CRIME Illinois Man Arrested for Extremely Poisonous Puffer Fish Toxin

[Mr. Gravy]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,374242,00.html

Illinois Man Arrested for Extremely Poisonous Puffer Fish Toxin

LAKE IN THE HILLS, Ill. — A suburban Chicago man was charged Monday with possessing an illegal toxin found in puffer fish.

Edward Bachner, 35, was charged with one count of illegal possession of tetrodotoxin, a felony. He was being held in federal custody pending a detention hearing Wednesday.

Using the alias Edmond Backer, Bachner allegedly claimed he was a doctor when he ordered 98 milligrams of the toxin from a New Jersey chemical company, the FBI said. An employee of the company became suspicious due to the large amount ordered and alerted the FBI.

Bachner was arrested Monday when he allegedly tried to get the tetrodotoxin from a member of the FBI, authorities said. Bachner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the FBI. His telephone number was unlisted.

It's not clear why Bachner wanted the toxin, authorities said.

Tetrodotoxin is a poison so potent the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it can "produce rapid and violent death." It is 1,200 times deadlier than cyanide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Puffer fish, called fugu in Japan, is consumed by thrill-seeking gourmets once the poison is removed. Eating the toxin can cause paralysis, vomiting, heart failure and death.

 

[Peanut]

At the bottom of the article they have reader comments...I love the first one slamming the soccer mom who wondered about being evacuated...lol He told her..maybe you should have packed your kids into the car and gone to the park to self-evacuate.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/07/01/news/local/doc4869bb6b8dc84784112354.txt
Lake in the Hills man charged with possession of rare toxin

By TIM KANE - tkane@nwherald.com

LAKE IN THE HILLS – A day that brought FBI agents in hazmat suits to a quiet Lake in the Hills neighborhood ended with a McKenzie Drive resident being charged Monday with possessing a rare toxin.

Edward F. Bachner IV, 35, of 5704 McKenzie Drive, was charged with possession of a biological agent or toxin. The U.S. District court filing cited the biological agent as tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin with no known antidote. It is associated with marine species including the pufferfish.

Federal agents in gas masks and protective suits were seen going into and out of Bachner’s house through the garage all afternoon. They scoured the items that they brought out in two, small inflatable pools of soapy water.

“It was scary,” said Sarah Awe, a mother of five who lives in the neighborhood.

“I thought, ‘should we be here?’ ” said Lisa McGuire, another neighbor who has two children. “Should we be evacuated? They were all in [protective] suits and were standing around.”

In a news conference Monday afternoon near Bachner’s house, Bob Holley, FBI agent in charge of counter-terrorism operations for the Chicago area, said the FBI was aware of a shipment of the toxin that was to be delivered to the home Monday morning when they made the arrest. But Holley said that the FBI had no evidence that Bachner was a terrorist.

Bachner was arrested Monday in Algonquin when he allegedly tried to get the tetrodotoxin from a member of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, authorities said.

Wearing handcuffs, Bachner appeared Monday evening before Judge Magistrate P. Michael Mahoney in U.S. District Court in Rockford. His next court date is Wednesday morning.

He is being held with other federal prisoners at the Ogle County Jail.

Bachner could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the FBI.

Holley said Bachner tried to buy the tetrodotoxin, a controlled substance, from a New Jersey company. Bachner had presented himself as a medical researcher, Holley said.

Using the alias Edmond Backer, Bachner allegedly ordered 98 milligrams of the toxin, the FBI said. An “alert employee” of the company became suspicious because the large amount of tetrodotoxin Bachner allegedly ordered and alerted the FBI, the agency said in a statement.

Holley said the FBI hazardous materials response team searched the home but that no additional hazardous materials were found.

Responding to reporters’ questions, Holley said Bachner’s wife was not under arrest. He also wouldn’t comment on where she stood in the investigation.

A vehicle from the Kane County bomb squad also responded to the scene, although an FBI spokeswoman, as well as police, said there was no danger to residents. The Kane County Sheriff’s Department and an ambulance and fire truck from the Huntley Fire Department also were there.

A friend of Bachner said he was surprised by the arrest.

“There was nothing extreme about him,” said Jeff Block, also a McKenzie Drive resident. “He was moderately conservative, and his wife was moderately liberal. He was an average guy. Went to church. I was in his home weekly. His wife was very welcoming and a good cook.”

Block said he believed Bachner to be a financial planner who worked from his home.

“I’d be shocked if something really was wrong,” Block added.

Bachner is listed as the corporate secretary of Rosetta-Wireless Corp., based in Oakbrook Terrace.

A company listing states that Bachner has experience in relationship management, human resources, and industrial negotiations.

He received a bachelor’s degree in business from Marquette University, specializing in international business and human resources, according to the company’s Web site.

• The Rockford Register Star and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[OddOne]

Tetrodotoxin is a poison so potent the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it can "produce rapid and violent death." It is 1,200 times deadlier than cyanide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

There are far worse and far more readily available toxins out there... Pufferfish toxin seems to be a strange choice.

oO