BATON ROUGE, LA—United States Attorney Walt Green announced today the filing of an indictment returned by a federal grand jury earlier this week that charges BRIAN CAVALIER, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with two (2) counts of making threats by mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(e). If convicted, the defendant could face significant incarceration, fines, restitution, and supervised release following imprisonment.

The indictment alleges that on or about November 1, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a threatening letter to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana in which he falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the federal courthouse and that the bomb was set to detonate within twenty-four (24) hours. According to the indictment, approximately one month later, on or about December 2, 2013, CAVALIER mailed a second threatening letter, this time to the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, which also falsely and maliciously conveyed that a bomb had been planted in the state courthouse and that the bomb would soon detonate.

U.S. Attorney Green stated: “My office takes threats to the safety and security of our community’s judicial and governmental offices very seriously. Specific and credible threats not only disrupt the functioning of our government and affect the daily lives of many individuals who live and work in our community, but they also divert law enforcement resources from more critical missions.”

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working in close coordination with the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who serves as a Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by the Grand Jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.