Illinois Man Charged After Sending Salt Letters to Four Lawmakers

Matthew G. Unglesbee stands accused of mocking federal lawmakers with a series of envelopes filled with salt, a substance he chose specifically because it resembles the anthrax powder that once terrorized Washington. The Illinois resident was charged Monday with two felonies: false information and hoaxes, and mailing threatening communications. The criminal complaint details how four members of Congress received letters marked with his return address, each containing a white granular substance and a short, taunting note.

The investigation began on Oct. 16 when an FBI tipster reported hearing Unglesbee boast at a restaurant about mailing suspicious substances to Congress. The tipster provided investigators with his full name, address, and date of birth. FBI agents from the Chicago field office subsequently responded to three congressional offices in northern Illinois. At the first office, a staff member noticed the letter felt heavy with powder and heard movement inside, prompting a 911 call. The office had already received a similar letter weeks earlier, keeping staff on high alert.

All three of those letters contained the white granular substance and a handwritten note that read "HA HA." On Friday, FBI agents visited a fourth office, belonging to a senator in the Northern District of Illinois. That envelope also contained the white substance and a note that read "HAH enjoy the gift." All four items bore Unglesbee's name and return address. Preliminary lab testing did not detect chemical or biological toxins in the powder.

The FBI interviewed Unglesbee at his home on Saturday, where he allegedly confessed to sending the mailings. He told agents he heard about similar letters in the restaurant and decided to join in the joke. He anticipated recipients would perceive the powder as potentially anthrax and respond with hazmat suits. Unglesbee admitted he was joking but recognized the recipients would not know that and could view the gesture as a threat. He stated he used salt because of its visual similarity to anthrax.

FBI Task Force Officer Chris Hobbs, who wrote the complaint, characterized the letters as a common intimidation tactic. Agents searched Unglesbee's home and found a fifth letter marked with the address of one of the congresspeople's Washington, D.C. offices. The FBI determined Unglesbee mailed the letters on Oct. 19, three days after the initial tip was reported.

The charges carry two felony counts. The complaint notes that the letters were mailed with the intent to create a sense of urgency and fear among the congressional staff. The specific wording of the notes, including the repeated laughter, added to the perceived threat level. The case highlights the ongoing use of physical mail as a tool for political intimidation, a method that continues to draw federal attention despite its low-tech nature.