In February, FBI agents arrested two Ohio militia members, Ryan D. King, 37, and Randy D. Goodman, 53, after a federal grand jury recommended indicting them on “two counts of possessing unregistered explosives and conspiring to possess a destructive device, a violation of the National Firearms Act.” Both men were members of a small militia group calling themselves the United Sheepdogs of Ohio, although they splintered off and created a “special projects team” that was focused on making illegal explosive devices.
On Friday, August 16, both men pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess unregistered explosive devices and the Department of Justice unsealed their indictments. The evidence included video of the men discussing various bombs they’d built, detonated, or wanted to build.
More details from the Department of Justice:
As part of their pleas, the defendants admitted they conspired to possess destructive devices in violation of the National Firearms Act, specifically, bombs and parts necessary to make pipe bombs.
In January 2019, King and Goodman tested their “crater makers” at Goodman’s home in Ripley, Ohio. They discussed construction and ignition methods in detail. Goodman referenced the Boston Marathon as an example of a remote detonation system that worked.
They discussed which methods would be most lethal, including constructing their explosive devices out of metal pipes instead of PVC.
WCPO in Cincinnati has even more detail, including their desire to make car bombs:
During a Christmas party at King's home last December, King and Goodman allegedly discussed where to place a car bomb for a bigger impact.
"This could go under a front seat of a car very easily, engine of a car, wired into the breaking," King told Goodman, according to the indictment.
"I like that," Goodman said. "That's the method I like."
The pair pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and now face a maximum of five years in prison. Sentencing is in February 2020.
A former member of the group said he was surprised when the duo began discussing more than standard “prepper” talk. From Fox 19:
“I wanted protection for my family and community, food and shelter and stuff like that if the electric grid went down or something, you know, have canned food, bottled water, stuff that your family can survive on," he said.
He said he left when he felt like the group was going in a different direction.
“Next thing you know, they’re wanting to buy steel plates and combat gear and all this," he says.
He said he was shocked to hear about the arrests.
“Caught me off guard," he says. "I was like, man -- I’m glad, I am so glad that I split up with them back when I did.”
We should all be glad the FBI and the DOJ took action before these men had a chance to test their “special projects” on an unsuspecting public.