The Bishop
Encyclopedia
The Bishop is the pseudonym of an anonymous person who sent several threatening letters and bomb-like devices to financial firms in the Midwestern United States in 2005 and 2007.
prices be raised to $6.66 (the Biblical "Number of the Beast
"). The letters were signed by "The Bishop". The return addresses on the letters were from various cities in the Midwest. The sender set deadlines for the stock prices to be changed, and threatened to take action if the deadlines were not met. The companies to whom the letters were sent had no way of manipulating stock prices, and the deadlines passed with no action from the firms "The Bishop" contacted.
in Kansas City
, and the other to Janus Capital Group
in Denver which was in turn accidentally forwarded to a subsidiary investment firm located in the downtown Chicago
area known as The Loop
. The bombs had vital parts missing, and are believed to have been meant as warnings. A typed letter accompanied each device, suggesting that if certain demands were not met more letter bombs would follow.
speculate that he may be emulating the 1972 Charles Bronson
movie The Mechanic . In the movie, Bronson portrays an assassin named "Arthur Bishop", who uses bombs to kill others. Bronson also leaves a note for an intended victim saying "Bang, you're dead" -- the same text was found in notes sent by "The Bishop" in his suspicious packages.
On April 25, 2007, U.S. law enforcement agencies in Dubuque, Iowa, arrested a man they believe to be "The Bishop." Authorities have identified the suspect as a 42-year-old former postal worker. He has been described as a machinist who is married. This does not fit the original criminal profile compiled by the FBI.
According to sources, analyzing and following stock trading records led U.S. Postal Service investigators to the suspect. Also, it is reported that a photograph included in an October 25, 2005 threat letter showed the window of the vehicle from which the photograph was taken. The vehicle was identified as a four-door Chevrolet Lumina
. Authorities observed the suspect driving a red 1993 Chevrolet Lumina. The interior of the vehicle appears to match the vehicle shown in the photograph.
After authorities surveilled the suspect for a lengthy period and built their case, search and arrest warrants were executed. Because of the nature of The Bishop's alleged crimes -- sending IED
s (Improvised Explosive Device) through the mail -- the possibility that he could detonate an IED while being arrested was a major safety concern.
After the arrest warrant was served, authorities in Dubuque evacuated part of an apartment complex when a bomb-sniffing dog stopped at a storage locker connected to the suspect. The apartment complex is located about a mile from the suspect's residence on the west side of town.
A KWWL news story says friends and family expressed great surprise at the suspect's arrest. The same story indicates he was very active in the local Eagles'
lodge
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and Chicago, Illinois regions. The government chose the Northern District of Illinois
as the venue for prosecution
. None of the offenses are alleged to have occurred in Dubuque, which is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
. Des Moines
is in the territory of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
.
, two counts of possessing an unregistered explosive device, a finally, one count of using an explosive device in the commission of a crime.
Beginning
Beginning in 2005, threatening letters were sent to various financial institutions, demanding that certain stockStock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
prices be raised to $6.66 (the Biblical "Number of the Beast
Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast is a term in the Book of Revelation, of the New Testament, that is associated with the first Beast of Revelation chapter 13, the Beast of the sea. In most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the Beast is...
"). The letters were signed by "The Bishop". The return addresses on the letters were from various cities in the Midwest. The sender set deadlines for the stock prices to be changed, and threatened to take action if the deadlines were not met. The companies to whom the letters were sent had no way of manipulating stock prices, and the deadlines passed with no action from the firms "The Bishop" contacted.
Bombs
In January 2007, The Bishop mailed two pipe bombs; one to American Century InvestmentsAmerican Century Investments
American Century Investments is a privately-controlled and independent investment management firm that has focused on delivering superior investment performance and building client relationships for more than 50 years. Its headquarters are located at 4500 Main in Kansas City, Missouri, near the...
in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and the other to Janus Capital Group
Janus Capital Group
Janus Capital Group, Inc. is a publicly owned investment firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It provides growth and risk-managed investment strategies and manages equity, fixed income, money market, as well as balanced mutual funds....
in Denver which was in turn accidentally forwarded to a subsidiary investment firm located in the downtown Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area known as The Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
. The bombs had vital parts missing, and are believed to have been meant as warnings. A typed letter accompanied each device, suggesting that if certain demands were not met more letter bombs would follow.
