NIH worker charged after threatening tax assessor with anthrax News
NIH worker charged after threatening tax assessor with anthrax

[JURIST] A Maryland employee of the National Institutes of Health [official website] has been charged under the Terrorism Prevention Act [PDF text] with spreading false information and making a hoax for threatening a tax assessment board with anthrax. Michelle Ledgister, 43, lost a claim for relief with the Broward County Property Appraiser's Office for land she owns in Parkland, Florida. According to an arrest warrant executed Monday, she left a phone message at the office identifying herself as an NIH worker and said, "You guys now have anthrax spores once again, so do be careful." A hazmat team searched the building but found no dangerous material. She faces up to five years in prison if convicted. AP has more.