Oklahoma City man charged over hundreds of powder-filled letters

Federal authorities have charged an Oklahoma City man with sending hundreds of letters containing harmless white powder and threats of treason to public officials ahead of the 2024 and 2026 elections. Robin Martin was arrested on Monday and appeared in federal court in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He faces charges of spreading a hoax and mailing threatening communications.

The FBI released a court document on Tuesday confirming the white substance in the envelopes was likely yeast or flour. The agency noted that not every letter has been fully analyzed. An FBI agent named David Cole stated in an affidavit that one individual sent more than 700 packages. Each package had a different return address. The recipients included election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, media outlets, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The investigation began in 2024 when election officials in multiple states reported receiving mail with white powder and a three-page letter declaring war. Some letters contained warnings visible only under ultraviolet light. One such warning read: "Stay on the right side of history! Your life may depend on it!!" The return address on these letters identified the sender as the United States Traitor Elimination Army in Takoma Park, Maryland.

A common message in the 2024 and 2026 mailings warned recipients of impending arrest for treason or worse. Cole explained that the author described perceived problems with the 2020 elections. The letters claimed President Donald Trump won the 2020 race and expressed concern that similar issues would repeat in the 2024 election. Federal authorities announced last month that they were investigating these suspicious letters and advised recipients to treat the packages as potentially dangerous.

The packages led to evacuations of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma in October. Numerous states reported that their offices received the letters or that the postal service intercepted them. The FBI has video showing Martin’s car stopping at postal service mailboxes in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and San Antonio in October. Investigators also obtained his fingerprints from a letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel. The director's name was written as Kashyap in that specific envelope.

Walmart records indicate Martin bought common household items like turmeric and vinegar. The FBI says he used these items to create invisible ink that could be read with ultraviolet light. The Democratic Socialists of America appeared to assist the FBI in the investigation. The agency believes Martin used the name George Livingston to post a message on the group’s email list in October. The post warned members they were traitors and could be arrested for treason if they voted in the November 3 elections.

Online records do not list an attorney for Martin who could provide comments. Several family members did not immediately respond to social media messages requesting a statement.