FBI PRESS RELEASE

Federal Bureau of Investigation
257 East 200 South, Suite 1200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

For Immediate Release
Date: October 21, 2008

Contact: SA Juan T. Becerra
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 579-1400

Special Agent In Charge, Timothy J. Fuhrman, of the Salt Lake City, Utah Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that:

The FBI, US Postal Inspectors and state and local authorities are investigating a series of letters sent to banks around the country. These threat letters contain a powder substance. At this point, field tests on the powder have been negative. Additional testing will be completed. Even sending a hoax letter is a serious crime. The FBI and its law enforcement partners request the assistance of the public to provide the identity and whereabouts of the subject(s) involved in this matter. If anyone has information they are requested to contact the FBI, USPIS or your local authorities. You can also go to www.fbi.gov to submit a tip.

As this is an ongoing matter, we cannot discuss further details at this time. Any further media inquiries can be made through the FBI's National Press Office at (202) 324-3691.