A New York City man was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday after he allegedly faxed a letter to the Sovereign Bank in Pottsville on Monday threatening to kill bank employees.
Michael Chung, 52, allegedly faxed the letter after the bank did not file a form he submitted that he claimed would eliminate the need to repay a loan.
The affidavit from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York said Chung had a $179,000 home equity loan with Sovereign Bank that may have prevented him from selling his home in Bayside, N.Y. on May 31.
"The Second Amendment to the National Constitution authorizes the use of deadly force to protect my interests as a national citizen," the fax said, according to the report. "I believe I have a basis to act in that manner."
The affidavit said a subsequent investigation of Chung revealed he owns a licensed shotgun.
ABC News reported Chung told investigators he was a "sovereign citizen," referring to a anti-government group that the FBI considers a "potential domestic terror threat." This claim was unable to be confirmed by The Republican-Herald on Wednesday evening.
Chung was arraigned late Wednesday evening in federal court in Brooklyn.
Based in Boston, Sovereign Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grupo Santander. Bank representatives in Pottsville referred calls to the corporate office, but those messages were not returned Wednesday.