MCALLEN, Texas — The leader of a border militia group who was arrested earlier this week on federal weapons charges had a suspected explosive device in his room, court records obtained by Breitbart Texas show. Federal agents arrested Kevin “KC” Massey earlier this week at a local motel in the border city of Brownsville.

When agents searched his room they discovered an ammunition can filled with ammonium nitrate and fuel, an inventory of the items seized by agents with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives show. Agents also seized an AK-47 with six loaded magazines, a loaded handgun and various other items including camera and computer equipment.

Ammonium nitrate is commonly sold in stores as a fertilizer, however when mixed with other chemicals it creates a powerful explosive device. A much larger bomb based off ammonium nitrate is what Oklahoma terrorist Timothy McVeigh used to bring down the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995.

The militia group had set up shop in a private farm in Brownsville looking to scare off drug traffickers and illegal aliens, however the group has been highly criticized by local media and has had other run ins with law enforcement.

The raid at Massey’s room comes after an investigation of an incident in August when another member of the militia named John Forrester was carrying an AK-47 when bumped into a U.S. Border Patrol agent who confused him for a cartel gunman and fired at him. While Forrester previously spoke with Breitbart Texas and gave his version of the event where he claims he never pointed a weapon at the agent, court records show the agent claimed to have fired after Forrester pointed the weapon at him.

Both Massey and Forrester were arrested this week and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after federal agents discover d that both men had prior felony convictions and could not own the weapons that they had during the shooting incident. 

Massey is expected to be in court later this week for a detention hearing while Forrester is expected back in court next week. Both Massey and Forrester have requested court appointed attorneys claiming they don’t have the funds to pay for one. 

Follow Ildefonso Ortiz on Twitter @ildefonsoortiz