Feds: Fla. man sold deadly toxin to N.J. agent

1/21/2014

NEWARK, N.J. — A Florida man faces federal charges after allegedly selling a deadly toxin to an undercover agent.

Jesse William Korff of LaBelle was arrested over the weekend in Florida. He’s charged with smuggling and possessing a toxin — in this case, abrin — for use as a weapon. Abrin is a natural poison found in the seeds of a plant and is similar to ricin.

Prosecutors say the 19-year-old Korff negotiated over the Internet with the undercover agent in New Jersey.

Korff allegedly received $1,500 over the Internet from the agent and left the toxin hidden in two candles at a rest stop near Fort Myers, Fla. Korff was arrested after the candles were found to contain abrin.

He is scheduled to appear before a magistrate in Florida today and later be transferred to New Jersey.