Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
A criminal complaint was revealed today, charging Lester Dale Lee, 69, from Oakland, with sending threatening communications to Dayton Elementary School in San Leandro. Lee appeared in federal district court this morning.
The complaint and related documents allege that Lee mailed threatening letters to the school on three occasions in May 2023. Each letter arrived in similar envelopes with typewritten address labels. On May 3, a letter addressed to a teacher contained racial slurs and threats of violence if African American students were not removed from the class. A second letter on May 18 was addressed to the principal and included an unidentified white powder. The third letter on May 19 repeated the threats against African American students and teachers.
Lee had worked as a substitute teacher through a staffing agency at various schools within the San Lorenzo Unified School District during the 2022-2023 school year, including Dayton Elementary School. He was terminated from his position in April 2023 after conflicts with students.
Lee's next court appearance is scheduled for March 28, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Dan Costin announced these developments.
It is important to note that a complaint only alleges crimes have been committed; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted, Lee faces up to five years in prison and a $100 fine per violation under federal law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Mateer is prosecuting the case with help from Amala James. The investigation involved the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and San Leandro Police Department.
