Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley's office alleges [Anthony Pellicano], 61, hired Alexander Proctor in 2002 to make the threats against then-Times reporter Anita Busch.

Proctor, 61, who is serving 10 years on unrelated drug charges, already had been facing a felony count of making criminal threats. He was charged Friday with the additional count of conspiring with Pellicano to threaten Busch.

Proctor allegedly told a federal informant that Pellicano asked him to carry out the threat during a secretly recorded conversation, according to court documents. Proctor told the informant that he was taking the job to erase a debt to Pellicano. He also told the informant Pellicano was acting on behalf of [Steven Seagal].