Illinois man arrested after allegedly sending suspicious powder to Congress members using his return address

Key Points:

• Matthew Unglesbee, a 36-year-old man from Quincy, Illinois, was arrested for sending letters containing suspicious white powder to four members of Congress, with his name and return address on the envelopes.
• Unglesbee admitted to FBI agents that the powder was salt meant to resemble anthrax, and preliminary tests confirmed no biological or chemical toxins were present.
• The letters included handwritten notes such as "ha ha" and "Hah enjoy the gift," and none of the congressional staff opened the envelopes after being alerted to the suspicious mailings.
• Unglesbee claimed he sent the letters as a joke after hearing about similar mailings in a restaurant, acknowledging that recipients would perceive the letters as threatening.
• Authorities emphasized their commitment to protecting public institutions from intimidation, and Unglesbee faces federal charges including perpetrating a hoax and sending threatening communications through the mail.