By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-826170.mp3
Dallas, TX – An Amarillo man has pleaded guilty to mailing letters with "white powder" in them to 65 banks. KERA's BJ Austin says the man was angry because he lost money in the Washington Mutual collapse.
47 year old Richard Goyette faces a maximum 15 years in prison and a half-a-million dollar fine. Prosecutors say Goyette began sending threatening letters after the failure of Washington Mutual Bank, and the plunge in its stock price.
The 65th letter did NOT contain a white powder, but did include the threat of "McVeighing your corporate headquarters within six months." That's a reference to the 1995 bombing on the federal building in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh.
The "powder" was not harmful, but Goyette may have to pay restitution for the hazardous materials teams who responded to the powder-laced letters. Sentencing is May 25th.