Essex County, N.J., Woman Admits Mailing Threatening Letter

NEWARK, N.J. – An Irvington, N.J., woman today admitted that she mailed a threatening letter to the Town of Secaucus, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Karen Waller, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging her with mailing a threatening communication in interstate commerce.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Waller admitted that she wrote and mailed a letter to Secaucus that included threatening language about bomb attacks and warned against underestimating her.

The charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2014.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents, detectives and investigators assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark, with the investigation. The JTTF comprises law enforcement officers from numerous federal, state and local agencies throughout New Jersey.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Assistant Federal Public Defender Lisa Mack Esq., Newark

Waller Information