Former Livingston Man Sentenced on Charges of Mailing a Threatening Communication and Making a False Threat

Gary James Smith, 68, formerly of Livingston, was sentenced yesterday before the federal district court in East St. Louis, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Smith had previously pled guilty to both counts of an indictment charging him, in count one, with mailing a threatening communication, and, in count two, with making a false threat. The violations took place on June 19, 2010, in Madison County, Illinois.

According to court documents, Smith mailed an envelope to a family in his town containing a white granular substance purporting to be anthrax and a letter stating that their hands were on fire, they had been infected with a disease, and they should report to the hospital immediately. Smith used food ingredients to mimic the anthrax. The district court sentenced Smith to three years of probation, a $1,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspector, and the Illinois State Police. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Liam Coonan for prosecution.