A suspect was arrested in the investigation of bombs sent to prominent Democrats and critics of President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Friday. FBI Director Chris Wray identified the suspect as Cesar Sayoc.
Sayoc was charged with five federal crimes, Sessions said during a nationally televised press conference. Sessions had said Sayoc faced up to 58 years in prison, but a Justice Department spokesperson later corrected the number to 48 years.
Several law enforcement sources told CBS News that Sayoc was born in 1962. Records show that his full name is Cesar Altieri Sayoc and that he appears to have a criminal history in Broward County, Florida.
A fingerprint was uncovered from a package bomb sent to Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, Wray said. The print was then connected to Sayoc.
Wray also said there was a possible DNA connection relating to one of Sayoc’s past arrests. A law enforcement source had said that DNA evidence on one of the devices played a part in leading investigators to the suspect, CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton reported.
Cesar Altieri Sayoc is seen in a police booking photo from August 2015.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Also Friday, authorities recovered suspicious packages sent to Democratic senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris; James Clapper, the director of national intelligence under President Obama; and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer. Wray described the packages recovered this week as improvised explosive devices.
The package sent to Booker was found in Florida, the FBI said on Twitter on Friday morning. Sources told CBS News that the package sent to Clapper was found at a postal facility in New York City.
The packages sent to Harris and Steyer were found in separate locations in Northern California.
