Matthew Unglesbee Reveals Why He Sent Salt To Congress
A 36-year-old man from Quincy, Illinois, was arrested and charged for mailing letters with an unknown substance to congressional offices. Federal authorities say Matthew Unglesbee admitted to putting salt in four envelopes to mimic anthrax as a prank. He appeared in court on Monday and faces a detention hearing this Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Springfield.
Unglesbee told investigators he started sending the letters after hearing news reports about similar suspicious packages earlier this month. The FBI says he knew the white granular substance would be perceived as dangerous by the recipients. According to the Washington Examiner, the suspect claimed the salt "kind of looks like" anthrax, which is why he chose it.
Law enforcement officials found a fifth empty envelope addressed to a member of Congress during a search of Unglesbee's home. Following an anonymous tipster who overheard him discussing the mailings, the FBI utilized the envelopes to locate him. Per NBC News, the complaint states he mailed four letters to three members of Congress and one to a senator's office.
One of the envelopes included a handwritten note that read "HAH enjoy the gift," as reported by reports. Another letter simply contained the words "HA HA" scrawled on the inside. Authorities stepped in before any of the intended recipients opened the letters. Unglesbee denied involvement in the other suspicious mailings that sparked the initial FBI investigation.
Two federal charges await Unglesbee: false information and hoaxes, plus mailing threatening communications. According to the Washington Examiner, the investigation began when the FBI, Postal Inspection Service, and Capitol Police started looking into packages with traces of suspicious substances. One substance was confirmed to be white powder, which seemingly inspired Unglesbee's actions.
A detention hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday will decide if he remains in jail until trial. The specific congressional offices that received the letters remain unclear as the investigation continues. Per NBC News, the case highlights how easily a "joke" can trigger a massive federal response and shut down government operations.
The justice system must treat these hoaxes with the utmost seriousness to protect the flow of mail to our elected leaders. When someone plays with fire like this, they endanger the safety of postal workers and the people who read their mail. According to the Washington Examiner, U.S. officials declared that "The use of the mail to threaten others, including the mailing of threatening substances, will not be tolerated".
Attorney Gregory Gilmore remarked that "These threats will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law". Our office values the resources committed by the FBI and law enforcement partners to ensure citizen safety. This case serves as a stark warning that wasting federal resources on fake threats has real consequences for the sender.