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U.S. Attorney’s Office – Middle District of Florida
Tampa, Florida – June 3, 2025 – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced today that Nicki Wayne Goodman (49, of Largo) has been charged by criminal complaint with conveying false information to perpetrate a hoax. If convicted, Goodman faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. He made his initial appearance in federal court in Tampa earlier today and has been ordered detained pending further proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early hours of May 20, 2025, personnel at the FBI Tampa Field Office discovered a suspicious black backpack placed outside the main security gate. Accompanying the bag was a cardboard sign bearing the names of federal agents, racial epithets, and references to a YouTube account linked to Goodman. The sign also included phrases such as “My name is Nicki Goodman” and “Abolish Government.” Additional cardboard signs containing similar messages were found near the entrance.
Surveillance footage from the night before reportedly shows Goodman placing both the bag and the signs at the scene.
Upon discovery of the backpack, a large-scale public safety response was initiated. Units from the Tampa Police Department Bomb Squad, patrol officers, and Tampa Fire Rescue, including fire engines and ambulances, responded to the scene. Out of an abundance of caution, nearby public roads and businesses were temporarily closed, and the FBI Tampa Field Office was shut down for approximately five hours. No explosive materials were found in the backpack.
While first responders were still on scene, Goodman allegedly posted a video from a nearby location, showing multiple emergency vehicles and law enforcement personnel. In the video, Goodman can be heard stating:
“See all the way down that street right there? Guess that’s cause of me… The FBI office right down the road there. Look at that… That’s crazy, huh? Wrote a few notes. Found a bag…”
“They got the SWAT team. They got the—look like they got a bomb squad or something going on there.”
A criminal complaint is a formal charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from the Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire Rescue. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.
