Woman sentenced in Amber Alert hoax
A woman who initiated a fake Amber Alert in Smithfield more than two years ago was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in prison.
Posted — UpdatedRosnah Hassan Thomason, 43, of Four Oaks, told authorities that 3-year-old Siraj Munir "Roji" Davenport disappeared from Brightleaf Flea Market, on U.S. Highway 301 South in Smithfield, on May 18, 2008.
Smithfield police, Johnston County deputies and the FBI searched for the boy on the ground and in a helicopter for three days before determining he hadn't been abducted and that the report of his disappearance was false.
Thomason pleaded guilty last February to a federal charge of making a false statement.
Defense attorneys said Tuesday that Thomason had a history of neediness and depression. The prosecution argued those conditions were not factors in the case.
Thomason will self report to prison later.
As part of her sentence, she will also pay restitution to law enforcement agencies who took part in the search.
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