Illinois man charged for sending threatening letters with white powder to Congress members
Matthew Unglesbee was indicted in Illinois for mailing four envelopes containing a white granular substance and threatening notes to members of Congress.
Federal investigators charged Matthew Unglesbee in Illinois with sending four letters that contained a white granular material and threatening messages to members of Congress. Each envelope displayed his name and home address, and the handwritten notes read “HA HA” or “HAH enjoy the gift.” Unglesbee told FBI agents that the substance was salt, which he claimed resembled anthrax, and admitted he expected the letters to be perceived as dangerous.
He denied involvement in earlier mailings that prompted a separate FBI probe of suspicious substances sent to lawmakers and election officials. A search of his residence uncovered a fifth, unmailed envelope addressed to a congressperson. Unglesbee is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Monday.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing threats to elected officials and the challenges of distinguishing hoaxes from genuine bioterror scares.
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