OCALA, Fla. ? A man was arrested after authorities allegedly found the deadly toxin ricin (search) stashed in a cardboard box at his home along with a small cache of weapons, officials said Thursday.
Steven Michael Ekberg (search), 22, faces up to 10 years if convicted of possession of a biological agent. FBI (search) agents said they didn't believe Ekberg, arrested Wednesday, had any connection with terrorist groups.
There was no explanation for how or why he obtained the ricin.
"The chemical substance is derived from the castor bean and that's a natural substance. I don't think castor beans are difficult to obtain," said FBI Special Agent Jeff Westcott in Jacksonville.
The suspect's mother, Theresa Ekberg, who lives with her son, declined to comment.
The sheriff's office was tipped off last week by an informant who alleged Ekberg had been carrying concealed weapons into clubs ? and boasted of having ricin in one of several vials and glass tubes he allegedly showed off.
"Ekberg had stated that if the government ever did anything to him, he would take some sort of action," according to a federal criminal complaint
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144336,00.html
Steven Michael Ekberg (search), 22, faces up to 10 years if convicted of possession of a biological agent. FBI (search) agents said they didn't believe Ekberg, arrested Wednesday, had any connection with terrorist groups.
There was no explanation for how or why he obtained the ricin.
"The chemical substance is derived from the castor bean and that's a natural substance. I don't think castor beans are difficult to obtain," said FBI Special Agent Jeff Westcott in Jacksonville.
The suspect's mother, Theresa Ekberg, who lives with her son, declined to comment.
The sheriff's office was tipped off last week by an informant who alleged Ekberg had been carrying concealed weapons into clubs ? and boasted of having ricin in one of several vials and glass tubes he allegedly showed off.
"Ekberg had stated that if the government ever did anything to him, he would take some sort of action," according to a federal criminal complaint
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144336,00.html
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