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Press Release

Baton Rouge Man Convicted Of Mailing Threatening Letters To Federal And State Courthouses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Louisiana

 BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney Walt Green announced today that BRIAN CAVALIER, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been convicted of making threats by mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(e).  As a result of his conviction, the defendant faces a term of imprisonment, fines, restitution, and a term of supervised release following his release from imprisonment.  The defendant is scheduled to appear before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson for sentencing on August 18, 2016, at 9:30 a.m.

During his guilty plea hearing in court today, CAVALIER admitted that on November 1, 2013, he 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.  CAVALIER had also placed a small amount of a white powdery substance inside the letter’s envelope, and the letter falsely stated that anyone who inhaled the powder would die a “painful death” within 24 hours.  CAVALIER’S letter also falsely stated that there were “shooters” outside the federal courthouse and that anyone who attempted to exit the courthouse would be “shot to death.” 

In connection with his plea, CAVALIER also admitted that approximately one month later, on or about December 2, 2013, he 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.  The defendant also falsely represented that there were armed men with “high power guns” watching the building and that they would kill people inside the building, too.  This second letter also contained a small amount of suspicious white powder, wrapped in plastic.  At the time CAVALIER sent both letters, he was in state custody in the Avoyelles Detention Center, in Cottonport, Louisiana, on unrelated charges.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working in close coordination with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, 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.

Updated April 21, 2016