Actress Who Sent Ricin to Obama Faces 18 Years in Prison
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fotokon/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Shannon Guess Richardson, the Texas woman accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg last spring, has reportedly reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Richardson’s attorney Tonda Curry said Richardson has signed a guilty plea to admit her role in ordering the components to make the ricin and also in mailing the letters. In exchange for her plea, the federal government has agreed to a sentence not exceeding 18 years.
“I think this is an appropriate agreement given the fact that Shannon did not intend to hurt the president or anyone else,” Curry said.
Richardson’s sentencing hearing won’t occur until after the conclusion of a pre-sentencing report, which may take up to three months.
When news of the ricin letters first came to light, Richardson, 36, falsely implicated her estranged husband.
Richardson, an actress, has had small roles in TV and films, including The Vampire Diaries, Franklin & Bash, The Change-Up and The Walking Dead.
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