Sayoc claims to be affiliated with the Seminoles, but the tribe disavows any connection

From the pro-Trump stickers on his white van to the profile information on his Twitter account, Cesar Sayoc, the Aventura man arrested Friday for allegedly mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democrats, trumpets his affiliation to the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

“Native Americans for Trump” reads one sticker with a flag of the Seminole Tribe of Florida posted on the white passenger van that police towed from the Auto Zone in Plantation where Sayoc, 56, was arrested.

“Current Booking Agent/Sales/Marketing/Promotions/Project Mgr Live Events Seminole Hard Rock Live,” reads one of at least two Twitter profiles associated with Sayoc.

“Seminole Indians: An Unconquered Tribe,” reads a slide-show frame posted on Oct. 12 to a Twitter account, @hardrock2016, that appears to belong to Sayoc and includes a photo the 56-year-old man holding up a sign of the American flag, with the lettering, “Welcome President Trump”.

But the Seminole Tribe strongly denies that Sayoc has ever been a member of the prominent Native American group, which operates casinos and entertainment venues throughout Florida, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood.

Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner, alluding to the many social media profiles that appear to be associated with Sayoc, flatly rejected the assertion that Sayoc is in any way affiliated with the tribe.

“We can find no evidence that Cesar Altieri, Caesar Altieri, Caesar Altieri Sayoc, Ceasar Altieri Randazzo (Facebook) or Julus Cesar Milan (Twitter) is or was a member or employee of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, or is or was an employee of Seminole Gaming or Hard Rock International,” Bitner said in an email. “At this time, we cannot verify if he is or was an employee of a vendor company.”

Sayoc, who claims to be a former professional soccer player, wrestler and cage fighter in a Twitter account profile, has lived in South Florida for decades, according to court filings, property records and other documents.

He was born in Brooklyn in 1962, the son of a Filipino immigrant, and attended North Miami Beach High School, according to information from ancestry.com, the genealogy company that tests the DNA of customers to reveal the ancestral roots.

Sayoc has a lengthy criminal history in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — including a 2002 charge of threatening to throw a bomb, battery, possession and selling of a muscle-building steroid, and shoplifting — graduated from North Miami Beach High in 1980, according to year book photos. While in high school, he belonged to the Catholic club.

It’s not clear what Sayoc did after high school. But in a letter filed on Sayoc’s behalf in a 2013 Broward County criminal case in which he was charged with grand theft and battery, Sayoc appears to have been managing a road show for a male strip dancing company based out of Ohio.

Tony Valentine, owner of Valentine Productions, wrote a letter the court on Sayoc’s behalf in September 2014, stating that Sayoc is “a vital part of managing and overseeing my road productions and revenue from club venues.”

Reached by telephone on Friday, Valentine first said he declined comment, then expressed regret over writing the letter.

“I met him a million year ago and he got caught stealing and wanted me to write a letter to the judge down in Florida,” Valentine said. “I never should have done that. I’ve gotten 500 phone calls today. This sh-t gets in the paper and it’s going to make it look like I know this guy.”