Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces a criminal complaint charging 49-year-old Nicki Wayne Goodman of Largo with conveying false information to perpetuate a hoax. If convicted on all counts, Goodman faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Goodman made his initial appearance in federal court today in Tampa and was ordered detained.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early morning of May 20, 2025, the FBI Tampa Field Office discovered a suspicious black backpack outside the main security gate, along with a cardboard sign identifying federal agents by name and a YouTube account belonging to Goodman. The sign also stated, among other things, “My name is Nicki Goodman” and “ABolish Government” and displayed racial epithets. Agents also discovered several other cardboard signs with messages placed near the main entrance gate. Surveillance footage from the previous night revealed that Goodman had put the bag and signs outside the security gate.
Once the backpack was discovered, a significant law enforcement response for public safety was initiated, including the deployment of the Tampa Police Department’s bomb squad and patrol units, as well as Tampa Fire Rescue engines and ambulances. The public safety response resulted in the closure of the public roadways near the incident, denying access to public businesses, and the FBI’s Tampa Field Office shut down for approximately five hours. No explosive materials were found in the backpack.
While first responders were on scene, Goodman posted a short video from nearby, depicting multiple emergency vehicles and personnel in the background. In the video Goodman stated: “see all the way down that street right there? Guess that’s cause of me. (inaudible) I uh the FBI office right down the road there. Look at that shit. That’s crazy huh? Wrote a few notes. Found a bag..” and “they got the SWAT team. They got the look like they got a bomb squad or something going on there.”
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.