NIH Worker Charged in Anthrax Hoax

A National Institutes of Health employee was charged with spreading false information and making a hoax under the federal Terrorism Prevention Act after she allegedly made an anthrax threat to the Broward County, Fla., tax assessors office, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, July 19).

Michelle Ledgister, a quality control and assurance officer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, left a voicemail message with the Broward County Property Appraiser's Office in July following a dispute over property she owns in Florida. She was arrested in Maryland, AP reported.

“You guys now have anthrax spores once again, so do be careful,” the arrest warrant alleges Ledgister said in the message.

No anthrax was found during a search of the assessors’ office, according to AP. A NIH spokesman said Ledgister does not have access to anthrax.

Ledgister could be sentenced to five years in prison if convicted (Associated Press/The Ledger, Aug. 2).

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