honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 9:50 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003

Woman indicted for cruise ship threats

Associated Press

A federal grand jury yesterday indicted a California woman accused of planting high-seas terrorist threats aboard a cruise ship.

Kelley Marie Ferguson, 20, of Laguna Hills, is charged with two counts of threatening acts of terrorism, each carrying up to 10 years in prison.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, at which time she will answer to the charges. She remains confined without bail at the Federal Detention Center.

Authorities say Ferguson, who was vacationing with her family aboard the Legend of the Seas, admitted writing the notes in hopes that they would force the cruise ship to end its journey and allow her to return home to her boyfriend.

One of the notes included, "I have been sent on a mission to kill all Americanos abord Legend if we port on American soil."

The notes prompted an intense FBI search for biological, chemical, radiological and explosive weapons aboard the Royal Caribbean ship, and interrogation of crew members and passengers. That questioning led authorities to Ferguson and her subsequent arrest on April 25.

Federal prosecutors said the hoax cost the Coast Guard alone $336,000.