SYRACUSE -- A 46-year-old man pleads not guilty to federal charges of sending anthrax hoax letters to U.S. District Court Clerk's offices in Syracuse and several other cities across the country.
Roberto Cepeda appeared before a federal judge on the five count indictment against him.
He's accused of sending fake anthrax letters to the clerk's offices in Syracuse, Washington D.C., Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and Alexandria, Virginia in April of 2007.
Prosecutors say he sent the letters from state prison in Auburn, where he was serving time for unrelated crimes.
Authorities say Cepeda sent letters containing an unknown substance with notes stating "This is ANTHRAX", ANTHRAX for you...", "Die from ANTHRAX."
If convicted, Cepeda faces up to five years in prison for each of the letters along with fines of up to $250,000, and an additional term of supervised release.
Do you think that's an adequate punishment if convicted? Why or why not? Do you worry about anthrax or other acts of real terrorism leading up to the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks? Leave your thoughts below.
