Kalihi woman indicted
on anthrax threat charge

She is accused of mailing
threatening letters in November

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A Kalihi woman accused of mailing threatening letters containing a powdery substance to three police stations last November was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with threatening the use of anthrax.

The 17-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Sharon Cardenas, 24, with mailing threatening letters to four individuals and three other establishments, including the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Hotel.

The letters to the police stations and the hotel were mailed last November at the height of the nationwide anthrax scare.

The letters forced the closure of the Pearl City, Kalihi and main police stations as well as the Marriott, and forced police and Honolulu Fire Department hazardous materials teams to respond.

The powdery substance in the letters to the police stations were determined to be baby powder.

Cardenas was charged via complaint earlier this month for sending threats through the U.S. mail.

Investigators said she admitted sending the letters to the police stations because she wanted to cause trouble for her boyfriend's mother, Caridad Berzamina.

Cardenas admitted earlier that she got the idea after watching a documentary on anthrax.

Berzamina worked as a housekeeper at the Waikiki Beach Marriott but has since been let go because the letters were sent in her name.

A detention hearing for Cardenas is set for Jan. 31.