30 October 1998
Source: Fax from Karisa King, The
Brownsville Herald. See her reports on the case at the newspaper's Web
site. Associated Press report below.
See court docket: http://jya.com/usa-v-wise.htm
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
FILED
JUL 21 1998
Michael N. Milby
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
BROWNSVILLE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA )
)
vs. )
) CRIMINAL NO. B 98-415
JOHNIE WISE )
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. )
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH )
I N D I C T M E N T
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
COUNT 1
From on or about March 24, 1998 to on or about June 30, 1998, in
the Southern District of Texas and within the jurisdiction of the Court,
Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally conspire and agree together and with each
other to intentionally use and attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction,
namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease organism,
against a person and persons within the United States, the results of
which use would have a interstate and foreign commerce in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, 2332a(a)(2)and (c)(2)(C).
1
OVERT ACTS
In furtherance of the conspiracy and to effect the objects thE
coconspirators knowingly committed the following overt acts:
1. On or about February 10, 1998, an individual who asked that
his identity be protected until time of trial, hereafter
referred to as the "source", was approached by a person who
identified himself and an official of the Republic of Texas
(ROT). The "source" was also introduced to OLIVER DEAN EMIGH,
who also introduced himself as a member of the ROT. OLIVER
DEAN EMIGH and this other person attempted to recruit the
"source" into the ROT.
2. On or about April 29, 1998, the "source" was visited by
JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. Both men claimed to be
members of the ROT. These men requested the "source" find the
E-mail addresses of several officials of the United States
Government. The following is a list of E-mail addresses
requested:
a. Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
b. All regional IRS offices (E-mail and fax)
c. United States Attorney General, Janet Reno
d. The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
Louis Freeh
e. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
f. The Director of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency
g. Texas Department of Public Safety
h. Texas Attorney General
i. White House, President Clinton
During this meeting JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE JR.
informed the "source" of their plans to develop a delivery
system for a biological weapon to be used against officials of
the United States Government. Specifically JOHNIE WISE and JACK
ABBOTT GREBE, JR. told him of their plan to convert Bic lighters
so that the lighters would propel compressed air instead of
propane. They said that the converted lighter would be used to
infect people with botulism or rabies; that the lighters would
have a hypodermic needle glued to the opening of the lighter
where a cactus thorn would be inserted; that this thorn would
be infected with some type of disease; and that the thorn could
then be shot at individuals, thereby infecting them.
2
["3." not used.]
4. In or about May, 1998 several versions of a document entitled
"Declaration of War" were written by OLIVIER DEAN EMIGH.
5. On or about June 1, 1998, JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE,
JR. provided the "source" with the final draft of the
"Declaration of War". This version included a threat to harm
federal agents and their families. JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT
GREBE, JR. asked the "source" to figure out a way to send
threats, via the E-mail, in a way that could not be traced back
to them.
6. On or about June 12, 1998, the "source" advised JOHNIE WISE and
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. that he had figured out a way to send
threats without the E-mail being traced back to them. That
evening JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. came to the
"sources" residence and had the "Declaration of War" E-mailed.
The "Declaration of War", that was written by OLIVER DEAN EMIGH,
was sent to the above listed E-mail addresses. Many of these
messages were sent out of state.
7. On or about June 24, 1998, JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE,
JR. told the "source" that the first person they were going to
infect with a biological weapon was Judge Migdalia Lopez (a
Cameron County Court-at-Law judge). JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT
GREBE, JR. also discussed placing a surveillance on Judge Lopez
to find out where she ate breakfast and shopped. JOHNIE WISE
spoke of using the rabies disease to infect Judge Lopez. JOHNIE
WISE also said that the delivery system made from the lighters
was almost complete. A conversation was had between JOHNIE WISE
and JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. about the best way to produce
botulism. JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. agreed that
chicken livers, chicken hearts, and green beans with a little
dirt would produce the most deadly toxin.
8. On or about June 26, 1998, JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE,
JR. again met with the "source" in order to send a more specific
threatening E-mail message to officials of the United States
Government. The messages were sent out that evening at the
direction of JOHNIE WISE and JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR. One of the
messages read as follows:
3
Dear Mr. Louis J. Freeh
Your FBI employees and their families have been targeted
for destruction by revenge. We the people are extremely
mad and will not accept the inequities any longer. Non-
tracable (sic), personal delivery systems have been
developed to inject bacteria and/or viruses for the purpose
of killing, maiming, and causing great suffering. Warn all
concerned so that they may protect themselves and be
made aware of this threat to themselves and their families.
