Chase and Fed Regulators Receive Threats
Monday, November 03, 2008
Chase Bank and federal banking regulators have fallen victim to what is being investigated as the first public backlash over the country's financial crisis. Yesterday, more than 30 letters containing a suspicious powder were mailed to Chase bank branches and federal banking offices in nine states, authorities said.
According to FBI officials, tests show the powder not to be poisonous or any type of dangerous toxin. “Most of these letters contain a powder substance with a threatening communication,” the FBI told the Associated Press.
At least five Chase banks in Colorado -- including the cities of Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, and Centennial – and five branches in Oklahoma all received letters on Monday, some of which contained a white powder, Chase said. Letters have also been received at branches in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, and Texas. According to a spokesperson from the bank's parent company JPMorgan Chase, there were no injuries to employees or customers and all affected branches will be operational this morning.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. last week surpassed Citigroup Inc. to became the largest U.S. bank, Reuters.com reports. The financial leader has aggressively acquired other assets as the banking system has weakened, including the assets of Washington Mutual Inc. last month.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offices in Dallas, Texas and Arlington, Virginia, also received suspicious letters. Another went to a U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision branch in Irving, Texas near Dallas.
“Even sending a hoax letter is a serious crime,” said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. Yesterday's threats are currently under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, who are zeroing in on Amarillo, Texas, where the letters were postmarked. The FBI would not release the text of the letters but said the threat was “based on past actions of [Chase] the bank.”
According to FBI officials, tests show the powder not to be poisonous or any type of dangerous toxin. “Most of these letters contain a powder substance with a threatening communication,” the FBI told the Associated Press.
At least five Chase banks in Colorado -- including the cities of Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, and Centennial – and five branches in Oklahoma all received letters on Monday, some of which contained a white powder, Chase said. Letters have also been received at branches in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, and Texas. According to a spokesperson from the bank's parent company JPMorgan Chase, there were no injuries to employees or customers and all affected branches will be operational this morning.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. last week surpassed Citigroup Inc. to became the largest U.S. bank, Reuters.com reports. The financial leader has aggressively acquired other assets as the banking system has weakened, including the assets of Washington Mutual Inc. last month.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offices in Dallas, Texas and Arlington, Virginia, also received suspicious letters. Another went to a U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision branch in Irving, Texas near Dallas.
“Even sending a hoax letter is a serious crime,” said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. Yesterday's threats are currently under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, who are zeroing in on Amarillo, Texas, where the letters were postmarked. The FBI would not release the text of the letters but said the threat was “based on past actions of [Chase] the bank.”
