U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Tampa, Florida  

March 25, 2005

NEWS RELEASE

Special Agent in Charge Carl Whitehead of the Tampa Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Special Agent in Charge Kevin B. Kendrick of the Charlotte Division of the FBI announced that Richard Alan Meywes was charged today in a Federal Complaint in the Middle District of Florida.

The Complaint charges Meywes with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1958 - Murder for Hire, and Section 875 - Transmission of Interstate Threatening Communications. Meywes was arrested today in Fairview, North Carolina by Special Agents of the FBI and representatives of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office. Meywes was taken into custody without incident.

On March 23, 2005, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office forwarded and e-mail to the FBI in Tampa, Florida, wherein a $250,000 bounty was placed on the "head of Michael Schiavo". Additionally, the e-mail placed an additional bounty of $50,000 for the elimination of the judge who recently denied a request to intervene in the Schiavo case. The e-mail also made a reference to the recent death of a judge in Atlanta and the death of judge's family members in Illinois.

These charges and subsequent arrest are the result of a joint investigation conducted by both the Tampa and Charlotte offices of the FBI, the Pinellas County (Florida) Sheriff's Office and the Buncombe County (North Carolina) Sheriff's Office.