James W. Lewis

James W. "William" Lewis or Robert Richardson (1946 – July 9, 2023) was an American extortionist best known for his role in the aftermath of the 1982 Chicago Tylenol poisonings. He was convicted of extortion in connection with a letter sent to Johnson & Johnson but was never charged with the poisonings themselves.

In October 1982, following a series of cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules that killed seven people in the Chicago area, Lewis sent a handwritten letter to Johnson & Johnson demanding $1 million to stop the killing. The letter included details that had not been made public, drawing the attention of investigators. After an extensive manhunt, Lewis and his wife LeAnn Lewis were located in New York City, where he was arrested and charged with extortion. On June 14, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He served around 12 years including time spent in pre-trial detention before his release in October 1995.

Though Lewis was considered a prime suspect in the Tylenol case, authorities never charged him with the actual poisonings, citing insufficient evidence. Over the years, Lewis maintained his innocence regarding the deaths, claiming he had written the letter to draw attention to Johnson & Johnson's vulnerability. He continued to be the subject of law enforcement interest until his death in 2023.