David Cassady, a 55-year-old serving a life sentence for various crimes in a Georgia prison, stands accused of constructing two bombs and mailing them to specific locations: a District of Columbia office building and the federal courthouse and building in Anchorage, Alaska. According to prosecutors, Cassady mailed these explosive devices from his prison in Tattnall County on January 24, 2020, as detailed in an indictment from a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Statesboro, Georgia.
One of the bombs was intended for the Bond Building in Washington, D.C., housing the Department of Justice, among other tenants. The indictment asserts Cassady’s intent to maliciously damage or destroy buildings owned or leased by the United States, posing a substantial risk of injury to individuals. Fortunately, neither bomb detonated.
Cassady faces charges including making an unregistered destructive device, mailing two destructive devices, and two counts of attempted malicious use of an explosive. U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg emphasizes the importance of safeguarding personnel and facilities against such threats, pledging action against inmates attempting crimes from within prison.
Federal Justice Center (Credits: Hoodline)
Regarding the four-year gap between the alleged mailing of the bombs and Cassady’s indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment beyond the information contained in the indictment. Details on how Cassady manufactured the bombs, their size, mailing method from prison, and his choice of targets were not disclosed in the charging document.
According to a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Corrections, Cassady manipulated authorized items within the prison to fashion makeshift explosive devices. She appreciates federal collaboration in ensuring justice for Cassady’s actions, which endangered public safety and the smooth functioning of correctional facilities.
Cassady’s criminal history traces back to the late 1980s, with prior convictions including forgery and kidnapping-related charges. His latest prison term began in 1993 for offenses such as kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, impersonation of an officer, and false imprisonment. Records indicate additional convictions in 2019 for offenses including terroristic threats, false statements, gang participation, and conspiracy while incarcerated in Tattnall County.
