WILLIAMSPORT — A Columbia County woman is charged with faking racial hate crimes — leading to an investigation involving the FBI — in a bid to keep her African-American boyfriend from leaving her.

Jamie Sue Miscannon, 36, of Bloomsburg, was charged Monday in U.S. Middle District Court with making false statements to Hemlock Twp. police between July 1 and Oct. 25, 2013 to make it appear her boyfriend was the victim of a hate crime.

She has signed an agreement to plead guilty to the charge that carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine.

The criminal information alleges Miscannon told police on July 7, 2013 that someone had spray-painted racially derogatory words and threats on the tailgate on her boyfriend's Blazer, the hood of her vehicle and the front and rear doors of their home.

Township police on Aug. 7, 2013 were told the rear tires of the Blazer had been punctured and a sticky substance was on the opening to that vehicle's fuel tank.

Two days later, they said they received a report that a threatening note had been pinned to the front door of the residence and a racial epithet spray-painted on the hood of her vehicle. The same day police said they found a surveillance camera they installed covered.

Spray-painted on the house on Aug. 19 were threats and more racial epithets, with more such incidents reported on Aug. 26, Sept. 30 and Oct. 4.

Miscannon is accused of reporting break-ins she allegedly staged at the residence on Oct. 25 and Nov. 5.

During a Nov. 15, 2013 search of the home by police and the FBI, which was brought into the case due to the possibility it was a hate crime, several cans of black paint were found, the information states.

Authorities are alleging that Miscannon committed the crimes because she feared her boyfriend would leave her if he thought she and her children were safe.