Ohio Man Accused of Mailing Death Threats, White Powder to Public Officials.
A man from New Albany, Ohio, is facing a slew of federal charges after allegedly sending a series of disturbing letters and emails to politicians, law enforcement officials, and even a local TV station, many containing white powder, violent threats, and in one case, a bullet with a public official’s name etched into it.
Federal prosecutors say Ronald Lidderdale, 39, launched a months-long campaign of intimidation targeting at least 34 people across the state, including elected officials and individuals connected to Ohio politics.
Lidderdale appeared in federal court in Columbus on Monday, where he was formally charged with a list of offenses including mailing threatening communications, interstate threats, cyberstalking, and making hoax threats involving hazardous materials.
The case paints a chilling picture: at least 65 letters and emails sent to public figures, with 49 of those letters allegedly containing suspicious white powder.
Officials say the powder was sometimes falsely identified as ricin, a deadly toxin. Nearly 30 people received those powder-laced letters.
In one especially unsettling instance, Ronald Lidderdale is accused of mailing a 9mm bullet with the recipient’s last name engraved on the casing, a personalized and menacing touch that prosecutors say was meant to terrorize.
Between July and early August 2024, investigators believe Lidderdale sent out five separate batches of threatening letters, around a dozen total, many of which listed return addresses tied to people who worked for or had worked with the targeted officials.
Each letter, according to court records, included graphic language threatening death or physical harm.
Among the messages were statements like, “I will kill you for your ignorant loyalty to your pedophilic party,” and “I will kill you for the good of The People. Your death will come when you least expect it.”
More recently, federal agents say Ronald Lidderdale sent eight new letters that included a “hit list” of individuals he claimed he intended to kill during the month of May.
He didn’t stop at letters. Prosecutors allege that Lidderdale also emailed various law enforcement agencies, including both federal and local authorities, outlining his plans and repeating his threats.
In one email, he reportedly wrote: “Each [victim] will receive the gift of their names etched onto a single bullet. Their skull is the target — the bullet is the gift.”
On May 8, during an interview with FBI agents, Lidderdale allegedly admitted to sending the threats.
He told investigators that his intention was to instill fear, not just in the individuals he targeted, but in anyone who might see the letters. He said the goal was to make people afraid of being hurt, to change their behavior.
If convicted, Lidderdale could face serious time behind bars. Mailing threatening communications carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The other charges, including making threats across state lines, cyberstalking, and conveying hoaxes, are each punishable by up to five years.
Authorities have not released details about how the letters were traced back to Lidderdale or what prompted the wave of threats. The investigation remains active.
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