Dutschke Arrested in Ricin Case

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – James Everett Dutschke, 41, of Tupelo, Mississippi, has been arrested on a Criminal
Complaint charging him with knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring,
acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a
weapon, to wit: ricin, and with attempting, threatening and conspiring to do the same, in violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Section 175(a). If convicted on this charge, Dutschke faces
maximum possible penalties of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years of supervised
release.

Dutschke is expected to appear in the United States District Court in Oxford, Mississippi,
on Monday, April 29, 2013, before U. S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander. The arrest is
based on a federal charge. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The arrest resulted from a cooperative investigation by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation-Mississippi and Memphis Joint Terrorism Task Forces, the United States Secret
Service, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, the U. S. Capitol Police, the United States Attorney’s
Office for the Northern District of Mississippi and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice
Department’s National Security Division, assisted by the following state and local agencies:
Mississippi National Guard 47th Civil Support, Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, Lee
County Sheriff’s Office, Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office, Corinth Police Department, Tupelo
Police Department and Booneville Police Department.

The public is reminded to be vigilant in alerting any suspicious letters or activity to the
appropriate authorities.