Oklahoma City man accused of sending letters with white powder to officials

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma City resident has been arrested following accusations that he sent more than 700 threatening letters to officials around the country.

Robin Patrick Martin, 67, is charged in the U.S. Western District of Oklahoma with mailing threatening communications and with conveying false or misleading information and hoaxes. He’s accused of sending packages with white powders, threatening messages and letters to election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, media organizations and the FBI in 2024 and 2026.

On Oct. 13, the State Election Board in Oklahoma City received a letter containing white powder, and offices at the state Capitol were evacuated, according to the criminal complaint.

Martin is being represented by federal public defenders. His attorney, Kiefer Rose, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Oklahoma City Police, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

FBI Special Agent David Cole wrote in an affidavit that the FBI and U.S. Postal Service identified suspicious packages sent to election officials in all 50 states in 2024 with a return address for the “United States Traitor Elimination Army.” They included messages only seen under ultraviolet light, white powdery substances and three-page letters titled “DECLARATION OF WAR,” according to the affidavit.

They had a return address of Takoma Park, Maryland, but the affidavit said investigators could not find any link between the senter and the Takoma Park address.

These packages were followed by more than 700 mailings sent in 2026 with a return address of “DSA NEW YORK NY,” according to the affidavit.

FBI field offices determined the mailings all appear to be associated with the same sender, according to the affidavit, which includes an image of the October package sent to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

Investigators have not found evidence linking the DSA, or Democratic Socialists of America, to the letters, and the organization no longer uses the address allegedly used by Martin, according to the affidavit. The group is the largest socialist political organization in the U.S.

Maryland members of Congress, elections officials targeted by suspicious letters

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America reported to investigators that they were also receiving emails from a “George Livingston” who outlined an “ambush” planned for Nov. 3 as a member of the United States Traitor Elimination Army and warned people that voting in the midterm elections would be considered treason, according to the affidavit.

Investigators found that the language in the emails is consistent with the messages on envelopes sent to officials in October and tied the email to a phone number and cellphone purchased by Martin at a Walmart in Oklahoma City, according to the affidavit. Investigators also allege he purchased ingredients that can be used to make invisible ink at Walmart.

The threatening mailings were deposited at U.S. Postal Service locations in OKC, northern Texas and San Antonio between Oct, 9 and 13, according to the affidavit, and investigators tracked Martin and his vehicle to those locations.

The suspicious powders that have been tested have been yeast or flour, according to the affidavit.