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Ricin Possession Lands Ex-UW Student 40 Months in Prison
WASHINGTON – Kyle Allen Smith, 21, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for possession of ricin, a deadly toxin. Chief District Judge William C. Griesbach of the Eastern District of Wisconsin handed down the sentence.
According to the plea agreement, Smith admitted to growing castor bean plants and extracting ricin from the beans. A substance found in Smith’s residence was sent to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Bioforensics Analysis Center at Fort Detrick, Maryland, and tested positive for the toxin ricin.
Ricin is a toxin that infects human cells and blocks their ability to synthesize their own protein. Small doses of ricin may be lethal to human beings if ingested, inhaled or injected. Symptoms of ricin poisoning can include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, with possible death occurring within 36 to 72 hours. There are no known antidotes for ricin poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Smith admitted to having homicidal thoughts and that these thoughts might have sparked his curiosity about the production of ricin. He stated he would not use or test the ricin on any human being because too many people knew what he was doing and would turn him in.
Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin and U.S. Attorney James L. Santelle praised the actions of the professors and the University administration in bringing Smith to the prompt attention of law enforcement authorities. They thanked the Wisconsin National Guard, 54th Civil Support Team, for the critical assistance they provided in the safe recovery of the ricin.
The case was investigated by the Oshkosh Police Department, the FBI, and the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul L. Kanter of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Justice Department’s National Security Division prosecuted the case.
Kyle Allen Smith was arrested on October 31, 2014, after two professors at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh reported to campus authorities that Smith was making unusual inquiries about chemical processes, including the extraction of ribosomal inhibiting protein.
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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