The U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced Monday, Jan. 25, a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for mailing threatening letters to UC Irvine faculty members and staff.

Five letters containing white powder and the words "Black Death" were mailed from Idaho on or around Dec. 21, 2009, and received on campus between Jan. 4-6. No similar letters have been received since.

An investigation by the UCI Police Department and postal investigators is in progress. Anyone with information about these crimes should contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.  All information will be kept strictly confidential.  Individuals responsible for mailing threatening communication may be fined and imprisoned up to 20 years (Title 18 USC 876). Individuals responsible for conveying false or misleading information or hoaxes may be fined or imprisoned five years (Title 18 USC 1038).

Additional information on mail security can be found on the UCI Distribution and Document Management Web site.

— Paul Henisey, Chief, UC Irvine Police Department