Oklahoma man faces federal charges over 700 white powder mailings

Federal agents say a single sender dispatched more than 700 letters containing a white substance to government targets between 2024 and 2026. The mailings triggered evacuations and heightened security at election offices and congressional offices in numerous states.

Robin Martin, an Oklahoma resident, was arrested on Monday. He faces charges for conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications. Martin was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Court records did not list an attorney representing him at the time of the filing.

The FBI identified the powders as nonhazardous yeast or flour. Agent David Cole noted in an affidavit that investigators linked the bulk of the mailings to one source. The letters were addressed to election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, news organizations, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The investigation began in 2024 after officials in every state reported receiving mail with a white substance. The packages included a three-page letter that declared war on the recipients. In 2026, authorities warned that the letters might be hazardous, leading to the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma in October.

Martin listed a return address of U.S.T.E.A., or United States Traitor Elimination Army, located in Takoma Park, Maryland. The correspondence frequently warned recipients to expect upcoming arrests for treason. The FBI has not fully tested every letter in the collection.