Illinois Man Charged with Felonies for Mailing White Substance to Congress
Matthew G. Unglesbee allegedly sent letters containing salt to four members of Congress, claiming it was a joke.
An Illinois man has been charged with two felonies for allegedly sending letters containing an unknown white powder substance to members of Congress, according to a criminal complaint.
Matthew G. Unglesbee faces charges of false information and hoaxes and mailing threatening communications after four members of Congress received the letters, which were marked with his return address. Unglesbee told the FBI the substance was salt and that he mailed the letters as a joke.
The FBI received a tip on October 16 that Unglesbee had sent the letters. The tipster reportedly overheard Unglesbee at a restaurant discussing mailing suspicious substances to members of Congress. The tipster provided authorities with Unglesbee’s full name, address, and date of birth.
FBI agents from the Chicago field office responded to the offices of three members of Congress in northern Illinois after receiving the tip and a 911 call from one of the congressional offices. A staff member at one office reported that the letter felt like it contained a powder and that they could hear something inside.
This office had previously received a similar letter within the preceding few weeks. All three letters contained a white granular substance and a handwritten note that read "HA HA."
On October 19, the FBI responded to the office of a fourth member of Congress, a senator in the Northern District of Illinois. This senator had also received an envelope with a white granular substance and a note stating, "HAH enjoy the gift."
All four letters were marked with Unglesbee’s name and return address. While preliminary lab testing did not detect any chemical or biological toxins in the substance, the FBI noted that such letters are a common intimidation tactic.
During an interview at his home on Saturday, Unglesbee allegedly confessed to sending the letters. He told law enforcement that he had heard someone at a restaurant discussing similar letters received by members of Congress. Unglesbee claimed he sent the letters as a joke, knowing the recipients might perceive it as a threat. He stated he used salt specifically because it resembled anthrax and anticipated a reaction involving hazmat suits.
FBI agents searched Unglesbee’s home and discovered a fifth letter addressed to one of the congresspeople’s Washington, D.C., office. The FBI determined that Unglesbee mailed the letters on October 19.