June 10, 2002

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SENDING ANTHRAX HOAX TO I.R.S.

 A Richmond, California man pleaded guilty today to a federal charge for sending the Internal Revenue Service a letter with a suspicious white powder that claimed to be anthrax.
 Israel Rodriguez, 25, pleaded guilty this morning in Los Angeles to endeavoring to intimidate an employee of the IRS with the purpose of impeding the administration of tax laws.
 The case stems from a letter Rodriguez sent on December 18, 2001 to an IRS post office box in Los Angeles. In the letter, Rodriguez used profanity and stated:  “I am not paying your...taxes, you are not getting my money anymore.  P.S. Here is anthraxs.”
 Inside the envelope was a white powdery substance, which later was revealed to be baking powder.
 As part of a joint investigation conducted by the Treasury Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, agents traced the letter to Rodriguez.
 Rodriguez pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on September 9. As a result of the guilty plea, Rodriguez faces up to three years in federal prison.

 Release No. 02-091

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