A 36-year-old Quincy man is accused of mailing letters containing white powder to four members of Congress from Illinois, including a senator and three House members, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court Monday.
Matthew Unglesbee faces charges of mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, according to the complaint filed in the Central District of Illinois.
The letters contained a white granular substance and handwritten messages, including “HA HA” and “HAH enjoy the gift,” according to an FBI affidavit. Preliminary testing did not detect chemical or biological toxins in the substance.
During an interview with FBI agents Sunday, Unglesbee allegedly admitted mailing the four letters. He told investigators the substance was salt and said he used it because it resembled anthrax, according to the affidavit. Unglesbee said he knew the powder would be taken seriously and would have “hazmat come in white suits.” He claimed he was joking, but acknowledged recipients could perceive the letters as dangerous.
The letters were postmarked in Springfield on Oct. 19. While searching Unglesbee's home, investigators also found an empty, unmailed envelope addressed to a congressional office in Washington, D.C.
The complaint does not identify the four congressional recipients by name. Several Illinois lawmakers have publicly reported receiving suspicious mail in recent weeks, including Democratic Reps. Mike Quigley, Brad Schneider and Jan Schakowsky. Quigley and Schakowsky each reported another letter last week.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth's office also confirmed receiving two suspicious letters in the mail in recent weeks. The letters were mailed to Duckworth's Chicago office.
It has not been confirmed that all of those incidents are connected to the case against Unglesbee, though in a statement to the Sun-Times, Quigley said he was “relieved to learn” an arrest had been made in connection with one of two suspicious mailings sent to his Chicago office.
“This individual, and whoever is responsible for the other suspicious mail received around the country, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Quigley said in a statement. He also thanked the Chicago Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit for responding to both incidents.
Schakowsky released a statement Monday afternoon saying she was aware of reports of someone being arrested in connection with the letter sent to her Skokie office last week. She also expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers "who acted quickly and decisively to help ensure the safety of me and my staff and are working to hold those responsible accountable."
Schneider’s office issued a statement last Wednesday saying it had received another piece of suspicious mail at his Lincolnshire office. Schneider thanked law enforcement agencies for their response and investigation, according to his office’s public statement.
The investigation continues.
