FBI Nabs Man On White Powder Letter Hoax

The FBI has arrested a Texas man for sending hundreds of letters filled with mysterious white powder to various government offices, hotels, and daycare centers across the U.S. and abroad. According to the criminal complaint, Hong Minh Truong, 66, has sent more than 500 hoax letters since December 2008. Some of his alleged letters contained threatening and bizarre messages, such as one sent on May 7, 2012, that read: “Al Qaeda back! Special thing for you… Where are you Scooby Doo, Counter Intelligence, CIA, you do not know how to catch the triple dealer spy in your law enforcement.” Although the white powder in the letter was not toxic, Texas HAZMAT teams had to be called multiple times, including in June 2013 when 28 Boston public schools received the letters. U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña said Truong’s alleged actions “caused emergency responders and hazardous response teams immense unnecessary labor and expense” and “diverted personnel from actual emergencies.”