Illinois Man Charged After Mailing White Powder Letters to Four US Congress Members

Matthew Unglesbee, 37, of Quincy, Illinois, is accused of sending letters containing white powder to offices of four members of Congress, triggering hazmat responses.

Quincy man mailed white powder to congressional offices, triggering hazmat responses

A 37-year-old man from Quincy, Illinois, has been charged with mailing letters containing a white substance to the Chicago-area offices of four members of Congress, according to abc7chicago.com.

Matthew Unglesbee faces federal charges in connection with letters sent to U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. Staff at each office encountered envelopes filled with a white powder, prompting hazmat team call-outs and a federal investigation.

Unglesbee told FBI investigators the mailings were intended as a joke and that he had been inspired by similar threatening letters sent to public officials elsewhere in the country. He told investigators the substance inside the envelopes was salt.

The handwritten notes enclosed with the letters read "HA HA" or "HAH enjoy the gift," according to the criminal complaint. The letters were mailed from Quincy and postmarked in Springfield.

Investigators said Unglesbee included his own name and return address on the envelopes. An anonymous tipster also contacted the FBI after allegedly overhearing Unglesbee talking about the mailings at a restaurant, authorities said.

Quigley described the impact the incident had on his staff. "You can imagine what it's like for a staff person to grab the envelopes, the mail, and a big puff of powder comes up," he said. He added that the case reflects a wider pattern of pressure on elected officials: "We're in a climate where threats and intimidation like this have become normalised."

Despite the incident, Quigley said his office would continue operating as normal. "My office is open, accessible, ready for business, and we're not going to let anyone intimidate us," he said.

Schneider thanked law enforcement "for treating this investigation with the seriousness it deserves." Schakowsky stated she would "not let threats stand in the way of serving the people of the 9th District."

Unglesbee was arrested at his home in Quincy. Authorities have charged him solely in connection with the four letters addressed to the lawmakers' offices. Investigators have not identified suspects in relation to other threatening mailings reported across the country in recent weeks.

Source: Google News MT