Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Suspect in Custody in String of Letter Bombs Sent to Former Presidents and Others

Federal authorities arrested 56-year-old Cesar Altieri Sayoc in Broward County, Florida Friday morning.

October 26, 2018
Suspect in Custody in String of Letter Bombs Sent to Former Presidents and Others

 

2 min to read


Embed from Getty Images

An arrest has been made in the investigation of potentially explosive devices sent to two former presidents, members of Congress, Senators, and other famous people.

Ad Loading...

Federal authorities arrested 56-year-old Cesar Altieri Sayoc in Broward County, Florida Friday morning.

A total of 10 homemade bombs have been sent to celebrities and politicians who have been outspoken critics of President Donald Trump in the last five days.

Actor Robert De Niro and former vice president Joe Biden were the latest targets in the string of pipe bombs, which were reportedly sent through the mail, according to the Washington Post.

Other homemade explosive devices have been addressed to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, CNN, George Soros, Cory Booker, James Clapper, and others.

A law enforcement source said that DNA evidence on one of the devices played a part in leading investigators to the suspect. Authorities also said that a latent fingerprint on a package addressed to Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California played a part in the investigation.

Ad Loading...

A picture believed to be of a van seized by authorities in the package bomb investigation shows a sticker with crosshairs around former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's face, according to CBS News.

Court records show Sayoc, an amateur body builder with social media accounts that denigrate Democrats and praise Trump, has a history of arrests for theft, illegal steroids possession and a 2002 charge of making a bomb threat.

There has been some speculation that the devices were hoaxes or so poorly constructed that they would not explode. Law enforcement officials from multiple federal agencies repeatedly said Friday afternoon at a press conference that the devices were real. Each device was made up of a PVC pipe, a small clock, battery, wiring and “energetic material,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. And he stressed that they could have exploded under the right conditions.

Sayoc was charged with five federal counts: interstate transport of explosives, mailing of explosives, threats against a former president, making threatening interstate communications and assault of current or former officials. He faces up to 58 years in prison if convicted of these charges.


More Patrol

Three tactical backpacks set against a desert background with an inset logo for 5.11.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show

5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
Blue background with Streamlight logo at top and inset images of one handgun light, two rifle lights, and one handheld light.
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show

Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.

Read More →
dark ballistic sunglasses against a blue smokey background
PatrolJanuary 21, 2026

EOTech & Fast Metal Introduce the EOTech Halen Ballistic Spectacle System

Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black background, outline of Florida, headline 2 Officers Shot
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 14, 2026

2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call

Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.

Read More →
Blue-tinted background photo of hand hanging up an office phone and headline Richmond Heights PD: Harassment and Threats Will Be Addressed Accordingly
PatrolJanuary 14, 2026

Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS

An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.

Read More →
Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

Tips for Watching the Hands

How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.

Read More →