U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation
200 McCarty Avenue
Albany, New York 12209

November 21, 2007

SUSPICIOUS POWDER MAILED TO FBI OFFICE

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Albany Division and New York Division Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the New York State Police (NYSP),the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYSDOCS), and the Albany Police Department are currently conducting a joint investigation into the mailing of 12 letters which contained a powdery substance.

On November 19, 2007, the Albany Division of the FBI received a letter from an inmate at an upstate New York prison which contained an unknown powdery substance. The letter did not contain any threats. The powdery substance was sent to the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Lab in Albany, NY, for bio-agent testing which proved negative.

Investigation by the JTTF, USPIS, NYSP, and NYSDOCS led to the identification of the inmate who was interviewed at the prison and admitted to sending 12 letters to media outlets, and other individuals in the Albany and New York City areas. Investigation has determined that the substance was a body powder. Investigators are pursuing charges against the inmate through the Washington County District Attorney's Office and the United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of New York.

Investigators are notifying the intended recipients of the letters that there are no health hazard concerns related to the mailing of these letters. Prior to the testing by the New York State Department of Health, the receipt of one of the letters by a New York City media outlet on November 20, 2007 caused a Hazardous Materials Response by the New York City Police and Fire Departments, as well as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police.