(Texas Tech) Prof says he didn't know shipping plague to Tanzania illegal

[Wonk]

LUBBOCK -- A professor accused of smuggling plague-causing bacteria testified today that he did not know he was committing a crime when he packaged samples of the potentially deadly bacteria and shipped them to Tanzania in a FedEx package.

Thomas C. Butler, a renowned Texas Tech University plague researcher, faces 69 felonies stemming from his work with the plague, including charges of lying to federal agents after his report of 30 stolen vials on Jan. 14. He later said he accidentally destroyed the vials, according to testimony.

Today Butler calmly described how he packaged the samples and sent them to a doctor he had been working with in Tanzania. He said each vile had a watertight seal, and that they were placed in another plastic container with a watertight seal. Butler said there was nothing sneaky about the package he sent.

more...
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2238556

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. He BELIEVED an FBI agent - now THAT'S criminal !!

. . From the Article:

"He also said an FBI agent told him he would not be arrested if he signed a statement saying he accidentally destroyed the vials of bacteria

Among the other charges Butler faces are theft, embezzlement and fraud.

Prosecutors allege that Butler reported the vials stolen in retaliation against and to deflect attention from difficulties he was having with Tech's Institutional Review Board. The board reviews and monitors any studies being done by Tech research that involves humans.

The 69 charges carry a potential prison term of 469 years, although he would get far less under federal sentencing guidelines. He also faces fines of up to $17.1 million.

/snip/

driving honest people underground I'd say

Great Patriot Act y'all got down there !

Think I'll stay up here in Canukville

- FOREVER !!

[TexasMexican]

2. WMDs are in Texas.

That Anthrax that got mailed around a few years back, originally came from Texas.

If I remember the story right, I think it came from a dead cow in some Ranch in Kingsville, Tx back in the '70s.

The owner shipped a sample to some university to confirm it was anthrax, it was and then the university decided to use it for research and sent samples to other universities and whatever.