INMATE INDICTED FOR SENDING THREATENING LETTERS IN ENVELOPES CONTAINING PURPORTED ANTRAX TO LOCAL MEDIA

Posted on 10/2/2015

Defendant: Drew D. Manns

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Drew D. Manns, age 31, for five counts of Making Terroristic Threats (F-3), five counts of Unlawful Possession or Use of Hoax Weapon of Mass Destruction (F-4), and one count Intimidation (F-3), for a total of eleven counts.  Manns was an inmate at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio.  It is alleged that between May 6th and May 13, 2015, Manns sent threatening letters in envelopes containing purported Anthrax, made death threats, and threatened to release more deadly toxins to WCMH 4, WSYX 6, WTTE 28, WBNS 10TV, and the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.  It was later discovered that the envelopes contained white powdered sweeteners and not anthrax.  O’Brien commended the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Columbus Police Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their investigation of this case.  “If convicted, Manns faces a potential sentence of twenty-five years in prison,” O’Brien stated.