Writer denies he sent ricin

OXFORD, MISS. — A Mississippi man charged with mailing ricin-tainted letters to national leaders wrote in online postings that he had uncovered a conspiracy to sell human body parts on the black market, and on Thursday his lawyer said he was surprised by his arrest and maintains he is innocent.

Paul Kevin Curtis, 45, wore shackles and a Johnny Cash T-shirt Thursday in a federal courtroom. His handcuffs were taken off for the brief hearing, and he said little. He faces two charges on accusations of threatening U.S. President Barack Obama and others. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

He did not enter a plea on the two charges. Lawyer Christi McCoy said Curtis “maintains 100 per cent that he did not do this.”

An FBI affidavit says Curtis sent three letters with ricin to Obama, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and a Mississippi judge. The letters read:

“No one wanted to listen to me before. There are still ‘Missing Pieces.’ Maybe I have your attention now even if that means someone must die. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance. I am KC and I approve this message.”

The affidavit says Curtis had sent letters to Wicker’s office several times before ending, “This is Kevin Curtis and I approve this message.”

The FBI said there was no indication of a connection between the letters and the Monday bombing in Boston that killed three people and injured more than 170. The letters to Obama and Wicker were post marked April 8, before the marathon.