The director of research at a Massachusetts biotech firm has been accused searching online for deadly poisons and purchasing 800 castor bean seeds so he could extract the toxin ricin from them, federal prosecutors say.
Dr. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem, 37, was charged on Tuesday with obstruction of justice after he allegedly lied to FBI agents when they were investigating why he was trying to acquire the deadly toxin.
Authorities say Saaem had ordered 100 packets of castor beans, which each contained eight seeds, online.
Ricin is a deadly poison that can be extracted from the seeds, or beans, of a castor oil plant.
Purchasing the seeds to grow a castor oil plant is not illegal but extracting ricin from the beans is.
When agents questioned Saaem over his purchase, he allegedly told them he only intended to plant the beans as a decorative plant for his apartment.
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