Winslow, Arkansas – A Winslow man has been sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after being found guilty of Possession of a Biological Agent. Jason Kale Clampit, 44, will serve his sentence without the possibility of parole following a hearing presided over by Judge Timothy L. Brooks in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
Investigation Uncovers Ricin Production and Potential Exposure
The case against Clampit began in January 2024, when a concerned citizen provided an anonymous tip to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, warning that Clampit was manufacturing ricin and may have even poisoned a family member. This tip led to an intensive investigation, which confirmed that Clampit had indeed produced ricin at his residence. He allegedly planned to use the deadly substance as a trap for trespassers on his property.
During the manufacturing process, Clampit accidentally exposed himself to the toxic agent, resulting in a serious illness. Authorities discovered this when they executed a federal search warrant on January 24, 2025. The Bentonville Bomb Squad and an FBI Bioweapon Specialist team were deployed to Clampit’s residence, where they seized several items linked to ricin production, along with suspected ricin byproducts.
Clampit was taken into custody that same day and placed in detention pending trial.
Attempt to Dispose of Ricin While in Custody
While incarcerated, Clampit made statements during a monitored phone call, instructing an associate to dispose of a jar of liquid ricin that he had hidden inside a camper on his property. FBI agents intercepted the call, responded swiftly, and successfully recovered the jar containing processed ricin from a trash can before it could be destroyed.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Following his arrest, a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas indicted Clampit in March 2024. He later pleaded guilty in October 2024 to Possession of a Biological Agent.
On March 2025, U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes announced that Clampit had been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his actions.
The case was jointly investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Bentonville Police Department, and the Arkansas Department of Corrections Division of Community Correction
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts led the prosecution, ensuring that Clampit faced serious legal consequences for his actions.
