An Illinois man faces federal charges after he allegedly sent four letters with a white grainy substance to members of Congress. The letters also had short notes that raised concern among lawmakers and law enforcement.
Matthew Unglesbee faces two federal charges. They are false information and hoaxes, and mailing threatening communications. He is due in court on Monday afternoon for his first appearance.
The case comes as federal agents look into other reports of suspicious mail sent to lawmakers and election officials in recent weeks. However, officials have not linked Unglesbee to those cases.
Court records say the four letters went to four members of Congress. Each envelope held a white grainy substance. Some also had short notes written by hand.
One note read “HA HA.” Another said “HAH enjoy the gift.” The words and the unknown substance raised fears about a possible threat.
A photo from a congressional district office showed white grains spilling from an unopened envelope. The image became part of the evidence linked to the case.
The envelopes carried Unglesbee’s name and home address. This gave investigators a direct lead as they worked to find the sender and learn why the letters were sent.
Authorities have not reported any confirmed harm from the substance. The case focuses on the letters, their contents, and the fear they may have caused among those who received them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation spoke with Unglesbee on Sunday. During the interview, he allegedly admitted that he had mailed four letters to four members of Congress.
According to the FBI, Unglesbee said he had heard about other letters sent earlier in October. He then chose to mail his own letters, investigators said.
The FBI also said Unglesbee knew that people might view the letters as dangerous. This claim may play a role in the case, as the charges relate to both the messages and the risk they could cause.
During the interview, Unglesbee said the white substance was salt. He reportedly told agents that it “kind of looks like” anthrax.
Anthrax is a serious disease caused by bacteria. The name often raises fear when people find unknown white powder in the mail. Past cases have shown how such reports can lead to major security checks and public concern.
The FBI has not said that the substance in these letters was anthrax. The claim that it was salt came from Unglesbee during his interview, according to investigators.
Unglesbee also denied any role in the earlier mailings, the FBI said. Agents are looking into those cases as part of a separate inquiry.
The investigation also led agents to search Unglesbee’s home. During the search, they found a fifth envelope, according to the FBI.
The envelope was empty and had not been mailed. It was also addressed to a member of Congress.
The finding may help investigators learn whether Unglesbee planned to send more letters. Still, court records do not explain why he prepared the extra envelope or whether he planned to use it.
The case comes as officials review other reports of suspicious mail sent to public figures. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of congressional offices and election workers.
So far, officials have not tied Unglesbee to the other cases. Investigators must review the evidence before they can decide whether the separate events are linked.
The federal charges relate to false information, hoaxes, and mailing threatening communications. They concern the use of the postal system to send messages that may cause fear or suggest a possible danger.
Unglesbee is due to make his first court appearance on Monday afternoon. The hearing will mark an early step in the federal case.
The charges remain allegations. Unglesbee is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Future hearings may provide more details about the letters, the substance, and the reasons for sending them.
For now, the FBI continues to examine the case and other reports of suspicious mail. The agency has not confirmed whether the substance in the letters posed any health risk.
The four mailed letters and the fifth empty envelope give investigators several pieces of evidence to review. Their findings may help establish what happened and guide the next steps in the case.
