Jerry Stinchcomb is also believed to be responsible for hoax letters sent to Volusia and three other counties
OCALA — Federal prosecutors Tuesday announced the arrest and charging of a Fruitland Park man with sending a fake anthrax letter to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He is believed to be responsible for several other hoax letters, including ones sent to an unspecified Volusia County location.
Jerry Nelson Stinchcomb, 50, could be sent to prison for 15 years if convicted of sending the hoax letter and threatening communication. He appeared in federal court Tuesday, according to U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Friday
According to the complaint, Stinchcomb sent a series of envelopes containing a white powdery substance and threatening letters between Dec. 1 and May 31 to various entities in Lake, Volusia, Sumter and Orange counties.
On March 7, the Lake Emergency Services office in Mount Dora and the Social Security office in Leesburg got hit on the same day. The next day, First Baptist Church of Leesburg received a hoax letter. In each case, white powder inside the envelope turned out to be harmless baking powder.
The Daily Commercial newspaper was subjected to the hoax three times. One of the letters contained a threat to President Donald Trump. Banks and medical offices also received letters.
Local HAZMAT teams, the Florida Department of Health, law enforcement and other agencies had to respond in every incident.
In each case, the correspondence contained black letters that had been generated by a label-maker. From March through April, employees of the Fruitland Park Post Office intercepted letters with the same labeling type, the U.S. Attorney’s office stated in a press release.
Through further investigation, Stinchcomb was eventually identified as the person responsible for mailing an anthrax hoax letter on May 30, using a Fruitland Park postal collection box. The letter contained a white powdery substance and a note reading, “anthrax.” The letter was addressed to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and was collected by a letter carrier on May 31.
The case is being investigated by the FBI (Daytona Resident Agency) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from other enforcement agencies. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dale Campion.
Fake anthrax letters became a troubling fad following a handful of real attacks following the 9/11 terrorist strikes against the World Trade Center, Pentagon and an American Airlines flight. Letters containing anthrax spores were sent to two U.S. Senators and news media outlets.
The FBI launched the Amerithrax Task Force with 30 full-time investigators, including some from the U.S. Postal Service and other agencies. More than 10,000 witnesses were interviewed, 80 searches conducted, 5,750 grand jury subpoenas issued, and 5,730 samples connected from 60 different sites, according to the Justice Department.
In 2008, charges were being prepared against scientist Dr. Bruce Ivins, but he committed suicide.
No one is exempt from the hoaxes, apparently. In February, someone sent fake anthrax and a racist letter to British Prince Harry and then-fiance Meghan Markle.