Attorney: Texas Woman to Face 18 Years for Ricin Letters Sent to Obama, Bloomberg
A Texas woman who intends to plead guilty to sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg agreed to a deal that caps any prison sentence at 18 years, her attorney said Monday.
Under the deal, Shannon Guess Richardson would plead guilty to a federal charge of possessing and producing a biological toxin, her attorney, Tonda Curry, said. Final details of what Richardson will admit are still being worked out, but Curry said Richardson was ready to admit her role in sending toxic letters to Obama, Bloomberg, and the head of Bloomberg’s pro-gun control group.
“Shannon is anxious to admit her role in ordering the components to make the ricin, her role in the letters that contained the ricin, and to tell the government who else was involved in those offenses,” Curry said.
Curry did not say more about Richardson’s possible motives or whom she might name.
A plea hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Before her arrest in June, prosecutors say Richardson — an actress — tried to frame her now-estranged husband for mailing the letters containing ricin, a powdery substance that can cause respiratory failure if inhaled.
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