Everett Man Sent Explosives, 'Rambling' Notes To Government: FBI

EVERETT, WA - A 43-year-old Everett man known to the FBI and local police sent 11 packages with explosive materials inside to government buildings and military bases in the Washington, D.C., area this week, according to charging documents.

Trahn Cong Phan was arrested Monday night at his home in Everett, according to the FBI, and was charged Tuesday in federal court in Seattle with one count of shipping explosive materials. Phan allegedly sent the packages on March 16, but they arrived at various government buildings - National Defense University at Fort McNair, Fort Belvoir, and mail rooms for the FBI and the White House - on Monday.

According to court documents, Phan sent the packages from a post office in Mill Creek. A postal inspector used surveillance video from the post office to match Phan to the packages, according to court documents.

Inside the packages, FBI bomb techs allegedly found notes with "incoherent ramblings" about mind control and terrorism, plus vials full of explosive powder. The vials had "hobby" fuses inserted into them, and some had GPS devices inside. The FBI was able to detonate at least one of the devices.

According to FBI Special Agent Donald Metcalf, Phan was known to local authorities. He had allegedly sent "hundreds" of strange notes to government officials over the last three years. Phan will be held in detention at least until a detention hearing scheduled for Friday.

Caption: Security personnel close a gate at Fort McNair in 2013 during the trial of Chelsea Manning.

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