Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Remember the Ricin Letters?

The Marathon-era Bruce Ivins?

"Ricin suspect reaches plea deal

TEXARKANA — A Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, a newspaper reported Saturday. Assistant US Attorney Frank Coan filed a ‘‘notice of plea agreement” with the court, but the terms have not been made public. Court documents state the then-pregnant Richardson tried to frame her husband for the crime (AP)."

"Texas woman admits to sending ricin to Obama" by Nomaan Merchant | Associated Press   December 11, 2013

DALLAS — A Texas woman and former actress pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, under a deal that her attorney has said would cap prison time at 18 years.

Also seeMichael Bloomberg to speak at Harvard commencement

Shannon Guess Richardson entered her plea in court in Texarkana, Texas, to a federal charge of possessing and producing a biological toxin.

Richardson was arrested in June after authorities said she tried to implicate her former husband after he had filed for divorce. Prosecutors say Shannon Richardson mailed three letters, then went to police and claimed that her husband had done it.

The letter to Obama, according to a federal indictment, said: ‘‘What’s in this letter is nothing compared to what ive got in store for you mr president.’’

Prosecutors say investigators noted inconsistencies in Richardson’s statements and later learned that she had purchased materials online to produce ricin, a toxin that can cause respiratory failure if inhaled.

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"Elvis impersonator sues in ricin case" by Holbrook Mohr | Associated Press   September 27, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. — An Elvis impersonator who was ultimately cleared of charges that he sent poison-laced letters to President Obama and others has filed a defamation lawsuit against the current suspect in the case.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Alcorn County Circuit Court in Mississippi says James Everett Dutschke framed Paul Kevin Curtis when he sent ricin-tainted letters to Obama, US Senator Roger Wicker, and Sadie Holland, a Mississippi judge.

Curtis says he was subjected to a terrifying ordeal that began April 17 when he was arrested outside his home in Corinth, Miss. The charges were dropped six days later.

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Related: Ricin Case Becomes Outrageous 

In that case, I hope the settlement is and send along apologies to the man. Government needs to stop framing people.

"A Mississippi man died Thursday two weeks after he woke up in a body bag at a funeral home after being mistakenly pronounced deceased, a coroner said."

Are they sure?

Related: Southern Stereotypes