408: Sheldon Fung – Abrin Biotoxin For Sale, Weapons of Mass Destruction Case

Retired agent Sheldon Fung reviews the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Sacramento Division investigation of James Christopher Malcolm, who used the online moniker “Dark_Mart.” Malcolm was charged and convicted for possessing abrin, a deadly biological toxin similar to ricin found in the seed of the rosary pea, a tropical plant. He knowingly sold vials of abrin to individuals planning to use the biotoxin to kill others.

In exchange for payment in bitcoin, Malcolm shipped a rudimentary form of abrin in small glass vials concealed within mini flashlights. Malcolm was also convicted of the unlawful dealing of explosives and firearms. Based on his cooperation, Malcolm was sentenced to five years in prison.

“This guy has mixed abrin and high explosives together. If even a small amount of the high explosives goes off, just a small blasting cap or something like that, and it hits the abrin and the abrin gets inside of you, you’re probably going to die. And there’s nothing we can do about it.”—Retired Agent Sheldon Fung

Special Agent (Retired)

Sheldon Fung

7/1998 – 11/2019

Sheldon Fung served in the FBI for 21 years. He has a BS in Biochemistry from UC Davis and was a police officer for the city of Sacramento before joining the FBI. Sheldon’s first office was the Santa Ana Resident Agency out of the LA Division, where he investigated counterintelligence cases. He was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for his work on the Chi Mak espionage case. You can listen to FBI Case File Review episode to learn more about the case. He also earned certification as a special agent bomb tech (SABT).

Sheldon later transferred to Sacramento where, because of his biochemistry background, he was assigned to work Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) matters for more than 20 years, serving as the WMD Coordinator of the Sacramento Division of the FBI for over 10 years. As a bomb tech, Sheldon conducted classified research in this area and taught WMD and bombing matters in numerous partner countries.

After his retirement from the FBI, Sheldon, who has an MA in Criminology/WMD from The Indiana University of Pennsylvania, became an Assistant Chief and WMD Coordinator for the California Office of Emergency Services, where he currently serves.