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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
National
Terence Cullen

Massachusetts man arrested for sending suspicious powder, threats to Donald Trump Jr. and other public figures

A Massachusetts man was arrested for mailing the suspicious powder to Donald Trump Jr. last month _ and even shared an article about the scare that day.

Daniel Frisiello, 24, mailed similar powder-filled hate letters to four other public figures who targeted sexual predators, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

Police reportedly raided the Beverly, Mass., home where Frisiello lives with his family Thursday morning, and he's been charged with 10 counts of mail fraud and false information.

He's also accused of mailing threats to law professors, prosecutors, actor Anthony Sabato Jr., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in greeting card envelopes tagged with American flag stamps.

"Beyond terrifying the victims, these incidents caused law enforcement agencies around the country to spend time and money deploying emergency response units," U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said in a statement.

He mailed the threatening note to the E. 54th Street home of Trump Jr.'s mother-in-law, where his wife, Vanessa, opened it on Feb. 12.

"You're an awful, awful person, I am surprised that your father lets you speak on TV," read the note addressed to Trump Jr., according to the 22-page complaint.

"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."

Police rushed to the Manhattan home once Vanessa Trump discovered the suspicious powder inside.

She was briefly hospitalized as a precaution, and the powder turned out to likely be cornstarch.

A news article about the white powder was shared on a Facebook page believed to be Frisiello's on Feb. 12.

None of the substances turned out to be harmful, prosecutors said.

He targeted Nicola Hanna, an interim U.S. attorney in California, whom he blamed for the suicide of former "Glee" actor Mark Salling, who was indicted on child pornography charges, the indictment said.

"That's for murdering Mark Salling! I Hope you end up the same place as Salling," he wrote to Hanna.

He also threatened Stabenow for cheering on Randy Margraves, who tried to attack disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar for molesting his three daughters.

"If you condone Margraves reaction to his daughter's testimony on Dr. Nassar, you are no better than he is," he wrote the three-term senator. "You deserve what is coming to you like he is thinking you're a c--- version of a vigilante, do us a favor go suck a c--- or better yet."

He also threatened a Stanford University professor critical of the judge who sentenced disgraced school athlete Brock Turner to be confined for six months for rape.

Frisiello also suggested he'd rape the professor and mailed her a so-called "glitter bomb."

Investigators found Frisiello used ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com, and tried to send glitter-filled messages to undisclosed members of President Donald Trump's family, the court documents claim.

The company's owner told investigators the prank messages weren't sent because they had "inappropriate and/or threatening" messages attached.

They also tracked down several payments he used to send the missives, including CVS transactions for stamps and greeting cards.

They also found his Facebook, where he expressed far-left views that criticized GOP leaders.

He sent a fifth to "General Hospital" actor Sabato Jr., who's running for Congress in California as a Republican.

Frisiello is charged with mailing a threatening letter to the soap opera for suggesting President Barack Obama is Muslim, and accused Sabato Jr. of being Jewish.

"You and McCain Jr belong together in hell, because that is where you're going not Christian heaven," he's accused of writing.

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