FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRMMONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1998 USA--Las Vegas (702) 388-6336
TDD (202) 514-1888
STATEMENT OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
The Justice Department today moved to dismiss charges filed last week against William Job Leavitt and Larry Wayne Harris.
However, the Justice Department will continue to pursue charges that Harris violated conditions of his April 24, 1997, court-ordered probation for fraud for illegally obtaining bubonic plague toxins. The probation charges were filed this morning in the Federal District Court in Columbus, Ohio.
In addition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will continue to investigate the nature and extent of the two men's activities in Nevada last week. In a declaration filed with the court, the government said that "it is necessary to conduct further investigation to determine what if any charges should most appropriately be brought against the defendants."
Although the charges have been dropped and government officials are relieved that the anthrax seized from Harris and Leavitt was harmless, the government's actions last week were appropriate under the law and in the interest of public safety.
In a criminal complaint filed against the defendants last week, the government disclosed that it had been told by a research scientist that Harris and Leavitt wanted to test vials of anthrax bacillus. The complaint also said the FBI overheard Leavitt say he had military grade anthrax. According to the complaint, a witness said Harris stated in substance that he had enough anthrax in his Las Vegas hotel room to "wipe out the city."
No law enforcement official can afford to ignore such allegations. The federal government acted appropriately and responsibly, given the nature of the information it possessed.
Harris will now face a preliminary hearing, either in Nevada or Ohio, before he faces the Ohio probation charges.
A copy of the government's motion to dismiss the complaint is attached.
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