Capitol cop charged with anthrax hoax

With exposures, theats and fumigations, Capitol Hill has been a focal point of the anthrax crisis.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. Capitol Police officer was indicted, arrested and arraigned Friday for perpetrating an anthrax hoax in a Capitol Hill security office in November.

Officer James Joseph Pickett, 35, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of a making false statement and one count of obstructing Capitol Police.

He was arrested and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson, according to prosecutors for the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia.

According to the indictment, Pickett wrote an anonymous note November 7 and placed it in a Capitol Police security station with arrows directed to a nearby quantity of white powder.

The note, written in capital letters, said:

"PLEASE INHALE. YES. THIS COULD BE? CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR FLU-SYMPTOMS. THIS IS A CAPITOL POLICE TRAINING EXERCIZE! [sic] I HOPE YOU PASS."

Federal authorities have promised to crack down on persons responsible for anthrax-related hoaxes, bringing charges in many cases in which defendants claimed they were joking.

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The court document charging Pickett did not specify a motive.

"The charges and indictment speak for themselves," Capitol Police spokesman Lt. Dan Nichols said.

If convicted, Pickett would face up to six years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.