Navy veteran charged with sending ricin-laced letters to US President Donald Trump
A Navy veteran has been charged with threatening to use a biological toxin as a weapon after sending letters containing ricin to Donald Trump and other leaders.
William Clyde Allen III claimed to have sent similar letters to Queen Elizabeth II, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the secretary of the Air Force, though it is not clear whether those envelopes were found.
According to court documents, the 39-year-old told investigators he wanted to “send a message”.
Authorities traced Allen after finding his return address on the envelopes which contained ground castor beans – the substance from which the poison ricin is derived.
The envelopes that tested positive for ricin also had a note that said “Jack and the Missile Bean Stock Powder,” the documents said.
The envelopes were mailed to Mr Trump, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and the Navy’s top officer, Admiral John Richardson, authorities said.
They were intercepted and no one was hurt but the FBI said all of the letters tested positive for ricin.
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Allen, who served in the Navy from 1998 to 2002 according to Navy records, was arrested on Wednesday at his house in the small city of Logan, north of Salt Lake City.
He told investigators he had purchased castor beans on eBay “in case Word War III broke out,” so he could “defend our nation”.
He could face up to life in prison if convicted on the biological toxin charge, one of five counts in the complaint.
He is also charged with four counts of making threats through the mail, which carry 10-year sentences.
At a court hearing on Friday, Allen did not enter a plea and cried as he told a judge that his wife suffers from a spinal condition and he helps her put on her shoes in the morning.
The case is expected to go before a grand jury and Allen could face additional charges at a hearing on October 18.
He has a criminal record in Utah including child abuse and attempted aggravated assault.
He also had a history of sending threatening emails over the last few years to then-US president Barack Obama, the Air Force and the state of Utah, investigators said.
