The FBI has arrested a man in Oklahoma City accused of sending more than 700 threatening letters to U.S. government officials, the bureau said. Authorities allege the letters contained a white powdery substance and warnings accusing recipients of treason, though the powder has been characterized as a hoax.
The alleged mailings targeted federal officials across the country, according to the FBI. Officials have not publicly identified specific recipients or disclosed the timeframe over which the letters were sent, saying only that the volume of correspondence prompted an extensive investigative response.
The arrest follows a coordinated inquiry by the FBI and other federal and local law enforcement agencies into the source of the letters and whether they posed an actual hazardous-materials risk. The FBI statement described the white powder as fraudulent but did not detail testing procedures or potential exposures. Standard protocol in such incidents typically involves hazardous-materials teams and temporary closures of affected facilities, authorities said.
Investigators said the matter remains under active investigation. The suspect is accused of the mailings and is in custody; further legal action is expected as federal prosecutors review the case. The probe highlights ongoing concerns about threats to public officials and the use of the postal system to intimidate or alarm government employees.
Law enforcement officials urged anyone who receives suspicious correspondence containing unfamiliar substances or threatening language to avoid handling it and to contact local authorities or the FBI. Mail screening and threat assessment procedures continue to be important tools for protecting government personnel and facilities.