Florida Woman Accused of Anthrax Hoax

(Jacksonville, Florida) From a U.S. Attorney press release:

Kathryn Cohen Allen, 45, Jasper, Fla., was charged in an indictment unsealed today with nine counts of mailing hoax anthrax letters, announced U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Robert E. O’Neill.

If convicted on all counts, Allen faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, between June 24, 2011, and June 28, 2011, Allen mailed threatening letters containing a white powdery substance to the offices of U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. She also mailed similar letters to the Hamilton County, Fla., Correctional Institution, the Hamilton County Health Department, the Hamilton County Tax Collector’s Office, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services and to three private citizens.

Field and laboratory testing determined that the white powdery substance was not hazardous.

The offices of Sens. Nelson and Rubio cited law enforcement diligence.