Mississippi Man Everett Dutschke Arrested by Federal Agents in Connection with Ricin Letters sent to President Obama, US Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and a State Judge

Everett Dutschke, 41, of Tupelo, Mississippi has been arrested and taken into custody by US Marshalls in connection with the Ricin poison laced letters sent to President Barack Obama and two other government officials. Federal investigators dropped charges Tuesday against their first major suspect, Paul Kevin Curtis, who was thought to have first sent the letters. Dutschke’s home and business was searched earlier this week by the feds.  Everett Dutschke was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning by federal agents.

Everett Dutschke, 41, was arrested about 12:50 a.m. Saturday at his Tupelo home in connection with the letters, FBI spokeswoman Deborah Madden said. The letters, which allegedly contained ricin, were sent last week to President Barack Obama, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and earlier to an 80-year-old Mississippi judge, Sadie Holland.

Madden said Dutschke was arrested without incident. She said additional questions should be directed to the U.S. attorney’s office. The office in Oxford did not immediately respond to messages Saturday.

Dutschke’s attorney, Lori Nail Basham, did not immediately respond to phone or text messages Saturday.

UPDATE I: James Everett Dutschke arrested in ricin letters case.

James Everett Dutschke was arrested around 1 a.m. at his home in Tupelo Saturday and turned over to the U.S. Marshal Services without incident, Tupelo Police Chief Tony Carleton, confirmed Saturday to the NEMS Daily Journal at 9 a.m.

FBI spokeswoman Deborah Madden tells The Associated Press 41-year-old Everett Dutschke was arrested Saturday at his Tupelo home in connection with the letters, which allegedly contained ricin. They were sent last week to President Barack Obama, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and earlier to an 80-year-old Lee County Justice Court Judge, Sadie Holland.

Dutschke is expected to appear in federal court Monday. It appears he is being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center. No officials have confirmed that information. Dutschke’s attorney, Lori Nail Basham, could not immediately be reached for comment.