Fort Smith Times

A Winslow, Arkansas man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for possession of a biological weapon. Jason Kale Clampit, 44, received a 96-month sentence without the possibility of parole. The sentencing was conducted by Judge Timothy L. Brooks at the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.

Court documents reveal that in January 2024, an anonymous tip led the Washington County Sheriff's office to investigate Clampit for allegedly manufacturing ricin and potentially poisoning a family member. The investigation confirmed that Clampit had produced ricin at his home with the intention of using it against trespassers. During production, he accidentally exposed himself to the toxin and became seriously ill.

On January 24, 2025, authorities executed a federal search warrant at Clampit's residence. The Bentonville Bomb Squad and an FBI Bioweapon Specialist team seized items related to ricin processing and suspected byproducts. Clampit was arrested on the same day.

While detained, Clampit made phone calls instructing others to dispose of liquid ricin hidden in a camper on his property. FBI agents intercepted these communications and retrieved a jar containing processed ricin from a trash can.

Clampit was indicted by a Grand Jury in March 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024.

U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes announced the sentencing. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Bentonville Police Department, and Arkansas Department of Corrections Division of Community Correction.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.

Further court documents are accessible through the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.