Good Luck!
The above listed message was sent to the directors of several
governmental agencies, including President Clinton, Director
Louis J. Freeh of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Director
John W, Magaw, Bureau of ALcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms,
Director Thomas A. Constantine of the Drug Enforcement
Administration, Director Rossotti, Internal Revenue Service, as
well as the directors of the United States Secret Service, and
the United States Customs service. The text for the message
sent to the officials was the same, the only difference being
the E-mail addresses to where the threats were sent, and the
names of the people and the organizations receiving the threats.
9. On or about June 29, 1998, a conversation was had between the
"source" and OLIVER DEAN EMIGH. During this conversation OLIVER
DEAN EMIGH spoke about the lighters that were to be used as
delivery systems to infect people, and spoke about the E-mailed
threats. OLIVER DEAN EMIGH also told the "source" that a threat
should have been sent to the United States, Department of State.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code. Section 2332a(a)(2) and
(c)(2)(C).
Count 2
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and
within the jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
4
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons the United States, namely employees of the
President of the United States and their families, the results of which
use would have affected interstate and foreign commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
Count 3
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and
within the jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and their families, the
results of which use would have affected interstate and and foreign
commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
5
Count 4
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and their families, the results of
which use would have affected interstate and foreign commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
Count 5
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the Drug Enforcement Administration and their families, the results of
which use would have affected interstate and foreign commerce.
6
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
Count 6
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the Internal Revenue Service and their families, the results of which
use would have affected interstate and foreign commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
Count 7
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the United States Secret Service and their
7
families, the results of which use would have affected interstate and
foreign commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
Count 8
On or about June 26, 1998, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
jurisdiction of the Court, the Defendants
JOHNIE WISE,
JACK ABBOTT GREBE, JR.,
and
OLIVER DEAN EMIGH
did knowingly and intentionally threaten to use a weapon of mass
destruction, namely a biological agent and a weapon involving a disease
organism, against persons within the United States, namely employees of
the United States Custom Service and their families, the results of
which use would have affected interstate and foreign commerce.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2332a(a)(2)
and (c)(2)(C) and Section 2.
A TRUE BILL:
[Blank]
_______________________________
FOREPERSON OF THE GRAND JURY
JAMES DeATLEY
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
[Signature]
MERVYN M. MOSBACKER,
Assistant United States Attorney
8
[End]
"Source" is named in the court docket: http://jya.com/usa-v-wise.htm
Transcription and HTML by JYA/Urban Deadline.
CNN http://www.cnn.com/US/9810/30/weapons.case.ap/ Two men convicted in biological weapons case October 30, 1998 Web posted at: 3:10 a.m. EST (0810 GMT) BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- Two men accused of scheming to attack President Clinton and others with cigarette lighters equipped with poison-coated cactus needles were convicted of sending threatening e-mail. Johnie Wise, 72, and Jack Abbott Grebe, 43, were convicted Thursday of two counts of sending threatening e-mails -- one message to the Internal Revenue Service and one to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Grebe and Wise were acquitted on one count each of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction count and five counts each of sending threatening messages -- to President Clinton, U.S. Customs, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and the Secret Service. They could get life in prison at their Jan. 29 sentencing. Prosecutors said Wise schemed to modify a cigarette lighter so it would shoot cactus needles coated with toxins such as rabies, botulism, anthrax or HIV. Defense attorneys called idea 'silly' Among the men's alleged targets: Clinton, the U.S. and Texas attorneys general, and FBI Director Louis Freeh. Defense attorneys called the idea "silly" and "cockamamie." There was never any evidence that the accused possessed biological weapons or tried to develop a deadly lighter. The e-mailed threats were vaguely worded and did not discuss the lighter or cactus thorns. Under federal law, however, the threats were enough for a conviction and no biological weapons were needed, prosecutors said. The men would have carried out their plan to hurt government employees and their families if they hadn't been arrested, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervyn Mosbacker said. Wise and Grebe were accused of concocting the plan to threaten government officials with e-mails. One e-mail, sent June 12, was titled "Declaration of War" and a second one, sent June 26, said government workers had been "targeted for destruction by revenge." A third defendant, Oliver Dean Emigh, 63, was acquitted on all counts. He was accused of writing the June 12 message, but the charges against the men stemmed from the June 26 e-mail. -- Thanks to D.