Suspicious envelopes sent to Chase Banks contained threats of 'payback'
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 23, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
Updated October 23, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.
Photo by FBI.gov
A photograph of one of the threatening letters that were sent to several banks Chase Banks in Denver and throughout the country. Click to enlarge.
The envelopes with suspicious white powder sent to Chase Banks in metro Denver and elsewhere contained letters with the threatening message, "What you just breathed in will kill you in 10 days."
The FBI today made public a copy of the threatening letter sent from Amarillo, Tex. to Chase Banks in nine states.
The letter says, in all capital letters: "Steal tens of thousands of people's money and not expect repercussions. It's payback time."
The FBI also published a photograph of one of the envelopes -- the one sent to Loans/Customer Service of the Chase Bank on West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood.
"So far, we've identified more than 50 letters," said the FBI press release.
Most of the letters contained some sort of powdery substance, but tests indicate the stuff seems harmless.
Still, sending a threatening letter, even as a hoax, is a serious crime, FBI agents said.
The FBI is hoping someone can notice the phraseology of the letter or something on the envelope that can help identify the sender. The envelope sent to the Lakewood branch was sent from Amarillo, postmarked the afternoon of October 18.
Most of the letters went to Chase Bank branches, but some went to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Those with information are urged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI; to submit a tip anonymously on the FBI website or to call the Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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October 23, 2008
7:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
mover2 writes:
texans!!!
October 24, 2008
9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
Gonzopozo writes:
"but tests indicate the stuff seems harmless"
No that comforting. What is the stuff anyway?