SOUTHWICK – The Boston FBI office announced in a press release on Friday that a Southwick man has been charged in federal court in Springfield.
Kevin Johnson, 47, of Southwick, has been arrested and charged for sending four packages to the F.B.I. office in Springfield, with two of those packages containing white powder.
According to Kristen Setera, with the Public Affairs Office for the F.B.I. Division in Boston, the exact charge was by criminal complaint, with two counts of conveying false information and hoaxes. It also included two counts of mailing threatening communications, followed by Johnson being detained.
The Southwick Police Department noted that they assisted the FBI for the execution of a search warrant for Johnson at 136 Point Grove Rd. at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning.
“The warrant was executed without incident,” said Southwick Chief of Police Kevin Bishop. “At no time before, during, or after, was there any threat posed to the neighborhood or community.”
The press release from the FBI indicated that both the FBI office in Springfield and the Springfield Social Security Administration Office each received three packages that involved either threats or the suspicious white powder. The press release also added that the Springfield office for the United States Attorney’s Office received a letter from a person claiming responsibility for sending those packages. Each package contains a piece of white-lined paper with a hand-drawn logo that seems to combine the “anarchist A” symbol and the symbol for ISIS.
Southwick Police Department. (WNG File Photo)
The FBI’s press release also includes the court documents that detail the incident.
“As alleged in court documents, on July 23, 2018, security cameras at the FBI Springfield Office captured an individual throwing a manila envelope at the front door. The package contained a handwritten note saying: “Death to TRUMP.”
On Oct. 23, 2018, SSA Springfield received a package containing white powder and a handwritten letter stating, among other things: “FOR ALLAH YOU DIE, ATHENA KNOWS YOUR LIES, DEATH TO YOU TRAITORS, AND THE FU—– FBI.” On Oct. 24, 2018, the FBI Springfield Office received a package through the mail addressed to “AGENT UNCLE HAM.” The package contained white powder and a handwritten note stating: “FOR ALLAH YOU DIE, ATHENA KNOWS YOUR LIES, DEATH TO THE N.O.R.A.D SPIES, AND THE FBI.” Laboratory testing later determined that the white powder in the packages did not contain hazardous material.
On Nov. 13, 2018, the Springfield Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts received a letter through the mail addressed to the U.S. Attorney. The return address stated: “WANTED FOR TERRORISM.” The package included a handwritten letter and two newspaper articles. One of the newspaper articles was a report that the SSA Springfield building closed after receiving a suspicious package. The article noted that the powder was found to be onion salt. The words “onion salt” were circled in pen on the article. The second article was about the death of James “Whitey” Bulger Jr. The phrase “5 finger Freddy” was written in pen next to the name “Freddy Geas” on the article. News media outlets have reported Geas as Bulger’s suspected killer.
The charges of false information and hoaxes provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mailing threatening communications provide for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”
