CINCINNATI, OH – A disgruntled inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution has confessed to a bizarre and dangerous campaign of threats against high-ranking federal officials, including the President of the United States. Rodney D. Cydrus, 48, formerly of Chillicothe, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court this week to mailing threatening communications, a case cracked by a joint investigation from the FBI and U.S. Secret Service.
The threats weren’t empty rhetoric. Court documents reveal that between January 2017, Cydrus unleashed a barrage of five letters targeting a wide range of federal targets: the President, federal judges, the FBI, and even the Federal Public Defender’s Office. The letters contained explicit threats to injure these individuals, demonstrating a clear intent to intimidate and instill fear.
But the most disturbing element of Cydrus’s scheme involved a letter sent to the Federal Public Defender’s Office on January 17, 2017. Along with his venomous words, Cydrus included a powdered substance – later identified as his own medication – a clear attempt to create panic and potentially cause harm. This reckless act prompted a full hazardous materials response and further fueled the severity of the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman of the Southern District of Ohio, along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Yvonne DiCristoforo, announced the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. The indictment against Cydrus was initially handed down by a federal grand jury in February 2017, setting the stage for a swift prosecution.
The sentencing phase looms, and Cydrus is now facing a potential maximum of 10 years behind bars for mailing threatening communications. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, who spearheaded the prosecution, praised the collaborative efforts of the FBI and U.S. Secret Service in bringing Cydrus to justice. This case serves as a stark reminder that threats against federal officials will not be tolerated.
While Cydrus was already incarcerated at Lebanon Correctional Institution at the time of the offenses, this guilty plea adds to his existing sentence and demonstrates the seriousness with which the federal government views attacks – both physical and symbolic – against those who serve the public. The investigation remains closed, and authorities are confident that Cydrus’s actions will be met with appropriate consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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