Razor-lined mail returning to LV

Kim Smith

Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999 | 10:02 a.m.

Some of the booby-trapped envelopes sent to animal research scientists earlier this week are on their way back to Las Vegas, law enforcement officials said.

FBI agents hope they will be able to collect fingerprint, saliva and handwriting samples from the envelopes so they can one day compare them with any potential suspects, FBI Special Agent Kevin Caudle said.

More than 80 scientists at 18 academic centers received razor-lined envelopes Tuesday supposedly from a group called the "Justice Department," an animal rights organization.

The envelopes were note size, had handwritten addresses and were postmarked in Las Vegas.

However, at this point the FBI is unaware of such a group existing in Las Vegas.

"We know nothing about them being in Las Vegas so we are looking at the possibility that an individual or individuals were just passing through," Caudle said.

U.S. Postal Inspector Chris Carrillo said his office will be assisting the FBI in whatever way it can, including explaining to the agents the mail process.

Tens of millions of pieces of mail are handled by the Postal Service in Las Vegas every day and most of it isn't touched by human hands until it is delivered, Carrillo said. That being the case, it is unlikely someone will remember seeing a mass mailing of envelopes matching the description of those sent.

Should someone be arrested in connection with the incident, he would face charges of sending injurious articles through the mail, Carrillo said. The maximum sentence for a single count is 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Carrillo and Caudle agreed the case is unusual. Typically, if someone wants to injure someone through the mail, they use explosive devices, Caudle said.