letters collage.JPG

Part of a flyer showing examples of fake anthrax letters sent to Syracuse and East Coast targets.

(FBI)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It was after midnight Feb. 17, 2013. FBI Special Agent Daniel Capone began searching through the garbage and recycling at Brian D. Norton's home in Cicero.

The federal agent hit a jackpot in the recycling bin: several pages of The Post-Standard covered in scratchy, block-lettered scrawl. The handwritten letters and phrases -- vulgar threats to TV personalities -- were almost identical to some of the contents of 21 letters received in Syracuse and across the East Coast over the past 15 years, according to U.S. District Court records.

Authorities zeroed in on Norton after his fingerprints were lifted from two of the threatening letters. His prints were likely in the system from a 1976 Syracuse arrest for harassment. According to papers filed in U.S. District Court, that appears to be Norton's only criminal history.

After Capone found handwriting samples in Norton's trash, he went back to the home on garbage night twice more. Those times, he found more newspaper pages that cemented his theory: Norton was the letter writer law enforcement had been trying to find for years.

Norton, 59, was charged today in U.S. District Court with two felonies for sending the letters. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

While the letters might seem harmless at first blush, receiving one meant people had to worry, and often be treated, for anthrax until the powder proved to be harmless. Schools were evacuated. Offices were shut down. And the people who opened Norton's letters were scared they were going to die.

Norton is a graduate of Bishop Ludden High School, which received five of the white-powder-filled letters. And he attended LeMoyne College for two years; LeMoyne received three letters.

Each letter threatened to kill the person with anthrax or ricin. The letters always contained baby powder, detergent or another harmless powder, according to court papers.

Norton is 5-foot-6. He has no driver's license, according to court papers. When he appeared in court, his lawyer asked the judge to make sure that he had access to the medications that she brought into court in a plastic sack.

Norton lives with his father, who is 86. Norton receives Supplemental Security Income, according to court papers. The government benefit, at Norton's age, means he is disabled to the point that he couldn't work.

It was also an avenue for Capone to gather more clues.

After Capone found the handwriting samples in Norton's recycling bin, he followed Norton and his dad to the Social Security office. Later, Capone obtained paperwork Norton filled out at that office that offered more handwriting evidence linking him to the letters, according to court papers.

Almost all of the threatening letters reference works of long-dead science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft. Many of the letters are also vulgar and misogynistic.

Norton was ordered detained. There will be a hearing Monday to determine whether he can be released on bail. U.S. Magistrate Judge David Peebles said at that point he will have more information about Norton's mental state.

Contact Marnie Eisenstadt at meisenstadt@syracuse.com or 315-470-2246.

