NIH Worker Accused of Threatening Florida Tax Assessors with Anthrax

MIAMI (AP) -- A Maryland woman who works at the National Institutes of Health was arrested on charges she threatened Broward County tax assessors with anthrax.

Michelle Ledgister, 43, a quality control and assurance officer at the agency's Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was arrested Monday by FBI agents in Rockville, Md., according to the U.S. Attorney's office. She was charged with spreading false information and making a hoax under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

According to her arrest warrant, Ledgister allegedly left a threatening voicemail message last month at the Broward County Property Appraiser's Office after she lost a claim for tax relief on property she owns in Parkland.

Ledgister identified herself, said she worked for NIH and said, "You guys now have Anthrax spores once again, so do be careful," according to the warrant.

A hazardous-materials team searched the building housing the assessor's office, but found no evidence of anthrax. NIH spokesman John Burklow said Ledgister does not have access to anthrax. Ledgister faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted.

Last week, Kenneth R. West, an inmate at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for letters he sent to British authorities in July 2002 threatening an anthrax attack.