SUNNYVALE, CA – A disturbing case of domestic terrorism by mail has concluded with a sentence of home detention for Xiong, a former resident of Oroville, California. Court documents reveal Xiong engaged in a widespread campaign of fear, sending over 150 letters containing false claims of impending bombings and assassinations across the United States throughout 2017.
The scheme unraveled in August of 2017 when a Sunnyvale company received a letter explicitly threatening a bombing. The Sunnyvale Police Department responded to the scene, investigating the threat before handing the case over to the FBI. It quickly became clear this wasn’t an isolated incident. Investigators discovered Xiong had been systematically mailing these letters, targeting a chillingly broad range of institutions and individuals.
Among the recipients were FBI offices, an airport, a shopping mall, and, most shockingly, both the current and former presidents of the United States. While the U.S. Postal Service managed to intercept a significant number of the letters, enough reached their intended destinations to cause widespread alarm and expend valuable law enforcement resources. The letters detailed fabricated plots, sowing seeds of panic and demanding immediate attention.
Xiong was apprehended on December 22, 2017, and held in custody for approximately 153 days until May 23, 2018. He eventually pleaded guilty on January 3, 2019, admitting to the deliberate creation and dissemination of these false threats. The sentencing reflects the seriousness of the offense, though critics may argue it doesn’t fully account for the widespread fear generated by Xiong’s actions.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, highlighting the multi-agency response required to address threats delivered through the mail. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing.
While Xiong now faces home detention, the case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of threats in the modern age, and the constant vigilance required to protect against individuals who seek to disrupt and terrorize through deception. The Eastern District of California will continue to pursue those who attempt to exploit the postal system to spread fear and chaos.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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