The Tampa man taken into custody after federal authorities found pipe bombs inside his home is being held at the Pinellas County Jail without bond.
On Monday, Tampa police said they received information that Michael Ramos was in possession of multiple pipe bombs.
Police, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI, conducted an expedited investigation, during which they say they learned Ramos, 24, has expressed anti-government sentiment and acknowledged that he did have pipe bombs.
Agents executed a federal search warrant at his home at 4504 N. Lincoln Ave. N and found seven pipe bombs, an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, large amounts of ammunition and bomb-making materials, officials say.
Ramos was taken into custody and charged with possession of explosive devices.
Authorities say Ramos told them he's a part of a local militia group and that he's unhappy with the government. They say he admitted to making the pipe bombs after buying the materials online.
Ramos told authorities he had them for "preparedness and protective" reasons. They say he also claimed he never intended to harm anyone.
ATF agents say at this point in their investigation that this appears to be an isolated incident, and they do not think anyone else is involved.
Ramos was turned in by Kenneth O'Neill, a friend and business partner.
"It immediately put me in a situation where I either become an accessory and not say anything and get tied in or call somebody and say something,” said O'Neill.
O'Neill said he never had any personal issues with Ramos and considered him a friend but he's also comfortable with his decision to turn him in.
"Love me or hate me I did what I did and I'm on the right side of the law," he said. “It wasn't an attempt to destroy his life. It was doing the right thing."
Ramos is part owner of a company, Patriot Armor, with O'Neill's family.