Man Arrested for Mailing Suspicious Powder to Over 700 Public Figures

Robin Patrick Martin, 67, is in federal custody. The FBI swept him out of his Oklahoma City home early Monday. Authorities suspect he mailed hundreds of envelopes filled with suspicious white powder to public figures across the nation. The target list covers the 2024 and 2026 election cycles. A federal law enforcement source confirmed the arrest to Fox News Digital.

Martin faces charges for conveying false or misleading information and hoaxes. He is also charged with mailing threatening communications. The Western District of Oklahoma filed the federal criminal complaint. Investigators linked more than 700 suspicious mailings sent in 2026 to this single sender. The targets were diverse. State election boards received them. So did Republican, Democratic, and independent members of Congress. Pollsters, media organizations, and even the FBI were on the list.

Most of these letters never reached their intended hands. Postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners intercepted the majority before delivery. The Department of Justice confirmed this recovery effort. FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement praising the agency's recent success.

"The alleged subject had avoided authorities until now, as the Biden administration failed to catch him, but this FBI got it done," Patel stated. He added that every American deserves a free and fair election. Anyone attempting to undermine that process by breaking laws or threatening officials will face justice.

The investigation involved multiple agencies. The FBI's Oklahoma City field office led the charge. The FBI Criminal Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and Oklahoma City Police Department all participated. The trail of mailings dates back to September 2024. State election officials began reporting letters containing a white powdery substance at that time.

Investigators identified similar mailings addressed to election officials in all 50 states. They recovered or intercepted 49 of these specific items. The initial 2024 mailings contained white powder and a three-page letter titled "DECLARATION OF WAR." The writer issued a stark threat. If certain demands were not met, another mailing would go to "1000's of destinations." He warned, "it won't be flour next time."

The complaint details the sender's motivation. The writer described perceived issues with the 2020 election. He claimed President Donald Trump won that race. He voiced concerns about similar problems recurring in the then-upcoming 2024 election.

Testing on the powders revealed they were nonhazardous. Substances included yeast or flour. However, not every letter has been fully tested yet, according to the FBI. Investigators also noted a sinister detail. Some letters contained hidden messages visible only under ultraviolet light.

A man named Martin now faces federal charges after authorities linked him to a wave of threatening letters sent across the country. The stakes were high. One recipient received a warning to stay on the "right side of history," with an implicit threat that their lives might hinge on compliance.

The complaints detail mailings that listed "U.S.T.E.A." as the sender. That stands for the "United States Traitor Elimination Army." A return address in Takoma Park, Maryland, was also provided. FBI surveillance footage captured a vehicle associated with Martin stopping at Postal Service mailboxes in October. The stops occurred in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Investigators found Martin's fingerprints on a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel. The evidence trail extended to Walmart receipts for turmeric and vinegar. Investigators noted these items could be mixed to create writing visible under ultraviolet light. This arrest caps a nationwide probe into suspicious mail targeting congressional and election offices ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The FBI disclosed last month that it was partnering with USPIS to track down the source. They were investigating "a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices," The Associated Press reported. Several Senate offices reported receiving or being targeted by this suspicious correspondence.

Authorities urged recipients to treat the mail as "potentially hazardous." Investigators raced to intercept additional letters before they reached their destinations. An Oct. 23 FBI advisory stated that no hazardous material had been identified in the substances tested at that time. Laboratory testing, however, continued.

Martin appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shon Erwin on Tuesday. His initial appearance took place in Oklahoma City. The Associated Press contributed to this report.