"Bishop Bomber" Suspect Arrested, Indicted on Federal Charges

By Aaron Poehler

Published on October 12, 2007

John P. Tomkins, 42, of Dubuque, was charged with 10 counts of securities fraud, two counts of mailing a threatening communication with intent to commit extortion, two counts of possessing an unregistered explosive device, and one count of using such a device while committing a violent crime.

According to prosecutors, Tomkins sent 17 threatening letters and two explosive devices to investment firms that traded in securities markets, demanding they manipulate stock and option prices of Navarre Corp. and 3Com Corp. Several of the letters were signed "The Bishop." Authorities said Tomkins intended to profit by artificially inflating the stock prices of the two companies, then selling his own holdings.

Neither of the explosive devices was fully connected by the bomber, though authorities say both devices were fully operational and could easily have been set to detonate had that been the bomber's intent. One device was received by American Century Investments in Kansas City and the second by Janus Small Cap Value Fund in Denver, which forwarded the package to an affiliated Chicago office.

None of the investment companies that received the threatening letters or devices complied with the demands made by "The Bishop."

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