Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Christopher Gilberto, age 47, and his wife, Cruz de la Jesus Gilberto, age 40, both of York, South Carolina, were sentenced today in federal court in Columbia for conspiracy to mail destructive devices and threat letters, and for using unauthorized identification information as part of the scheme. United States District Judge Joseph Anderson of sentenced Mr. Gilberto to 105 months in federal prison, and Mrs. Gilberto to 66 months.

Between February 2005 and May 2007, the Gilbertos mailed or delivered homemade destructive devices to a Rock Hill restaurant, bank, and residence, and a bank in Fort Mill. The devices consisted of explosive flash powder and bomb-making components, such as wire, fuses, and digital timers, however, the devices failed to explode when opened by the recipients. During the same period, the Gilbertos also sent two letters warning of future bombs, including one sent to the FBI which warned that a bomb would be detonated at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in March 2007.

The return addresses on these packages and letters contained the names of different individuals with whom the Gilbertos had disputes, and they stated in court that their intent was not to hurt anyone, but rather to harass those they had named as sending the destructive devices and threat letters.

Agents interviewed the individuals named as the senders of the packages and were able to determine that each had recently experienced some disagreement with Mrs. Gilberto. A search of the Gilberto residence revealed materials identical to the components found in the mailed destructive devices.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FBI, the United States Postal Inspector, the Rock Hill bomb Squad, the Fort Mill Police Department, the York Police Department, and the York County Sheriff’s Office. First Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald and Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office handled the case.