Martin Howard Winters, Destructive Devices, Florida 2014

A sinister plot to create and possess destructive devices in the Tampa area has been brought to a close as Martin Howard Winters, the leader of the River Otter Preppers, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

According to court documents, Winters, a 55-year-old resident of Valrico, designed and directed the manufacturing of these devices, which included booby traps operated with a tripwire that project pellets from a 12-gauge shotgun shell. His co-defendant, Michael Keith Bonta, was also involved in the production of these devices.

Bonta, also a Valrico resident, admitted to having made approximately 20 of these devices for Winters. He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty on September 2, 2014.

Winters, who pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014, will serve 30 months in prison for manufacturing and possessing destructive devices. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service.

The evidence presented in court revealed that Winters and Bonta worked together to create these devices, with Winters providing the design and Bonta manufacturing them according to his specifications. This sinister plot has been brought to an end, and justice has been served.

This case serves as a reminder of the dangers of creating and possessing destructive devices, and the severe consequences that come with such actions. The community can rest assured that law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such crimes from occurring.

The investigation and prosecution of this case were led by Assistant United States Attorney Donald L. Hansen. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service also played a crucial role in bringing this case to a close.

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