Federal prosecutors filed charges Wednesday, April 13, against a 25-year-old Kent woman for allegedly sending an anthrax hoax letter addressed to the President Obama.
The charging documents stated Kate Michelle Young sent a letter addressed to the president, “which contained white powdery substance and made a reference to ‘anthrax.'” The substance was tested and found to be harmless.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Seattle. Young is in custody and a detention hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m. April 18 in courtroom 12B before Judge James P. Donohue.
The violation of Section 175 of title 18 United States Code, prohibitions with respect to biological weapons, is a felony.
The charging documents stated a postal inspector notified a U.S. Secret Service special agent a mail carrier had received a suspicious letter April 11 from a woman living in Kent.
The letter was addressed to “The White House, President Obama-Sanchez, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC.” The postal inspector told the agent the letter contained a “suspicious white powder.”
The envelope was black and the charging document noted the names “‘Sasha’ ad ‘Malia’ were written on the back of the envelope (an apparent reference to the President’s children).” Also written on the letter was “Hello Michelle & Girls.”
The return address on the envelope was “Costco Inc. Jim Sinegal.”
Jim Sinegal is a Costco executive.
The contents of the envelope contained a letter wrapped in plastic wrapping and filled with white powder.
According to the charging documents, the letter state, “Dear Obama – this is an anthrax sting. If you are scared, either mail Jim Sinegal 864.00 so you can call 911 or tell the Atty General he can have your rights too.”
The letter was signed “Dirty Play Sanchez.”
The prosecutor’s document noted Young lived with her boyfriend in the 3600 block of 262 Street in Kent and there were police reports from multiple incidents at the residence.
The special agent wrote in the charging document the King County Sheriff’s Office had received two similar black envelopes containing white powder. Both letters were found April 4, one at the sheriff’s office at the Regional Justice Center in Kent and one at the sheriff’s office in Seattle. Both envelopes appeared to have been delivered and not sent. The white substances inside were tested and found to be harmless.
The special agent went to Young’s home April 12. The agent wrote Young was initially uncooperative and she was arrested.
Young admitted to the agent addressing the letter to the president and handed it to the mail carrier. She told the agent there was another letter attached to the envelope.
Written on the letter was, “I will murder you for some weed!!!(my threat.)” She told the agent the phrase was directed at the mail carrier.
Young also admitted to sending the letters to the sheriff’s office, the White House and her parents. She stated she was upset with the sheriff’s office for not arresting her boyfriend for an alleged domestic violence incident.
She told the agent she had used methamphetamine in the “past few days.”
The boyfriend told sheriff’s deputies she abuses oxycodone and has assaulted him while he slept.
According to the charging document, Young admitted to putting baby powder in the letter to the president and flour in the letters to the sheriff’s office.
Young state she had been fired by Costco “and planned to sue, or had already sued, the company.”
Kent woman charge with felony for anthrax hoax letter addressed to President Obama
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