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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A Navy veteran in Utah was charged Friday for threatening to use a biological toxin as a weapon by sending a letter to President Donald Trump and to other leaders containing ground castor beans, the substance from which castor poison is derived.
William Clyde Allen III, 39, told investigators that he wanted the letters "to send a message," although he did not explain in detail, FBI investigators said in documents filed in the US court. US District of Utah. Authorities pinpointed Allen after finding his return address on at least two of the envelopes, according to the complaint.
Envelopes that gave a positive result in ricin search also contained a note saying "Jack and Bean Broth Powder Missile," says the document.
Utah US lawyer John Huber declined to comment on Allen's mental state, but said the case was "not a matter of laughter".
"When you're dealing with a hint of castor oil, you have nothing to worry about," Huber said.
At a court hearing Friday, Allen cried telling a judge that his wife was suffering from a spinal disease and that he was helping her to put her shoes on in the morning . He did not record a plea and his lawyer, Lynn Donaldson, did not immediately return an e-mail asking for a comment.
Allen could face life imprisonment if he is found guilty of the biological toxin charge, one of the five counts contained in the complaint. He is also accused of uttering four threats by mail, punishable by 10 years.
The envelopes were mailed to President Christopher Wray, FBI President, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the highest naval officer, Admiral John Richardson, authorities said.
They were intercepted and no one was injured. The FBI said all the letters were ricin-positive.
Mr. Allen told the police that he had also sent similar letters to Queen Elizabeth II, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Secretary of the Air Force, without specifying however whether these envelopes or those corresponding their description had been found. The case should be judged by a grand jury and Allen could face additional charges at the hearing scheduled for October 18th.
Allen was arrested Wednesday at his home in the small town of Logan, north of Salt Lake City. He told investigators that he had bought castor seeds on eBay "just in case Word Ware III broke out", in order to be able to "defend our country".
He is held with a $ 25,000 bond in cash only, although US District Judge Dustin Pead is expected to hear it on Oct. 15.
Allen served in the Navy from 1998 to 2002, according to the Navy Archives. He has a criminal record in Utah, particularly with regard to child abuse and attempted aggravated assault.
He was also interrogated by the secret services in 2015 after an email threat to President Barack Obama, investigators said in court documents. He also launched email threats to the Air Force and Utah Governor Gary Herbert, police said.
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