United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NORWALK WOMAN WHO THREATENED NEW CANAAN POLICE FACES MULTIPLE FEDERAL CHARGES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford yesterday returned an indictment charging ANNE K. BLANGIARD, also known as Terese Cimino, also known as Anne Cimino, age 46, of 70 Barbara Street, Apartment 2, Norwalk, Connecticut, with eight counts of mailing threatening communications to the New Canaan Police Department.

As alleged in the Indictment, ANNE BLANGIARD sent numerous threatening letters to the New Canaan Police Department during 2003 and 2004 in which she threatened officers of the New Canaan Police Department and others, culminating in a letter sent in February 2004 that also contained a white powdery substance.

"Following the anthrax mailings of 2001, individuals who mail powdery substances understand that this activity will result in great terror," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "What they may or may not understand is the law enforcement and public health resources that are expended each and every time this type of alleged crime is committed. This Office has vigorously prosecuted hoax crimes in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future until this behavior ceases."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, BLANGIARD faces a sentence of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count of the indictment.

The case was investigated by the New Canaan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kari A. Dooley and Stephen B. Reynolds.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov