‘Worse than September 11': Bomb mail suspect given probation in 2002 for threat to FPL building

HALLENDALE, Fla. — The man who federal authorities said sent bombs to multiple Democratic politicians and public figures who oppose Donald Trump has a lengthy criminal history that includes eight cases in Florida.

In a 2002 case, Cesar Sayoc was accused of making terroristic threats, but was given probation.

Sayoc pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay about $500 in court costs. He was also given one year of probation because he, "was not likely to engage in a criminal course of conduct,” according to court records.

In that case, Sayoc was recorded contacting a Florida Power and Light Co. representative and threatening to blow up an FPL building in South Florida, saying, "It would be worse than September 11."

He said he was upset about his bill.

Sayoc was arrested less than a year after his probation for that case on charges of fraud, drug and evidence tampering. He went on to rack up four more arrests for battery, drugs and theft before his arrest by federal authorities on Friday.

SunBiz shows Sayoc owned two businesses: VER Tech LLC and Native American Catering and Vending.

Attorney Ron Lowy once represented Sayoc as the family attorney.

He said the family has worried about Sayoc’s mental health for years.

“You can’t force mental health (care) on anyone unless they become a danger to you or the community. By then, it’s too late,” said Lowy. “He lives in a fantasy world. This is a sick individual.”

Sayoc was arrested four more times after the FPL case in 2002.

Lowy said Sayoc’s instability also led him to frequently live in the van, which was wallpapered in pro-Trump stickers, that was towed away after his arrest.

“That’s consistent with a lot of his behavior through the last 15-something years. He lives in his van, sometimes he gets an apartment, then he gets back in the can,” said Lowy.

A family member living at the address Sayoc uses for his voter registration said Sayoc never lived there.

Lowy said the van wasn’t always covered in political stickers.

“That’s the irony of all this. He’s never displayed an interest in politics when they were in communication. I don’t know that he even voted,” said Lowy.

A former employer of Sayoc, who asked not to be identified, said that four years ago he helped him get out of trouble he was facing in a 2013 theft case, but never imagined he’d end up being a suspect in a serious federal case.

Cox Media Group