Matthew Unglesbee of Quincy, Illinois, was arrested Oct. 25 after a federal complaint alleged he sent four congressional offices letters containing an unidentified granular substance, leading to federal hoax and threat charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said the charges involve federal laws covering false information and hoaxes, as well as threatening communications sent by mail. The complaint says the envelopes received Springfield postmarks on Oct. 19 and listed Unglesbee’s name and Quincy home address as the return address.
The filing describes handwritten notes on the letters. Three read “HA HA,” while one sent to a senator’s office said “HAH enjoy the gift.” The complaint does not identify the recipients.
Preliminary tests detected no chemical or biological toxins, according to the complaint, which does not identify the substance. Unglesbee allegedly told investigators it was salt and said he chose it because it “kind of looks like” anthrax. Investigators also found an empty envelope at his home addressed to a member of Congress’s Washington office, the filing says.
The complaint says Unglesbee told investigators he decided to send the letters after hearing someone at a restaurant discuss news reports about earlier suspicious mailings to congressional offices. The filing does not link his case to those incidents.
Unglesbee appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas J. Quivey on Oct. 26. The DOJ said a detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28. The department said the complaint contains allegations and Unglesbee is presumed innocent unless the charges are proven.
