

currently not in service at PBI. ROGALSKI then expressed his displeasure about Spirit Airlines 

not currently servicing PBI. Shortly thereafter, the Sergeant told ROGALSKI to have a nice day. 

ROGALSKI said goodbye and proceeded to the 3rd level of PBI. 

5. Upon reaching the 3rd level of PBI, ROGLASKI exited the interior airport and 

talked to a parking deputy curbside on the exterior of the airport where customers are dropped off 

for departing flights. ROGLASKI talked to Deputy Driver about needing to be "Baker Acted," an 

apparent reference to being committed to a mental health treatment center. ROGLASKI then 

stated that he knew what to do. ROGALSKI then walked away and placed an orange canvas bag 

by the T335 exterior door. The parking deputy radioed the information over to PBI dispatch. 

6. Upon the PBI dispatch, another deputy heard a bystander shouting for police and 

stating there is something down there while pointing in the direction of ROGALSKI. ROGALSKI 

was seen smoking a cigarette and looking agitated while wearing a black drawstring gym bag on 

his back. Sergeant Thaeter then approached ROGALSKI who explained that he was agitated that 

Spirit Airlines was not currently operating. ROGALSKI then looked Sergeant Thaeter in the eye 

and began rambling and using expletives, such as "F-this," "F-that," and "F-the cops." 

ROGLASKI then stated that there was something in his bag that would blow up. He then stated, 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 4 of 6
"I'm going to jump off this building and blow up the f-ing place." After a minor scuffle, 

ROGLASKI was placed under arrest. 

7. As a result ofROGALSKI's threat, law enforcement and airport security took great 

measures to ensure the safety of the public. The third level (departures) of the airport was shut 

down to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. A command post was established, FBI West Palm Beach 

RA was notified, and several units from the PBSO Explosion Ordinance Detection arrived on 

scene, along with FBI Bomb Technician Michael Stewart. The orange canvas bag was examined 

and determined to not contain any explosive device. In total, PBI was closed to the public for 

several hours. 

8. Based on the aforementioned information, your affiant respectfully submits there 

is probable cause to believe that ROGLASKI, willfully and maliciously, and with reckless 

disregard for the safety of human life, imparted and conveyed false information, knowing the 

information to be false, concerning an attempt to do any act which would be a crime prohibited by 

Chapter 2 or Chapter 97 or Chapter 11 of the United States Criminal Code, in violation of Title 

18, United States Code, Section 35(b). L 2 

Sworn and attested to m~ Applicant via 

Facetime on this / / day of 

day of August, 2022, in West Palm Beach, 

Florida, pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 4(d) and 4.1. 

HONORABLE WILLI~ MATTHEWMAN 

UNITED STA TES MAG STRATE JUDGE 

STEVEITTYLERMITCHELL 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Special Agent 

West Palm Beach, Florida 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 5 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA 

PENAL TY SHEET 

Defendant's Name: CHRISTOPHER JOHN ROGALSKI 

Imparting or conveying false information (bomb hoax) 

Title 18, United States Code, Section 35(b) 

*Max. Penalty: 5 years' imprisonment; 3 years supervised release; $250,000 fine 

*Refers only to possible term of incarceration, supervised release and fine. It does not 

include possible restitution, special assessments, or forfeitures that may be applicable. 

Case 9:22-cr-80141-DMM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/11/2022 Page 6 of 6