Oklahoma man charged with mailing hoax powder to election officials

Robin Martin of Oklahoma faces federal charges for mailing hundreds of letters containing a white powder to public officials before the 2024 and 2026 elections. Authorities identified the substance in most cases as yeast or flour, according to a court filing released Tuesday. Martin was arrested on Monday and appeared in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He is charged with conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications.

The mailings forced the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma in October. Officials in numerous states, including Idaho and Florida, reported receiving the letters or having them intercepted by the Postal Service. The FBI initially urged recipients to treat the mailings as potentially hazardous while the investigation was ongoing.

FBI agent David Cole stated in an affidavit that more than 700 mailings appeared to be associated with the same sender. The letters were addressed to election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, news media, and federal law enforcement. The investigation began in 2024 when election officials in every state reported mail containing a white substance and a three-page letter declaring war.

Martin used the return address U.S.T.E.A., United States Traitor Elimination Army, located in Takoma Park, Maryland. The letters frequently warned recipients about upcoming arrests for treason or worse. Not all letters have been fully tested, but the FBI confirmed the powders were nonhazardous.

Online records do not list an attorney to comment on Martin's behalf. The case highlights the logistical burden on local election workers who must verify the safety of mail during critical voting periods. The charges seek to establish Martin's identity as the sole source of the nationwide campaign of mailings.