Two State Environmental Employees Fired for Roles in 2001 Anthrax Hoax

TBO ^ | 11/3/03 | Laura Walsh

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Two state workers were fired Monday over a 2001 anthrax hoax that forced the evacuation of more than 800 employees from an office building. Joseph Faryniarz and David Sattler were dismissed by Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection for engaging in an activity which is "detrimental to the best interests of the agency or the state," said commissioner Arthur Rocque.

Faryniarz was convicted last December of lying to federal agents about the source of a white powder found on his desk next to a piece of paper marked with the misspelled word "anthax" on Oct. 11, 2001.

The hoax occurred around the time when anthrax-laced envelopes mailed to government and media offices killed five people and sickened 17 others.

The agency's headquarters was closed for two days after the evacuation. Government officials estimated it cost $1.5 million to respond to the hoax.

Faryniarz and others testified that Sattler placed powdered coffee creamer and the misspelled label on Faryniarz's computer keyboard, apparently as a joke.

Prosecutors claimed that Faryniarz kept the information from authorities for two days after Sattler asked him to keep the secret.

Sattler was never charged with a crime. He refused to answer questions at Faryniarz's trial and a disciplinary hearing, citing his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Faryniarz was ultimately spared jail time. In May, U.S. District Court Judge Alfred V. Covello sentenced him to one year of probation and ordered him to pay a $100 fine. The judge also praised Faryniarz for eventually coming forward with the information and said he had been through enough punishment.

Faryniarz's lawyer, Richard Brown, has said he would appeal. The union also planned to file a grievance with the state's Office of Labor Relations.

"Ultimately, there are no winners here," Rocque said. "While such a breathtakingly stupid lack of judgment cannot go unpunished, it would be good if someday they could rejoin us, presumably wiser for the experience."

[skr]

Send them both the bill for the disruption. The taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for such stupidity (I know, I know, we pay for stupidity all the time).