2 years ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - The FBI arrested a Sacramento man late Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of sending hoax packages containing sugar packets labeled as anthrax and CDs entitled anthrax.
Agents took Marc M. Keyser, 66, into custody without incident at his home.The FBI says Keyser is facing three charges for allegedly mailing more than 120 packages containing a CD titled "Anthrax: Shock & Awe Terror." Attached to the CDs were sugar packets containing a white powdery substance and a label with an orange biohazard symbol and the words "Anthrax Sample."
One of the packages was delivered to the Modesto office of Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, Wednesday morning. The delivery prompted an evacuation and the call-out of a Hazmat squad.
Investigators say Keyser is believed to have sent the packages to over 100 media outlets across the country, including News10, and at least two restaurants in the Sacramento-area.
Testing has been completed on several of the packages and there has been no evidence of a bio-hazard substance, says the FBI. The agency warned there will propably be additional packages received in the next several days. The FBI encourages recipients to contact law enforcement so that the packages can be examined and held as possible evidence.
There is no word on a motive for the packages.
The arrest wasn't the first time Keyser has made area headlines.
In 2003, he drew complaints for going door-to-door in Sacramento neighborhoods, passing out flyers for an organization called Neighborhood Terror Watch. The group's flyer described how terrorists could attack a school and raising money to defend against terrorism.
Area school officials said Keyser was spreading fear and pointed out that none of the money donated to Neighborhood Terror Watch would go to improving school safety.
A recent neighbor of Keyser said he constantly talked about what he considered America's lack of preparedness for a terror attack.
"He even talked about how he went over and actually looked at water treatment plants and how he could actually gain access to them," said Bob Doyle.
Keyser was in trouble previously in 1998 for sending false $76 bills to more than 4,000 northern California residents. He claimed he sent the fake charges in order to harass Wells Fargo Bank and a northern California lobbying group.
In 1994, questions were also raised about how money donated to another Keyser-led organization, the AIDS Action League, was spent.
An FBI spokesman emphasized that many more packages that were mailed may be arriving at other locations in the days ahead.
"If there are people or businesses that do receive packages over the next couple of days, we're asking those people not to panic. Please call local FBI office, we'll be happy to come out and pick the package up," said FBI Special Agent Steve Dupre.
Keyser, who is in Sacramento County Jail, is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Thursday.
Modesto Congressman's Office Evacuated for Suspicious Package
News10/KXTV
