Clay County Men in Prison on Destructive Device Charges

Two Clay County men have been sentenced to federal prison on destructive device charges.

37-year-old Aaron B. Flota of Flora was sentenced Wednesday to 63 months in prison and two years' supervised release following his imprisonment. 37-year-old Kevin E. Caldwell of Edgewood was sentenced Tuesday to 37 months in prison and two years' supervised release following his imprisonment.

Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois James Porter said both men previously pleaded guilty to one count in a federal indictment. The indictment charged that on August 10, 2015 in Clay County, Flota and Caldwell knowingly possessed a destructive device, as defined by federal law, that had not been registered to either of them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff's Department conducted the investigation, assisted by the Clay County State's Attorney's Office.