A Hyde Park man faces federal charges for allegedly mailing envelopes containing a white powder to federal offices in New York and Connecticut.
Jason Pantone, 34, was charged with conveying false information and hoax, according to officials from the United States Attorney of the Northern District of New York.
Pantone is accused of using the United States Postal Service to send envelopes containing white powder to various locations throughout February. Each envelope contained the powder and a typed note that read, “ANTHRAX.”
The mailed envelopes were allegedly sent to the Social Security Administration Offices in Plattsburgh, Binghamton, Utica, West Nyack and White Plains in New York, as well as offices in Hartford and Torrington, Connecticut. Additional letters were addressed to United States District Court offices in Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Plattsburgh and Utica.
On Feb. 22, police responded to the Federal Building at 10 Broad St. in Utica after reports of a letter arriving by mail that contained a suspicious powder.
Two employees were decontaminated and treated for any possible exposures, local police said that day.
So far, all samples of the white powder tested thus far have not contained hazardous material, federal officials said.