Trump 'superfan' who claimed false ties to Seminole Tribe sentenced for domestic terrorism

Monday, August 5, 2019  

A Donald Trump "superfan" who falsely claimed he was connected to the Seminole Tribe was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for domestic terrorism.

Cesar Altieri Sayoc 57, admitted he mailed 16 improvised explosive devices to victims across the country last October. Most of the recipients were prominent Democrats, some of whom had criticized Trump.

"Time and again, we have seen individuals attempt to express political views and resolve political disagreements through violence. Cesar Sayoc has now been sentenced for acts of domestic terrorism that are repulsive to all Americans who cherish a society built on respectful and non-violent political discourse," Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news release on Monday.

USA Berman: Though thankfully no one was hurt by his actions, Cesar Sayoc’s domestic terrorism challenged our nation’s cherished tradition of peaceful political discourse. For his wanton disregard of the safety of so many people, Sayoc will now spend 20 yrs in prison.”

— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) August 5, 2019

In trumpeting his support for Trump on social media, Sayoc said he was part of the Seminole Tribe and even said he worked for Hard Rock International, the tribe's global entertainment enterprise. The tribe found "no evidence" that either claim was true but that didn't stop some media outlets from reporting them as accurate.

Sayoc, whose victims included former Democratic president Barack Obama, also held himself out as a Native American off line. His van, which was seized by authorities in Florida, was plastered with numerous political stickers, one of which which implied that the "Unconquered Seminole Tribe" endorsed the 2018 Republican candidate for governor, as well the 2018 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Neither was true.

The same sticker, a version of which Sayoc also shared online, appeared to use the Seminole Tribe's flag without authorization.

A different sticker on Sayoc's white van used the tribe's flag again, only it was next to an image of President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Beneath, it read: "Native Americans For Trump," a label that wasn't too far from the official "Native American Coalition" that supported the president during his 2016 campaign.

Sayoc, who was sentenced in federal court in New York, said he was "very sorry" for his attacks, CNN reported. His attorneys had sought a less harsh punishment of 10 years in prison, writing in one filing that he suffered from an untreated mental illness and drew inspiration from Trump.

“He was a Donald Trump superfan,” the filing stated, The New York Times reported.

In total, Sayoc pleaded guilty to a 56 counts, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Cesar Sayoc, who sent pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, sentenced to 20 years (CNN August 5, 2019)
Cesar Sayoc sentenced to 20 years in prison for mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, CNN (ABC News August 5, 2019)
Cesar Sayoc, Who Mailed Pipe Bombs to Trump Critics, Is Sentenced to 20 Years (The New York Times August 5, 2019)
Cesar Sayoc, who mailed explosive devices to Trump’s critics, sentenced to 20 years in prison (The Washington Post August 5, 2019)

Pipe bomb suspect claimed false ties to 'unconquered' Seminole Tribe (October 29, 2018)