Illinois man charged over four white-powder letters to Congress; FBI says it was salt

A man has been charged in Illinois with mailing four letters containing a white granular substance to members of Congress. Federal authorities identified him as Matthew Unglesbee. All four letters were sent in envelopes bearing his name and home address ¹.

He faces two charges: false information and hoaxes, and mailing threatening communications. Roll Call reported that the charges carry maximum prison terms of five and 10 years. They are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted ¹².

What the FBI says he did

Three of the letters included a handwritten note reading “HA HA.” The fourth said “HAH enjoy the gift” ¹. Roll Call reported that three letters were recovered at House offices in northern Illinois and the fourth at an Illinois senator's office. None of the staff opened them, and they tested negative for biological and chemical agents ².

The FBI says Unglesbee admitted in a Sunday interview that he mailed the letters after hearing about other letters sent earlier this month. He said the powder was salt, which he said “kind of looks like” anthrax, authorities said ¹. The FBI also says he knew people would see the letters as dangerous ¹.

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A search of his home turned up a fifth envelope, empty and unmailed, addressed to a member of Congress ¹. The case began with an anonymous tip to the FBI on Oct. 16 from someone who overheard him talking about mailing a suspicious substance to lawmakers ¹. Roll Call said the tipster overheard him at a restaurant ².

A separate wave is still under investigation

Unglesbee denied any role in the earlier mailings ¹. The FBI is separately investigating suspicious letters sent to members of Congress and election officials in recent weeks ¹. Roll Call reported that more than 60 lawmakers said they were targeted in that wave, most of them House Democrats. It also said no charges have been announced in that wave ².

Roll Call also reported that the House Sergeant-at-Arms, William McFarland, wrote in a memo last week that staff should expect more letters “in the coming days” ². The Sergeant-at-Arms is the chamber's top security officer. A hoax may still force evacuations, testing and fear for staff, even when the powder is harmless.

What happens next

Unglesbee was due to make an initial appearance in court Monday afternoon ¹. The wider investigation continues.

That matters because threats against lawmakers and election workers can discourage people from serving or taking part. This arrest closes one small piece of a larger problem, and the sources we reviewed do not say who sent the other letters.

The Record

1. Oct 16, 2026An anonymous tipster tells the FBI that Unglesbee was overheard talking about mailing a suspicious substance to members of Congress ¹.
2. Oct 25, 2026Unglesbee is interviewed by the FBI and allegedly admits mailing four letters ¹.
3. Oct 26, 2026Unglesbee is charged and due for an initial court appearance ¹².

Sources

1. NBC News, “Man charged with mailing threatening letters with white substance to members of Congress” (2026-10-26). nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/man-charged-mailing-
2. Roll Call, “Four hoax letters to Congress draw federal charges” (2026-10-26). rollcall.com/2026/10/26/four-hoax-letters-to-congress-draw-f

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