Massachusetts charity worker, 25, pleads guilty to sending letters containing white powder that was thought to be anthrax to Donald Trump's sons
- Daniel Frisiello, of Beverly, Massachusetts plead guilty to mailing five envelopes in February with threatening messages and a white substance
- He allegedly sent one to Don Trump Jr. that saw his wife, Vanessa, in the hospital
- The envelope also included a typed message calling him an 'awful, awful person'
- 'Truly disgusting that certain individuals choose to express their opposing views with such disturbing behavior,' Donald Jr later tweeted
- Frisiello plead guilty Wednesday in federal court in Boston
- The 24-year-old was caught after police connected him to the purchase of a joke glitter bomb which he also sent to one of his victims
- The white substance sent in the letters later turned out to be cornstarch
Daniel Frisiello, of Beverly, Massachusetts is accused of mailing five envelopes in February with threatening messages and a white substance, including one to Donald Trump Jr., that landed his wife, Vanessa, in the hospital
A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty Wednesday to sending threatening letters filled with white powder to President Donald Trump's sons, a Democratic U.S. senator, Republican congressional candidate and others.
Among the letters sent by Daniel Frisiello, 25, was one addressed to Donald Trump Jr. that was opened in February by his now-estranged wife, Vanessa.
She called 911 and was briefly hospitalized after she reported she was coughing and felt nauseous.
The substances in all of the letters turned out to be nonhazardous.
Frisiello, who wore a dark suit, looked down in front of him and put his hand to his mouth as the prosecutor read to the court some of Frisiello's letters filled with profanity and slurs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Garland said Frisiello was a 'prolific letter writer' who wrote to public figures and celebrities to share his ideas and request autographs. But he also had a 'darker side,' Garland said.
Prosecutors said Frisiello sent threatening letters laced with powder to Eric Trump in March 2016 and Donald Trump Jr. in February 2018
Vanessa Trump was hospitalized after opening a letter with a white powder inside of it. She's pictured above with her husband, Donald Trump Jr., in April 2016
A Hazmat truck was seen outside Vanessa Trump's parent's apartment building after the incident on February 12
Frisiello's attorney, William Fick, declined to comment after the hearing. Fick told the judge that Frisiello has substantial cognitive and developmental issues from brain damage he suffered at birth. He said Frisiello is profoundly autistic and has an anxiety disorder.
Frisiello, who has been out of jail since March, was allowed Wednesday to return to his home, where he's been confined with certain restrictions.
He's prohibited from sending anything in the mail. He'll be sentenced in January and has agreed not to appeal his sentence if it's 7 1/4 years or less.
William Fick, a lawyer for Frisiello, said during the hearing that his client has cognitive and developmental issues stemming from brain damage at birth and is also autistic. He also suffers from anxiety, Fick said.
Share this article
Vanessa looked downcast on the day after the incident earlier this year (right) while out in New York City, while her husband Trump Jr (left) was furious
Frisiello (left and right) reportedly sent the letter to president's son on February 12
Frisiello said in court that he's currently taking prescribed medication including a 'mood stabilizer.'
Frisiello also sent a white powder letter to Eric Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign that said his father must drop out of the race or the next letter wouldn't be fake, Garland said.
Daniel Frisiello is a 'prolific letter writer' who regularly sent notes to celebrities and public officials, seeking autographs
Other recipients included Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic U.S. senator from Michigan; Michelle Dauber, a Stanford University law professor who promoted an effort to recall California judge Aaron Persky; and Antonio Sabato Jr., a Republican former underwear model and soap opera actor who's running for Congress in California.
Frisiello also sent menacing letters to law enforcement in New England warning them to drop an investigation into Nathan Carman, a Vermont man accused by relatives of killing his millionaire grandfather and his mother to collect inheritance money, Garland said.
In another letter, he threatened to shoot the assistant district attorney who prosecuted Michelle Carter, a Massachusetts woman who sent her boyfriend dozens of text messages urging him to take his own life, Garland said.
The letter he sent to Donald Trump Jr. included a message that said: 'You are an awful, awful person, I am surprised that your father lets you speak on TV. You make the family idiot, Eric, look smart. This is the reason why people hate you, so you are getting what you deserve. So shut the f*** UP!'
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force descended on a home in Hathaway Avenue, in Beverly, Massachusetts, where Daniel Frisiello lives with his parents
The anglophile (pictured with a British flag bedecked cake) lists claims to work as a program assistant at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Columbia protester calls Jewish donor 'a f***ing Nazi'
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
