Posted on 06/17/2014 3:41:05 AM PDT by rarestia
An FBI manhunt is ongoing for the 55-year-old Valrico man wanted on federal charges of manufacturing illegal weapons.
The search for Martin Winters ranged from Plant City to Lithia on Monday. Officials say Winters, described as "extremeley dangerous" is the subject of an FBI investigation.
There currently is no law enforcement presence in the area.
Agents say Winters was illegally obtaining assault rifles and building pipe bombs.
Federal agents dressed in camouflage gear and holding rifles kept their eyes on an area of woods off Lithia Pinecrest Road Monday evening.
According to authorities, Winters was approached by authorities while in his vehicle just before 9 a.m. Monday on Cheryl Court in Plant City. Officials said Winters got out of his vehicle and ran into a wooded area near Durant High School, which was briefly locked down.
A SWAT team and helicopters were brought in but Winters got away.
Officials said there is an outstanding federal arrest warrant for Winters. According to a federal indictment, Winters is accused of "making destructive devices.”
Investigators said Winter's plan included killing government agents if he or any member of his group were attacked. Winters is described as a Doomsday prepper, and officials said he buried weapons, ammunition and zip-locked food around several of his properties to to prepare for what he called the end of time.
The federal affidavit points out a YouTube video that shows a man they believed to be Winters digging up one of the many 55 gallons barrels on his and other properties near his home.
The federal affidavit goes on to say Winters is part of a group called the River Otter Preppers, and that he had a plan to kill government agents when he needed to. Investigators say he also made statements about creating booby traps at his home in Valrico, then shooting law enforcement officers when they tried to run away.
Winters was indicted in October on four counts of building destructive devices. He has been under government surveillance since then, according to the FBI.
According to officials, Winters told an undercover agent he had 50 AR-15 rifles buried on his property and other properties. The agent also said Winters told him he wanted to burn his house down and then shoot agents as they arrived to the scene.
Winters also said he had at least 40 men that were willing to participate in his "last stand," officials said.
I have church frieds that are about 7 houses away. They couldn’t get out of the neighborhood yesterday because of the Feds. They know the guy and are pretty surprised at all the hubbub.
This day and times it is not wise or prudent to say anything to a "friend of a friend" or to respond in kind to a stranger that appears to be overtly friendly. If you don't believe it, ask Randy Weaver.
When they leaned on Weaver to be an informant, he refused. That's why they went after him.
Not everyone is so steadfast, which is why it doesn't hurt to choose associates very carefully, even if you aren't doing anything wrong--because the rules can change leaving you open to trouble.
Always remember how many people it takes to keep a secret (exactly one).
They now want to make an example of this guy. His life, as he once knew it is now over.
I'm not so sure. There are a host of .54 and .58 black powder rifles out there.
Like the 'Fast and Furious' people???
They are and have been doing it for years. One way, not foolproof but it will keep you out of trouble if you attend one of these groups is to what the guy that “:makes friends” with you says. Your only response should be, “Not interested”.
East of Tampa, East of Brandon. West of State road 60 and Sydney-Dover Road.
A lot of people taken into custody by the FBI die once in custody...could that have made Valrico paranoid to go with them?
"....Those are the ones you avoid conversating with. Just tell them you are not interested. Go no further that that.
They did.
I was raised in Tampa and yes, this doesn’t pass the mell test. Last night, there was a report about his escape and the damage done at his mother’s house in Plant City. Valrico and Lant City are 15 miles apart and this is one guy in the woods? Heck, why not search the whole state.
If they can’t pin it down better than 15 miles, he’s long gone.
“He’s made a laughing stock out of the FBI”
Yes, but the important thing as that their new transgender strike force looks Fabulous!
Wow, that's alot of $$$$$
Honestly, it sounds like something a fed would say. No prepper worth his salt is going to reveal his armament. That’s a nice round number.
It would help if you would put the name of the state in the title. I am assuming Valrico is in CA somewhere, but it could be right next to Timbuktu, for all I know....
+1
Wonderful. This was going to be my retirement bug out location.
“Since the jug eared clown in the WH...”
LOL!
This guy obviously isn’t a Muslim, because if he were he’d be getting a big fat leaving alone and more likely than not a lucrative federal subsidy.
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