Matthew G. Unglesbee faces charges over letters sent to members of Congress
According to authorities, Matthew G. Unglesbee, a 37-year-old Illinois man charged with mailing threatening communications and false information and hoaxes, told FBI agents he sent four letters to members of Congress, saying the white substance was salt and he was joking. He said he chose salt because it resembled anthrax.
More context
Court records say Matthew G. Unglesbee, 37, of Quincy, Illinois, was charged in connection with four letters containing a white granular substance sent to members of Congress. He is accused of hoaxes and false information, as well as mailing threatening communications. According to an FBI affidavit, Unglesbee told agents he used salt because it looked like anthrax and said he was joking, though he acknowledged recipients could view the letters as threats.
The affidavit says an anonymous tipster told the FBI on Oct. 16 that they had overheard Unglesbee say he mailed suspicious substances to members of Congress. Agents recovered three letters from congressional district offices in northern Illinois on Oct. 21 and another from a senator’s office two days later. The first three bore the message “HA HA”; the fourth read “HAH enjoy the gift.”
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Reporting
- United Press International — Man charged with mailing threatening letters to Illinois lawmakers - UPI.com
- NBC News — Man charged with mailing threatening letters with white substance to members of Congress
- The Washington Post — Illinois man allegedly sent threatening letters containing a white substance to Congress members - The Washington Post
- NewsNation — Illinois man charged over white powder letters to Congress
- Chicago Tribune — Man charged with sending threatening letters to Congress members
- BNO News — Illinois man charged with mailing white powder to 4 members of Congress - BNO News
- ABC7 Chicago — Matthew Unglesbee accused of allegedly sending letters with white powder to 4 members of Congress in Illinois: DOJ - ABC7 Chicago
- pressdemocrat.com — Illinois man charged with mailing white powder to members of Congress
Verifier’s note
UPI, NBC News, The Press Democrat carrying Associated Press, The Washington Post, NewsNation, the Chicago Tribune, BNO News, and ABC7 Chicago all report that an Illinois man was charged over letters containing a white substance sent to members of Congress. The reports are consistent on the central claim; the Press Democrat carries an Associated Press wire report, and ABC7 Chicago’s ABC News-contributed item is derivative.