Hamden Man Mailed Threatening Letters To Victim: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man is accused of mailing several threatening letters, including some that contained white powder, to another person, according to authorities.

Nicholas Sepesko, 70, was arrested Monday on federal charges, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham announced. He was released after posting a $20,000 bond.

Sepesko is accused of mailing multiple letters between October 2018 and November 2020 that threatened to harm the victim and the victim’s spouse. None of the letters contained a return address, according to officials.

“The last three letters Sepesko mailed to the victim contained not only threats, but also a white powdery substance,” officials wrote in a news release. “In the most recent letter, Sepesko wrote that the white powder could be rat poison or Ricin.”

The three letters containing the unknown powdery substance led to responses by federal, state and local law enforcement and environmental protection agencies, according to officials.

Laboratory analysis of the substance contained in a letter mailed by Sepesko in early October contained calcium carbonate, officials said. Test results of the substance contained in the other two letters are pending.

Sepesko was charged with mailing threatening communications, and conveying false information and hoax. Each offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, restitution and, with respect to a hoax, repayment of reimbursement for any municipal response.

“U.S. Attorney Durham noted that this alleged crime and other like it will be vigorously prosecuted, as hoax letters containing white powder cause emotional distress for recipients and consume valuable time and resources of our first responders,” the news release states.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Wallingford Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, Hamden Police Department and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.