FBI: 'White powder' hoax letters traced to Texas man

Walt Zwirko, WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth6:05 p.m. EDT July 28, 2014


(Photo: WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas)

DALLAS — FBI agents and postal inspectors arrested a Texas man Monday in connection with hundreds of "white powder" hoax letters mailed from north Texas over the course of six years.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Hong Minh Truong, 66, of Rowlett, Texas, is charged in a federal complaint with being responsible for false information and hoaxes.


"We believe Hong Minh Truong is responsible for the hundreds of letters sent to locations worldwide, including U.S. government offices, aerospace companies, schools, daycares, and recently, hotels in the vicinity of Super Bowl XLVIII," said Dallas FBI special agent in charge Diego Rodriguez in a written statement.

Most of the letters, which started appearing in 2008, contained a white powder, which in each case was later found to be non-toxic. But the potential of danger required special handling by hazardous materials teams.

In a May 9, 2012, case, the Mi Escuelita Preschool in Dallas was evacuated after one of the white powder letters was received. Hazmat teams were employed to safely contain the letter and its contents.


Federal agents said that letter and similar ones had been mailed two days earlier, containing this message:
Al Qaeda back! Special thing for you
What the hell where are you, Scooby Doo, Counter Intelligence, CIA, you
do not know how to catch the triple dealer spy in your law enforcement.
What the hell where are you, Scooby Doo, Internal Affairs, FBI, you don't
know how to arrest the bad cop in your law enforcement.
You all flaming idiot, ignorant and arrogant, know nothing! How to protect
this country! U.S.A
We are Al Qaeda, U.B.L FBI, Al Qaeda, SS Nazi FBI, working in your
agency. We claim everything.

Agents said these hoax letters were typically mailed in batches of 10 to 40 at a time.


Truong was ordered to remain in federal custody. If convicted, the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...ters/13292127/