Canadian-French Woman Sentenced to 21.8 Years for Sending Poison-Laced Letters to Trump and Texas Officials
A Canadian-French woman has been sentenced to 21.8 years in prison for sending poison-laced letters to former President Donald Trump and eight Texas law enforcement officials. Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, a dual citizen of Canada and France, pleaded guilty to the charges in January. The homemade letters, mailed from her home in Quebec, were found to contain ricin toxin.
The letters, each referring to a special gift for the recipient, contained the dangerous ricin toxin. Prosecutors stated that if the gift did not work, Ferrier would find a better recipe for another poison. The letter addressed to Trump referred to him as an ugly tyrant clown and urged him to drop out of the 2020 election. It criticized his leadership and expressed concern for the future of the United States.
The Texas letters targeted law enforcement officials whom Ferrier apparently held responsible for her 2019 arrest on a weapons charge. She had been apprehended for presenting officers with a fake ID while in possession of a loaded gun. The charges were later dropped. Ferrier was arrested again in September 2020 at the Peace Bridge Border Crossing in Buffalo, New York. She informed border officials that she was wanted by the FBI for sending the poison-laced letters. At the time of her arrest, she was found to be carrying a loaded firearm, ammunition, knives, a stun gun, pepper spray, a truncheon, and a false identification document.
According to the pre-sentencing report, Ferrier appears to suffer from mental health issues, although no further details were provided. Prior to her sentencing, Ferrier told the judge that she is a grandmother of four and an activist, not a terrorist. She claimed that the ricin she made did not have a harmful concentration and was intended as a warning rather than an attempt to harm innocent people. Ferrier expressed regret that Trump did not heed her warning and added that her only regret was not being able to stop him before he carried out his plans to remain in power.
U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich sentenced Ferrier to a total of 21.8 years in prison. Prosecutors have stated that she will be deported after serving her sentence.
The case against Ferrier highlights the serious consequences of sending toxic substances to public figures. It also underscores the need for vigilance and thorough investigations to identify those who may pose a threat. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of security measures to protect public officials and maintain the safety of society as a whole.
