Texas man charged in white-powder threats to banks

A Texas man who allegedly mailed white-powder laced letters containing bomb and death threats to banks across the United States was charged on Tuesday with 65 counts of making a threat, officials said.

The indictment alleges that Richard Goyette mailed threatening letters to 52 Chase bank locations and seven offices of banking regulatory agencies on October 18, the Justice Department said.

Each of the letters contained an unknown white powder and the threat that the person breathing the powder would die within 10 days.

At least one of the letters threatened to bomb the New York headquarters of Chase bank and kill people there within six months.

The letter also threatened to "utilize any strategy and tactic to inflict financial damage to your company."

A grand jury found there was sufficient evidence to charge Goyette, who also goes by Michael Jurek.

Goyette, 47, has been in federal custody since his February 2 arrest.

First Published: Feb 25, 2009 12:05 IST