Hazmat officers investigate the taekwondo studio previously operated by Everett Dutschke in Tupelo.
Hazmat officers investigate the taekwondo studio previously operated by Everett Dutschke in Tupelo. Reuters

Police have made an arrest in relation to letters containing ricin, a toxin, to President Barack Obama this morning just days after releasing an Elvis impersonator who said he was framed.

U.S. marshals took J. Everett Dutschke into custody after finding him in his Tupelo, Miss. home.

Dutschke is accused of sending ricin letters to the president, Senator Roger Wicker, and Mississippi judge Sadie Holland.

His arrest comes after the investigation led the FBI to Paul Kevin Curtis and "longtime personal rival" of Dutschke, who had apparently attempted to frame him, according to New York Magazine. Investigators dropped the charges against him Tuesday.

"I respect President Obama and love my country," Curtis said at a news conference the day his charges were dropped. "I would never do anything to pose a threat to him or any other U.S. official."

Hazardous materials crews searched Dutschke's home, vehicle and place of work earlier this week in an attempt to find evidence. Dutschke insisted earlier this week that he had nothing to do with the ricin letters.

The FBI has charged him with "knowingly developing, producing, stockpiling, transferring, acquiring, retaining and possessing a biological agent, toxin and delivery system, for use as a weapon, to wit: ricin," according to the Associated Press.

His attorney Lori Nail Basham declined to comment and only stated that her client was cooperating well with investigators.

Dutschke has been embroiled in other legal issues as he recently pleaded not guilty to two child molestation charges involving three girls under the age of 16. He is also appealing a charge in a separate incident of indecent exposure.

The letters received by Obama and Wicker were both postmarked April 8, 2013 and mailed out of Memphis, Tenn. Each closed with the same line, "to see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance."

Judge Holland has a personal, political tie to Dutschke, who ran as a Republican against her son, Steve Holland, for a state representative position in 2007.

"We're ready for this long nightmare to be over," she told the Associated Press.

Dutschke is potentially facing up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is set to appear in court in Oxford, Miss. on Monday.

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