A transgender inmate successfully constructed and mailed explosive devices from inside a Georgia state prison to federal buildings, exposing catastrophic security failures that could have resulted in mass casualties at the Department of Justice and a federal courthouse.
Story Highlights
- David Dwayne Cassady sentenced to 80 years for mailing bombs from Tattnall County prison to DOJ and Alaska federal courthouse
- Explosive devices were successfully constructed using materials available within the correctional facility
- Federal law enforcement intercepted both packages before they reached their intended targets
- Case exposes serious gaps in prison security protocols and inmate mail screening procedures
Prison Security Breakdown Enables Domestic Terror Plot
David Dwayne Cassady, a 57-year-old transgender inmate serving time at Tattnall County state prison, received an 80-year federal sentence in September 2025 for constructing and mailing two explosive devices to high-profile federal targets in 2020. The Georgia Department of Corrections failed to prevent an incarcerated individual from accessing bomb-making materials and successfully delivering deadly packages through the U.S. mail system. This represents a fundamental breakdown in correctional security that endangered federal employees and exposed vulnerabilities in our justice system.
Federal Institutions Targeted in Coordinated Attack
Cassady deliberately targeted two critical federal facilities: the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a federal courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska. The selection of these high-profile government buildings demonstrates clear intent to attack the federal justice system and potentially harm countless federal employees and civilians. Only swift intervention by the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service prevented what could have been devastating attacks on American institutions.
Systemic Failures Enabled Prison-Based Terrorism
The successful construction of explosive devices within a supposedly secure correctional facility raises serious questions about prison oversight and security protocols. Cassady’s ability to obtain bomb-making materials, assemble functional explosive devices, and mail them to federal targets while under state custody represents multiple layers of institutional failure. Defense attorneys cited prison conditions and alleged abuse as motivating factors, but this cannot excuse targeting federal buildings with deadly weapons.
Justice System Responds with Maximum Deterrent
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling emphasized the severe danger posed by Cassady’s actions and the critical importance of protecting public safety and mail system integrity. The consecutive 40-year sentences totaling 80 years reflect the gravity of attempting to use explosive devices against federal institutions. This case serves as a stark reminder that even incarcerated individuals can pose significant threats to national security when proper safeguards fail.
Trans Georgia inmate who made bombs and mailed them to DOJ gets 80-year sentence https://t.co/eq9KkyGgFs
— ConservativeLibrarian (@ConserLibrarian) September 23, 2025
The conviction and sentencing conclude a five-year investigation that began when federal authorities intercepted the packages before they could reach their intended targets. Cassady will serve the federal sentence consecutive to any existing state sentence, with five years of supervised release to follow. This case demands immediate review of prison security protocols nationwide to prevent similar attacks on American institutions.
Sources:
Georgia inmate sentenced for creating and mailing bombs in prison
Corrections1 – Arrests and Sentencing
Three Georgia residents sentenced for conspiring to smuggle meth into SC federal prison
