James Bruce Beebe, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Florida 2014

Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara handed down sentences to four individuals connected to the notorious ‘River Otter Preppers’ organization.

The group, led by Martin Winters, was involved in the manufacturing and possession of destructive devices, which led to a lengthy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service.

James Bruce Beebe, a 57-year-old resident of Valrico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court also ordered Beebe to forfeit the firearm involved in the offense. His accomplice, Desiree Nikkole Beebe, a 23-year-old from Lithia, received three years’ probation for making a false written statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the purchase of a firearm – the same .22 caliber rifle that James Beebe later possessed.

Jason Michael Swain, a 33-year-old from Wauchula, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, specifically a Bushmaster .223 caliber AR-15 type semi-automatic rifle. The court also ordered Swain to forfeit the firearm involved in the offense.

Nicholas Ryan Hall, a 23-year-old from Valrico, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for making a false written statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during his purchase of a firearm, an M+M 7.62×39 mm AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, which he was buying on behalf of an individual he believed to be a convicted felon.

The investigation, which began in June 2014, was the result of a tip-off about the group’s activities. The ‘River Otter Preppers’ organization was led by Martin Winters, who pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014, to making destructive devices and possessing unregistered destructive devices. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 4, 2014.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald L. Hansen. The ‘River Otter Preppers’ case is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by groups manufacturing and possessing destructive devices.

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