Amador County – A Sacramento man was sentenced Monday to 51 months in prison after his conviction last September of three counts of committing an anthrax hoax and two counts of mailing threatening communications. According to a release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “evidence presented at trial established that in January 2007, Marc M. Keyser, 66, of Sacramento, “mailed a package to the Sacramento News & Review, promoting a book that he had written about potential anthrax attacks in the United States by terrorists.” The package included “a note offering to discuss publication of excerpts of the book, and a cylindrical aerosol canister labeled “Anthrax.” This resulted “in the evacuation of the building and a full law enforcement and hazmat response.” After being warned by an FBI special agent that he risked prosecution under the hoax mailings statute if he sent more packages, Keyser continued to mail over 100 packages “that contained a CD with excerpts of a new book on terrorism that was labeled in large print ‘Anthrax Shock and Awe Terror’ and a small sugar packet that had been re-labeled with a bio-hazard symbol and the words ‘Anthrax sample.’” The mailings were sent to various media companies, retail outlets and officials nationwide, including Congressman George Radanovich of Modesto, whose aide testified at trial that “following receipt of Keyser’s mailing, police, fire department, and hazmat personnel responded to the scene, and two employees were transported to the hospital for medical screening. Keyser stated to investigating agents that he intended the mailings to be “provocative” and to generate “buzz.” In sentencing, Judge Damrell told Keyser that “you want attention more than anything, you crave it. The attention you get is more important than the effect you have on others.” U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said “hoaxes like these hurt our national security, draining critical resources from investigation of and preparation for real threats against our homeland. The jury acquitted Keyser on eight other counts in the indictment. He will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the prison time. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 03 May 2010 06:31
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Anthrax Hoax
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – A Sacramento man was sentenced Monday to 51 months in prison after his conviction last September of three counts of committing an anthrax hoax and two counts of mailing threatening communications. According to a release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “evidence presented at trial established that in January 2007, Marc M. Keyser, 66, of Sacramento, “mailed a package to the Sacramento News & Review, promoting a book that he had written about potential anthrax attacks in the United States by terrorists.” The package included “a note offering to discuss publication of excerpts of the book, and a cylindrical aerosol canister labeled “Anthrax.” This resulted “in the evacuation of the building and a full law enforcement and hazmat response.” After being warned by an FBI special agent that he risked prosecution under the hoax mailings statute if he sent more packages, Keyser continued to mail over 100 packages “that contained a CD with excerpts of a new book on terrorism that was labeled in large print ‘Anthrax Shock and Awe Terror’ and a small sugar packet that had been re-labeled with a bio-hazard symbol and the words ‘Anthrax sample.’” The mailings were sent to various media companies, retail outlets and officials nationwide, including Congressman George Radanovich of Modesto, whose aide testified at trial that “following receipt of Keyser’s mailing, police, fire department, and hazmat personnel responded to the scene, and two employees were transported to the hospital for medical screening. Keyser stated to investigating agents that he intended the mailings to be “provocative” and to generate “buzz.” In sentencing, Judge Damrell told Keyser that “you want attention more than anything, you crave it. The attention you get is more important than the effect you have on others.” U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said “hoaxes like these hurt our national security, draining critical resources from investigation of and preparation for real threats against our homeland. The jury acquitted Keyser on eight other counts in the indictment. He will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the prison time. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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