For anthrax hoax suspects, arrests, charges are no joke

Many accused in scare were trying to pull off pranks, officials say

12/22/2001

By KAREN GULLO / Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Postal worker Clarence Lindsey is accused of scrawling "ANTHRAX INCLOSED" on a package at his job as a joke.

But authorities didn't find it funny. The Illinois man was indicted and, if convicted, faces up to five years in jail.

He's one of 58 people around the country arrested and charged after anthrax hoaxes or threats since Sept. 11, according to the Postal Service. Many are alleged to have taken advantage of the public's fear of the deadly bacterium to either settle a score or pull off a prank. Thirty of them face federal charges, and 28 face state charges.

"It's kind of like yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater," said Dan Milhalko, U.S. Postal Service inspector. "There's been too many warnings for people to say, 'I was just kidding.' "

Five people have already been convicted, said Mr. Milhalko. He said he did not know the precise sentences, but they were getting jail time and may also face fines.

On Friday the FBI released the names of 14 people charged in anthrax hoax cases.

"We will not tolerate these serious violations of federal law," said FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Those arrested in anthrax hoaxes have been charged with obstructing the mail, threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, and using the mail to send threatening communications. Penalties range from up to five years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine.

Mr. Lindsey, 52, of suburban Bellwood, Ill., had been a postal worker for 31 years when he was indicted on charges of placing threatening material in the mail.

According to the indictment, another mail carrier tried to deliver a package containing books to a resident Oct. 18. The intended recipient was not home and the package was returned to the post office.

When the resident visited the post office to pick up the package the next day, a clerk at the customer service window retrieved the package and saw "ANTHRAX INCLOSED" written on it in large capital letters. The package did not contain anthrax.

Mr. Lindsey pleaded not guilty. His attorney, James Graham, could not be reached.

Brown powder

Christopher Antonio Cooper, a captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department, is accused of sending a letter containing brown powder to a law firm that had represented his ex-wife. Authorities said the letter also contained a check from Mr. Cooper with "Choke on it" written on the memo line.

Mr. Cooper has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, James Blancarte, said the check was Mr. Cooper's last alimony payment and denied the letter was an anthrax hoax.

"Every day, people involved in a divorce send things," Mr. Blancarte said. "It may be bad manners, but it is not [a] threat."

Investigating anthrax hoaxes has been a major headache for law enforcement and health officials, who must treat every incident as potentially the real thing.

Most of them turn out to be false alarms. The Postal Service has received over 15,800 anthrax incident reports – an average of 500 to 600 calls a day during the scare's beginning. That has slowed to about a dozen a day, Mr. Milhalko said.

The FBI has had to chase down over 2,300 reports of incidents or suspected incidents involving anthrax. Most have been false alarms or practical jokes.

Other developments

In the terrorism investigation, federal prosecutors have developed several leads after questioning foreign men of mostly Middle Eastern descent.

The Justice Department said Friday that most of those interviewed were cooperative. A small number declined to be interviewed "and their wishes were respected," the department said in a written statement.

The department's efforts to question 5,000 men age 18-33 sparked complaints about racial profiling from civil-rights groups and Arab-American organizations.

Justice Department officials said the men were not targeted for their nationalities. Only those with passports issued by countries where Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network are known to operate were sought for questioning, the officials said.

Many but not all of those countries are Middle Eastern.