Indiana Man Sentenced for Mailing White Powder

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that David Naylor, 61, formerly of Perrysville, Indiana, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, to one day in custody, 100 hours of community service, and restitution in the amount of $1,847.89 by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for mailing a threatening communication to Mutual of Omaha. In addition, Naylor will serve a three-year term of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment. Naylor was previously incarcerated for 54 days in this case.

On May 14, 2012, the Mutual of Omaha mail processing facility in Blair, Nebraska, received an envelope that had been mailed by Naylor for delivery by the United States Postal Service. When the envelope was opened, it was found to contain a white powder. The outside of the envelope stated “open carefully contains cornstarch.”

A standard protocol pertaining to white powder incidents was put into effect: the air handling system was shut down, no one was permitted to enter or leave the facility, and employees in the immediate vicinity remained in place. Four employees remained in place near the envelope for approximately an hour until the white powder was found to be not hazardous. Reactions among these four people ranged from anger to fear.

The Omaha Fire Department hazardous materials unit responded and determined the powder was not harmful. Later testing at a lab confirmed that the substance was cornstarch.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.