On Thursday, June 12th, a Federal Courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn was evacuated for hours as emergency responders swept through the building. The whole ordeal began when a concerned employee called the police and reported receiving a package with a suspicious, unknown, white powder inside.

The call came through to the police at 10:35 A.M. and was reported to the Fire Department of New York just before 11 A.M. Both agencies immediately coordinated a response. FDNY, NYPD, Emergency Services, and a HAZMAT unit worked together to immediately evacuate the courthouse and set up a safety perimeter. Courthouse personnel were told to immediately stop what they were doing, drop anything they had, and simply get out of the building as soon as possible.

Next, the authorities blocked off a section of Cadman Plaza East near Tilary Street. Barriers were set up and ambulance crews prepared themselves in case anyone fell ill due to the exposure.

HAZMAT responders swept through the building for hours until just after 1:30 P.M. One patient is currently being evaluated for their intense exposure according to the Fire Department of New York. Once the Federal Courthouse was reopened, EMS units remained on the scene for an extended period to ensure no further developments occurred.

Now, investigators will have to conduct tests to determine what the substance was in the package. Authorities confirm that threats and intimidation tactics have been on the rise over the past several months. The spike in threats against federal judges, specifically, has been exponentially increasing since President Donald Trump took office.

The Washington Post recently reported that the U.S. Marshals Services investigated over 197 threats on judges between March 2 and late May alone.

Making a Terrorist Threat in Brooklyn

In Brooklyn, it’s never considered a harmless prank or joke to send a suspicious letter with a mysterious white powdery substance. This type of behavior calls into memory the early days of 2001 when anthrax attack fears were extremely high. At least five individuals lost their lives after letters with the deadly substance were mailed across the country. Since those days, there have been multiple copycat attacks and attempts.

New York Penal Law § 490.20 makes it a criminal offense to threaten or commit an offense that causes a specific incident with the intent to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence governmental policy, or cause alarm or disruption. In other words, it’s a crime to make a terrorist threat. Sending a threatening letter with a mysterious white substance would certainly fall under the scope of this law. A “specified incident” involves the release, explosion, or dissemination of hazardous substances.

Violating this New York Penal Law is considered a serious Class D felony. If convicted, then you could be sentenced to anywhere from two to seven years in prison.

For more legal guidance and assistance, schedule a free case evaluation with our team here at the Bukh Law Firm, PLLC. You can schedule your consultation by filling out our online form or calling us directly at (718) 797-1961.