Theories
Security analysts who have examined "The Bishop"'s modus operandiModus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
speculate that he may be emulating the 1972 Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
movie The Mechanic . In the movie, Bronson portrays an assassin named "Arthur Bishop", who uses bombs to kill others. Bronson also leaves a note for an intended victim saying "Bang, you're dead" -- the same text was found in notes sent by "The Bishop" in his suspicious packages.
Arrest of a suspect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_TomkinsOn April 25, 2007, U.S. law enforcement agencies in Dubuque, Iowa, arrested a man they believe to be "The Bishop." Authorities have identified the suspect as a 42-year-old former postal worker. He has been described as a machinist who is married. This does not fit the original criminal profile compiled by the FBI.
According to sources, analyzing and following stock trading records led U.S. Postal Service investigators to the suspect. Also, it is reported that a photograph included in an October 25, 2005 threat letter showed the window of the vehicle from which the photograph was taken. The vehicle was identified as a four-door Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Lumina
The North American Chevrolet Lumina sedan , coupe and minivan were first introduced in 1989 for the 1990 model year as a new range of vehicles from the Chevrolet brand of General Motors to replace the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Celebrity sedan, and the Monte Carlo coupe. The Lumina was an answer...
. Authorities observed the suspect driving a red 1993 Chevrolet Lumina. The interior of the vehicle appears to match the vehicle shown in the photograph.
After authorities surveilled the suspect for a lengthy period and built their case, search and arrest warrants were executed. Because of the nature of The Bishop's alleged crimes -- sending IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s (Improvised Explosive Device) through the mail -- the possibility that he could detonate an IED while being arrested was a major safety concern.
After the arrest warrant was served, authorities in Dubuque evacuated part of an apartment complex when a bomb-sniffing dog stopped at a storage locker connected to the suspect. The apartment complex is located about a mile from the suspect's residence on the west side of town.
A KWWL news story says friends and family expressed great surprise at the suspect's arrest. The same story indicates he was very active in the local Eagles'
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Fraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams...
lodge
Jurisdiction
The mailings are said to have occurred in Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and Chicago, Illinois regions. The government chose the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
as the venue for prosecution
. None of the offenses are alleged to have occurred in Dubuque, which is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over fifty-two of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (in case citations, N.D. Iowa) has jurisdiction...
. Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
is in the territory of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
.
Indictment
On September 18, 2007, a special federal grand jury returned a fifteen count indictment. The suspect was charged with ten counts of securities fraud, two counts of mailing threatening letters to further a scheme of extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, two counts of possessing an unregistered explosive device, a finally, one count of using an explosive device in the commission of a crime.
Dismissals
On March 6 2009, a federal judge dismissed the ten counts of securities fraud, ruling the charges did not apply to the suspect because no attempt was made to manipulate the stock market. The suspect still faced five federal destructive device charges.Fresh charges
On April 30, 2009, prosecutors filed a new 13-count indictment based on the findings of a new grand jury. The indictment charged the former postal worker with two counts of possession of an unregistered destructive device, one count of using such a device while committing a violent crime, and ten counts of mailing a threatening communication with the intent to commit extortion. Tomkins remained held without bail at a Chicago federal prison.Status
On July 21, 2010, Tomkins backed out of a plea deal and filed a motion to act as his own attorney at trial. He told the court that he would plead guilty to the 12 lesser counts, in the hope that prosecutors would drop the 13th count to avoid a trial. That count, possession of a destructive device while committing a violent crime, carries a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison. Tomkins told the court, "If they insist on a trial, a trial they'll have. It's going to be lengthy. I'm going to defend myself to the best of my ability."External links
- Indictment (17 page *.pdf document)
- Federal complaint (*.pdf) (retrieved May 6, 2007)
- US Attorney's press release (*.pdf) (retrieved May 6, 2007)
- Detailed report on The Bishop's actions
- FBI press release (retrieved May 6, 2007)