U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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January 5, 2004 DNA Examination Leads to Arrest of Southside Man Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) , Philip J. Cline, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Michael F. Sheahan, Cook County Sheriff, announced today the arrest of MILO L. FARRIS, age 32, of 11543 South Wentworth Avenue in Chicago. FARRIS was arrested at his residence Friday morning, without incident, by members of the Chicago FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF). FARRIS was charged in a criminal complaint filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of using the U.S. Mail to deliver a threatening communication, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, FARRIS is alleged to have sent several letters to Chicago Public Schools and school officials, in September of 2003, threatening violence in or around the schools. Similar letters were also received by various elected and appointed public officials, and private individuals in and around the Chicago area. Although they were sent anonymously, the letters were traced to FARRIS through use of DNA examinations conducted by the Illinois State Police Forensic Science Center in Chicago. This matter was investigated jointly by the FBI's VCTF, Investigators from the CPD Area 2 Violent Crimes unit and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. No evidence was ever developed indicating that FARRIS had attempted to follow through with his threats, which appear to have been motivated by a misguided desire to have increased police patrols in certain Chicago neighborhoods. In announcing this arrest, Mr. Kneir and Superintendent Cline wish to express their appreciation to members of the Chicago media, who covered this story in a professional and responsible manner, thereby eliminating any undue concern by the staff and parents of children attending the affected schools. FARRIS appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown, Friday afternoon, at which time he was ordered held without bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance on Wednesday, January 7th at 10:30 AM. If convicted of the charge against him, FARRIS faces a possible sentence of up to 5 years incarceration. The Chicago FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Detectives from the Chicago Police Department and Investigators from the Cook County Sheriff's Police. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. EDITOR's NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against FARRIS is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645. |
