Feds charge Lake County man in anthrax mail hoax

A Fruitland Park man accused of mailing white powder to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office last month in an envelope bearing an index card labeled “anthrax” has been charged in federal court with mailing threatening communications. Federal authorities also allege that Jerry Stinchcomb, 50, sent similar letters to various entities in Orange, Sumter and Volusia counties, each of which used lettering that seemed to have been generated with a label-maker.

Postal employees in Fruitland Park, alerted to be on the watch for the distinctive envelopes after a letter-carrier found one in a corner mailbox, intercepted six more envelopes between April 30 and May 16. Four had white powder inside. A postal inspector tested the powder and determined it was not the bacteria that causes anthrax, a potentially deadly disease.

If convicted, Stinchcomb could be sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. A detention hearing is set for Friday. According to the federal complaint, between Dec. 1, 2017, and May 31, a series of envelopes containing a white powdery substance and threatening letters were mailed to addresses in Lake, Volusia, Sumter and Orange counties. All contained a white powdery substance and document with the word “anthrax” written on it using black label-maker printing. Field tests proved negative for the biologically hazardous bacteria, an FBI affidavit said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria known as “bacillus anthracis.” It causes skin, lung, and bowel disease and can be deadly if inhaled, injected or ingested. Those mailings caused local HAZMAT teams, the Florida Department of Health, local law enforcement and other agencies to respond.

Investigators eventually identified Stinchcomb as the person allegedly responsible for mailing an anthrax hoax letter May 30, using a Fruitland Park postal collection box. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with aid from other law enforcement agencies.