Man charged with mailing threatening letters with white substance to members of Congress

October 27, 2026 3oliver

WASHINGTON — A man has been charged in Illinois with mailing four letters containing a white granular substance to members of Congress, all of which were sent in envelopes bearing his name and home address.

Matthew Unglesbee has been charged with sending threatening letters containing a white granular substance to three members of Congress, along with a handwritten letter that read “HA HA.” A fourth letter with a white granular substance included the note “HAH enjoy the gift.”

Unglesbee faces two charges: false information and hoaxes and mailing threatening communications. He will make an initial appearance in court Monday afternoon.

A white powder falls from a white envelope — A letter received by the district office of a member of Congress on Wednesday with a white granular substance spilling from the unopened envelope. The photo has been redacted for privacy.U.S. District Court

In an interview with FBI personnel Sunday, Unglesbee is alleged to have admitted that he mailed four letters to four members of Congress after he heard about other letters mailed earlier in the month. The FBI is separately investigating letters containing suspicious substances that were sent to members of Congress and elections officials in recent weeks.

Unglesbee admitted that he knew that people would perceive the letters as dangerous, the FBI said. He said in the FBI interview that the granular substance was salt, which he said “kind of looks like” anthrax, authorities said. He denied involvement with prior mailings, they said.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said Monday she was “aware of reports that a suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the most recent suspicious letter sent” to her district office.

The congresswoman received a second suspicious letter on Oct. 21.

“I’m aware of reports that a suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the most recent suspicious letter sent to my Skokie office,” she said in a statement thanking law enforcement. “I will not let threats stand in the way of serving the people of the 9th District. My community relies on the services our office provides, and my team and I will continue doing the work I was elected to do.”

A search of Unglesbee’s residence turned up a fifth unmailed and empty envelope that was addressed to a member of Congress, according to the FBI.

The case began after an anonymous online tipster told the FBI that they overheard Unglesbee talking about mailing a suspicious substance to members of Congress. The tip was received on Oct. 16, and the FBI responded when the letters showed up at the offices of members of Congress three days later.