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ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS - The Oneida Indian Nation is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for authoring and distributing a letter threatening violence against Oneida Members, employees and enterprises. The Nation Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Police, and the Oneida and Madison County Sheriff's Department are investigating these threats and will spare no effort in bringing the responsible parties to justice.

While the Nation believes that this threatening letter - and its systematic distribution - was intended to do nothing more than terrorize the community and create widespread panic, we will not dismiss these threats until the perpetrators have been Identified. Mailing or electronically distributing a bomb threat is a federal felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. This letter, combined with the rhetoric and protests of the landowners groups who are trying to sabotage the otherwise peaceful and legal process behind the Oneida Indian Nation's land claim, has created an atmosphere of intimidation here in Central New York. The Nation is pursuing its legal rights in the proper forum under federal law; it is not advocating threats to a civilized society. The Nation will not tolerate such threats from others; Upstate Citizens for Equality, Madison-Oneida Landowners Inc., the Central New York Fair Business Association and the American Citizens Association should do likewise.

We believe the four landowner groups have a solemn obligation to ensure that their members are not responsible for these terrorist threats. We again challenge the leaders of these groups to identify and turn over to authorities the person or persons responsible for making these threats. Anyone with information regarding this illegal activity is encouraged to contact Nation police at 361-6358. Officers are available 24 hours a day to collect information relating to this investigation. All information will be kept confidential.

You may also email information to tips@mail.oneida-nation.org All information is kept confidential.