Radiation risksTennessee man pleads guilty to attempting to extort a nuclear contractor

Adam Winters, 26, of Robbins, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty in a $2.5 million extortion case involving Babcock and Wilcox, a managing contractor at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. Accordin to Oak Ridge Today, Winters sent the contractors an e-mail on 8 May, threatening to injure their reputation by publishing roughly 1,200 slides containing evidence from nuclear testing, including the amount of radiation used on animals. Winters added that the slides date back to the 1940s and contained “enough documentation that shows enough evidence where this could win tons and tons of lawsuits if they were to get out,” according to theSmoking Gun. On 23 May, Winters met with undercover officers to exchange the slides for money. Before the exchange, law enforcement officers revealed their identity and arrested Winters.

U.S. Attorney William C. Killian reported in a recent press release that just after Winters e-mailed Babcock and Wilcox, he attempted to e-mail Vice President Joe Biden about the slides. After he sent the e-mail, Winters used the Internet and telephone to communicate with the contractors about his intent to extort.

Winters pleaded guilty last Thursday to transmitting communications containing threats to damage the reputation of Babcock and Wilcox Y-12 LLC in interstate and foreign commerce with the intent to extort money and other valuables from the contractor.

Winters is scheduled for sentencing on 17 November before Judge Pamela L. Reeves in a U.S. District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee. He faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to a year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Winters is the founder of Green Technology Transport, a transporter of pets, livestock, and general goods. He also appeared on Bravo’s “The Millionaire Matchmaker.” Killian notes that the charges are the result of an investigation by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.