Georgetown student faces federal charges for ricin possession

WASHINGTON – A college student has been charged with possessing a biological toxin after ricin was found in his Georgetown dorm room on Tuesday, March 18.

Daniel Harry Milzman, 19, of Bethesda, Md. was arrested after an FBI investigation. Possession of biological toxins is a federal offense.

Milzman appeared in U.S. District Court in D.C. Friday and is being held until a detention hearing on Tuesday, March 25.

According to charging documents, Milzman told the FBI he made the ricin in his dorm room about a month prior to it being found. He purchased the necessary materials from Home Depot and American Plant company, including salt, acetone, pliers, filters, funnel and the castor beans.

Additionally, the charging documents say Milzman used his iPhone to research how to create ricin and had access to instructions online. He kept the ricin in plastic bags secured with hockey tape.

Decontamination experts cleaned the room where the ricin was found. In a statement, Georgetown University Police Chief Jay Gruber said there wasn’t a threat to students.

Milzman Daniel – Charging Papers – March 2014

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