NY Woman Convicted of Mailing Threats to Sen. Brown, Att. General Coakley

A New York woman was convicted Thursday in federal court of sending four threatening communications in the mail.

Roberta Cicora, 57, of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to mailing four threatening communications.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that on May 2, 2011, Cicora mailed threatening letters — which included an unknown white powder — to U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, MA Attorney General Martha Coakley and the state District Court in Greenfield. Cicora also sent a threatening letter to the Franklin County House of Correction.

Cicora’s letters caused the offices which received them to close down until HAZMAT teams responded and determined that the white powder did not pose a threat to the safety of the workers there.

Judge Ponsor scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2013. Cicora faces up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Massachusetts State Police. The New York State Police provided assistance.