Nashville man indicted for possessing ricin: Matthews also had pipe bombs, silencers
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William Micheal Matthews, 55, was already in a Davidson County jail serving a nine-month sentence for violating orders of protection taken out by his wife when authorities found the ricin and two functional pipe bombs at his home May 31.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Richardson would not say if authorities have determined how the ricin or pipe bombs were intended to be used.
“That is something we have looked into, but it’s not appropriate to comment at this time,” he said.
Possessing biological agents for use as a weapon is punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Possessing explosive devices or silencers is punishable by up to 10 years? imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
The ricin was found in a sealed baby food jar in a shed at Matthews’ Nashville home, according to local and federal officials who searched the house.
“Those who manufacture and possess weapons of mass destruction occupy a high priority with both the Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney’s office,” Vines said in a news release.
Ricin is a poisonous protein that can be made from processing castor beans. It can be used as a biological weapon.
As little as 500 micrograms ? roughly the amount that fits on the head of a pin ? is enough to kill an adult, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Matthews’ wife, Carole Matthews, was the one who raised concerns about what was in the shed, and authorities said they found five gun silencers, three blasting caps and bomb-making materials.
Carole Matthews was living in the house at the time and had taken out the protection orders while her husband was being treated for substance abuse.
Matthews’ sentence for violating the protective order is expected to last through March. He is expected to be transferred to federal custody after he is through serving that sentence, Richardson said.
Associates of Matthews told authorities that he talked about ricin more than a year ago, but that he was not known to be associated with any terrorist organizations or other violent groups.
Neighbors of the Matthews said the couple mostly kept to themselves but did not appear to be involved in any suspicious activity.