BOSTON, MA - A Boston man has been indicted in U.S. District Court for mailing threatening communications to a local restaurant owner of Iranian descent.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - New England Field Division announced today that EARL F. McBRIDE, JR., age 65, of Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA has been arrested upon an indictment returned by a federal grand jury yesterday. The indictment charges McBRIDE with mailing threatening communications over a seven-month period, from November, 2006 through June, 2007, to a woman of Iranian descent who owned two restaurants in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.

More specifically, the indictment alleges that on November 27, 2006, McBRIDE mailed an envelope addressed by typewriter to the restaurant owner, containing a photocopied picture of a man holding and aiming a gun directly at the viewer of the card. The indictment further alleges that on or about January 10, 2007, McBRIDE mailed an envelope addressed by typewriter to the restaurant owner, containing a photocopied flyer for the Israeli Defense Fund with an Israeli solider holding a machine gun and looking directly at the viewer of the card. It is further alleged that on or about June 9, 2007, three days before a local restaurant event called the "Taste of Beacon Hill" was to be held at the Taj Boston Hotel, McBRIDE mailed an envelope, addressed by typewriter to the one of the restaurants, containing a photocopied picture of a Saudi Arabian King, with the words "See you at the Taj!" typed on the corner of the envelope.

If convicted of the charged offense, McBRIDE faces a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - New England Field Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Theodore Merritt of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Unit.