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Press Release

Henderson County Man Guilty of Unlawfully Possessing Ricin

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas

TYLER, Texas – A 19-year-old Athens, Texas, man has pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of ricin in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers today.

Abel Keith Fulton pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. 

According to information presented in court, from August to September 2016, Fulton possessed ricin at his home in Athens, Texas.  Ricin is a biological toxin that can be fatal if ingested, inhaled, or injected.  There is no known antidote or cure for ricin poisoning.  Fulton made the ricin using supplies that he purchased online. 

                Under federal statutes, Fulton faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

                This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Coan and Trial Attorney Jerome Teresinski of the Department of Justice National Security Division. 

 

Updated March 21, 2018

Topic
Violent Crime