Actress Shannon Guess Richardson who has appeared in very small roles on The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries has been charged with allegedly sending letters laced with the poison Ricin to President Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The indictment formally charges Richardson 35 with one count of threatening the President of the United States along with two counts of mailing a threatening communication. Federal prosecutors say the actress and mother of five was attempting to frame her estranged husband.
The actress from New Boston Texas was arrested June 7 and faces up to five years in prison on each of the charges the Justice Department said in a statement. Tonda Curry Richardson s court appointed attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
In addition to Obama and Bloomberg prosecutors say Richardson also sent a letter laced with the poison to Mark Glaze in Washington. Glaze is the director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns a group co founded by Bloomberg.
Authorities said Richardson initially approached the Federal Bureau on Investigation claiming her husband Nathan Richardson wanted to poison her. The two married in 2011 but Mr. Richardson filed for divorce earlier this month.
Ricin is a natural highly toxic compound that is extracted from castor beans. It has been used experimentally to kill cancer cells according the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. It is a potentially fatal if ingested or inhaled.
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