Mail bombing suspect Cesar Sayoc indicted on 30 counts, faces life in prison

A federal grand jury in Manhattan on Friday returned a 30-count indictment against Cesar Sayoc, who allegedly mailed 16 improvised explosive devices to prominent Democrats, critics of President Trump and CNN.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The charges include the use of a weapon of mass destruction, interstate transportation of explosives, illegal mailing of explosives and threatening interstate communications.

The charges focus only on the IEDs sent to George Soros, Robert De Niro, Hillary Clinton, James Clapper and John Brennan, the indictment said.

"As alleged, Cesar Sayoc deliberately targeted 13 individuals with 16 improvised explosive devices, attempting to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation from California to the eastern seaboard," FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement. "The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to protect the American public, and we will move with speed to bring justice to anyone seeking to harm our communities."