Bombs suspect indicted on 30 counts

NEW YORK — The Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent critics of President Donald Trump was indicted Friday on charges that carry a potential penalty of life in prison.

The 30-count indictment against Cesar Sayoc was handed up in Manhattan federal court, where Sayoc made an initial appearance earlier this week after he was moved to New York.

Sayoc, 56, was arrested Oct. 26 in Florida on five charges that carry a potential sentence upon conviction of nearly 50 years.

Authorities said he sent improvised explosive devices to numerous Democrats, critics of Trump and CNN. The scare heightened tensions before the crucial midterm elections, but he was arrested within days. Prosecutors say evidence against Sayoc includes DNA linking him to 10 of the explosive devices and fingerprints on two of them.

Prosecutors followed through on a promise to upgrade the charges with an indictment that led with five counts alleging use of a weapon of mass destruction. The document said he mailed 16 improvised explosive devices though the U.S. mail to victims across the country.

The charges said he aimed to “kill, injure and intimidate an individual and unlawfully to damage and destroy a building, vehicle, and other real and person property.”

None of the devices — some of which arrived at New York addresses — exploded.