Indictment filed in Lake in the Hills puffer fish toxin case
A Lake in the Hills man arrested after obtaining large quantities of a rare and lethal puffer fish toxin intended to use the deadly substance as a weapon, according to a federal indictment filed Tuesday.
Edward F. Bachner IV, 35, could face life in prison if found guilty of five counts of unlawful possession of tetrodotoxin alleging he obtained the poison five times between November 2006 and June 30 for use as a weapon.
The indictment, filed shortly before Bachner appeared in court Tuesday, does not state how or upon whom he intended to use the substance.
Five other counts handed up by a federal grand jury allege Bachner possessed the substance without a justified "prophylactic, protective, bona fide research or other peaceful purpose." If convicted on those charges, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Bachner, who has been in federal custody since his June 30 arrest, formally pleaded not guilty Tuesday during his brief court appearance.
"We pleaded not guilty to the charges and we do dispute them," defense attorney James Marcus said.
The felony indictment comes almost two months after agents from the FBI's anti-terrorism task force raided Bachner's home, 5704 McKenzie Drive, as part of an investigation initiated when he tried to buy 98 milligrams of the dangerous substance from a New Jersey company.
Also known as TTX and most commonly found in the puffer fish, tetrodotoxin can cause paralysis and death if inhaled or ingested in even very small quantities.
During the June 30 raid agents discovered 45 full or partially full vials of TTX along with evidence Bachner had obtained at least 19 more vials that were missing, federal authorities said.
Agents also found a handgun, more than 50 knives, five garrotes, a phony CIA badge, a precursor to the poison Ricin and books on how to poison people, make gun silencers and hand-to-hand combat, an assistant U.S. Attorney said in court last month.
When asked how he intended to use the toxin, Bachner indicated he was considering suicide "or some other things," FBI Special Agent Mark R. Mahoney said.
Court documents indicate the FBI investigated Bachner in 2005 and 2006 after identifying him as a person who had been surfing a white supremacist Web site searching for a hit man. The target of the intended hit was Bachner's wife, federal authorities later disclosed.
When questioned by agents about the murder-for-hire plot in 2006, Bachner said he was not serious about it and authorities, apparently convinced of that, did not pursue charges against him.
As she has during her husband's prior court appearances, Bachner's wife sat in court during Tuesday's proceedings. She continues to stand behind her husband and visits him regularly in jail despite the revelations, Marcus said.
Bachner is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14 for a pretrial status hearing. Marcus said he also plans to ask U.S. Magistrate P. Michael Mahoney to reconsider his decision to order Bachner held in custody without bond.