Illinois Charges Man Over 4 White-Powder Letters to Congress as More Than 100 Similar Mailings Circulate
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Oct 26
Illinois Charges Man Over 4 White-Powder Letters to Congress as More Than 100 Similar Mailings Circulate
3 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Oct 26
Summary
Four letters allegedly mailed by Matthew Unglesbee to Illinois members of Congress led to evacuations and hazmat responses after staff found white powder and notes reading "HA HA" and "enjoy your gift."
Court records say the powder was salt, and Unglesbee told investigators he copied other recent white-powder mailings after hearing about them, knowing recipients would treat the letters like a possible anthrax threat.
A search of his home turned up a fifth envelope addressed to a Washington office, while the return address on the mailed letters allegedly matched his own.
Rep. Mike Quigley, Brad Schneider, Robin Kelly and Jan Schakowsky said staff followed screening guidance, contacted police and Capitol Police, and no injuries were reported.
The case comes as law enforcement still has not identified who sent similar letters to senators and secretaries of state nationwide, with ABC News reporting more than 100 possible white-powder letters in the mail system.