Man Charged With Mailing 700 Letters of White Powder to Officials

Robin Martin, 67, of Oklahoma City, faces federal charges for sending more than 700 letters containing white powder to public officials. The mailings targeted election workers, members of Congress, and law enforcement agents ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections.

Martin was arrested Monday and appeared in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He has been held in jail to await a detention hearing scheduled for next week. The Federal Public Defender office, which represents him, declined to comment on the allegations. His daughter, Ava Martin, also did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.

Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg described the actions as a "calculated attempt to terrorize public servants" who feared the substance might make them sick. The FBI stated in a court filing that the powders were nonhazardous, consisting of yeast or flour, although not every letter has been fully tested.

The investigation began in 2024 when election officials in several states reported receiving mail with a white substance. The envelopes contained a three-page letter declaring war on the recipients. Some letters included warnings visible only under ultraviolet light, such as the message: "Stay on the right side of history! Your life may depend on it!!"

The sender listed a return address as "U.S.T.E.A., United States Traitor Elimination Army, Takoma Park, MD." FBI agent David Cole noted in an affidavit that the letters warned recipients of upcoming arrests for treason or worse. Cole said the writer expressed views that President Donald Trump won the 2020 election and raised concerns about similar issues affecting the 2024 race.

Federal authorities announced an investigation last month regarding mailings with suspicious substances sent to congressional and election offices nationwide. Recipients were urged to treat the mail as potentially hazardous. The packages caused evacuations at election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Officials in numerous states, from Idaho to Florida, reported receiving or intercepting the letters.

Video evidence shows Martin's car stopping at mailboxes in October at Postal Service sites in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and San Antonio. Investigators also found his fingerprints on a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, whose first name was misspelled as "Kashyap." Walmart records indicated Martin bought household items like turmeric and vinegar to create invisible ink readable under ultraviolet light.

The Democratic Socialists of America assisted in the investigation. The FBI believes Martin, using the name George Livingston, posted a message to a DSA email list in October. The message warned that members were traitors and eligible for arrest for treason if they voted in the Nov. 3 election.