The Florida man suspected of sending a dozen pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats across the country has a long and varied criminal record.
Cesar Alteri Sayoc Jr., 56, was taken into custody outside an AutoZone store in Plantation, Fla., according to law enforcement officials He is is a resident of Aventura, Fla., and was arrested at an AutoZone store in nearby Plantation, Fla. at around 10:30 a.m. local time Friday.
Sayoc is a registered Republican in Florida who last voted this year, according to the Nexis database. He registered as a GOP voter 11 days before the 2016 Florida primary and early-voted in Miami-Dade County for the 2018 midterm election primary.
Sayoc's white van was covered in what law enforcement officials described as “right wing paraphernalia.”
The Broward County clerk of courts lists Sayoc as someone who was charged with felonies in 1991, 2004 and 2013.
Federal prosecutors withheld adjudication for the 1991 and 2013 felonies, which meant they did not go onto his record.
He also faced a drug court case in 2004 related to several felony charges for possession of a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid.
Sayoc faced charges of misdemeanor theft of less than $300 in 2014, 11 traffic violation charges and five parking violation offenses over several years.
There was also a home foreclosure case against him in 2009. Sayoc filed for bankruptcy in 2012, a court filing shows. A handwritten note by Sayoc read: “Lives w/mom,” and “Has no furniture.”
Sayoc was also charged with domestic violence against his mother Viola Alitieri in 1994 and in 2002, he was charged with making a bomb threat in Miami-Dade County where he was sentenced to one year of probation. That charge was also withheld by prosecutors as a felony, so following completion of probation in 2003, it was dismissed.
Public records show he has a past address in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as well as in New Jersey. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1962.
On his LinkedIn page, Sayoc described himself as a “promoter, booking agent for live entertainment, owner and choreographer.” Sayoc claimed that his grandfather helped liberate the Philippines from a communist regime and taught martial arts.
Earlier Friday, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., became the 12th prominent Democrat and the fourth member of Congress to be targeted by the packages.
Other targets include former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Democratic mega-donor George Soros, Reps. Maxine Waters of California and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Trump critic Robert De Niro.
All of the packages had a return address to the Florida officer of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.