UNITED STATES—The suspect responsible for sending pipe bombs to prominent democrats, actors and various news outlets in 2008 has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The United States Department of Justice reported on Monday, August 5, 2019, that Syoc aka, “Cesar Randazzo,” “Cesar Altieri,” “Cesar Altieri Randazzo,“ and also known as, the Make America Great Again bomber pled guilty to 65 felonies for mailing 16 improvised explosive devices in connection with a terrorist attack in October 2018. Sentencing took place in a Manhattan Federal Court before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

Sayoc admitted to mailing 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to 13 victims which included 11 current or former U.S. government officials with the intent to use the IEDs to cause harm. The charges included interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former Presidents, and others.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York, Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office ad Police Commissioner James P. O’ Neill of New York Police Department (NYPD).

“Cesar Sayoc has admitted to acts of domestic terrorism that are repulsive to all Americans who cherish a society built on respectful and non-political discourse no matter how strongly held one’s views. Our Democracy will simply not survive if our political discourse includes sending bombs to those we disagree with. I applaud the efforts of so many in our law enforcement community whose alertness and tirelessness led to the prompt arrest of the defendant before he was able to injure anyone, as well as those whose efforts led to today’s plea,” said Attorney General Geoffrey S. Berman.

Sayoc sent packages that also contained a white substance. Some of the recipients’ packages were intercepted, while others were delivered. None of them detonated. His targets included: U.S. Rep., Maxine Waters, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Former U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, Former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, former Vice President Joe Biden, actor Robert De Niro, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Another package containing both an explosive device and a white substance was sent to CNN’s Time Warner Center in New York City, addressed to John O. Brennan.

The Miami-Dade Police Department’s K-9 unit also searched a mail processing center in Opa-Locka, Florida. A post office in Los Angeles, California was also evacuated as a result of the threats.

Written By Sharon Stice