Hutaree

Feds Calls Hutaree Trial Outcome 'Disappointing'

Ryan J. Reilly | March 29, 2012, 12:45PM

The larger conspiracy case against members of a Christian militia has fallen apart, but the feds still got guilty pleas on Thursday on charges the Hutaree's leader and his 23-year-old son possessed illegal machine guns.

David Stone, Sr. and Joshua Stone "admitted that they possessed machine guns, specifically a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle and a Double Star Corp. .223 caliber rifle, respectively, knowing that the firearms would shoot, and were designed to shoot, automatically more than one shot ,without manual reloading, by a single function of then trigger," according to a Justice Department press release.

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Hutaree

Extremist Groups Still A Threat Despite Botched Hutaree Case, Says Militia Expert

Ryan J. Reilly | March 28, 2012, 1:00PM

Members of the Michigan militia Hutaree (clockwise from top-left): David Stone, Sr., Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr., Jacob Ward, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, Kristopher Sickles and Thomas Piatek

When the FBI wanted to highlight its work against extremist milita movements in September, they singled out their case against members of the Michigan-based Christian group known as the Hutaree as an "example of the dangers posed by so-called militia extremists."

In the largest and highest profile bust of an extremist milita group in recent memory, nine members of the Hutaree were arrested in March 2010 and accused of being involved in a conspiracy to kill cops and start a battle with federal authorities. But on Tuesday, the four year ordeal came to a dramatic end when the vast majority of the case was tossed out. So how does fact that a judge tossed the conspiracy charges against members of the Hutaree reflect on the FBI's larger battle against extremist militias?

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Hutaree

Judge Tosses Conspiracy Charges In Hutaree Militia Case

Ryan J. Reilly | March 27, 2012, 3:00PM

In a major blow to the federal case against members of the extremist Hutaree militia, a federal judge has thrown out conspiracy charges against all of the members, leaving five members of the group off the hook completely.

Two defendants -- accused ringleader David Stone Sr. and his son Joshua Stone, are still facing weapons charges, the Detroit Free Press reports. Nine members had originally been charged in a conspiracy to attack police and start a battle with federal authorities.

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Hutaree

Hutaree Defense Lawyers Argue Militia Was Just A 'Social Club'

Jillian Rayfield | February 14, 2012, 11:06AM

Opening arguments commenced this week in the trial of the seven members of the Hutaree Militia in Michigan, who are accused of plotting to kill police officers, but who defense attorneys argue were more of a "social club" than a serious threat.

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Militias

Members Of Christian Paramilitary 'Savior Unit' Charged For Home Invasion

Jillian Rayfield | December 9, 2011, 2:17PM

Michael Schaffran and Cody Jacob Rogers, arrested after Gautier home invasion.

Two members of a Christian paramilitary group called "The Savior Unit" were charged with kidnapping and burglary for allegedly conducting a home invasion while clad in ski-masks, military garb and bullet-proof vests.

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Hutaree

Hutaree Militia Member Pleads Guilty To Weapons Charge

Jillian Rayfield | December 6, 2011, 12:25PM

Joshua Clough, also known as "Azzurlin," "Az" and "Mouse," pleaded guilty to a weapons charge Monday, in the first plea deal in the case of Michigan's Hutaree Militia.

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Militia movement

Mugshots Of The Senior Citizen Militia Members Charged In Attack Plot

Ryan J. Reilly | November 30, 2011, 6:56PM

Mugshots of Ray H. Adams, Samuel J. Crump, Emory Dan Roberts, and Frederick Thomas

Meet 65-year-old Ray Adams, 68-year-old Samuel Crump, 67-year-old Dan Roberts and 73-year-old Frederick Thomas. They're the four senior citizen militia members from Georgia the feds say plotted an attack on federal workers, former Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Attorney General Eric Holder.

TPM obtained their mugshots, taken by the U.S. Marshals Service after their arrests, through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

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Schaeffer Cox

Militia Leader Cox Says FBI Source Pushed Attack, 'Fanned The Flames Of Government Overthrow'

Ryan J. Reilly | November 17, 2011, 6:05AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francis "Schaeffer" Cox

An Alaska militia leader accused in a plot against the government is accusing an FBI cooperating witness of "pushing and pushing" him to mobilize against the government and fanning the flames of government overthrow.

Francis "Schaeffer" Cox recalls in an affidavit filed in federal court on Tuesday that he (accompanied by Jeremy Baker and Les Zerbe) met with gun dealer Bill Fulton in Fairbanks in August 2010. Cox says Fulton was in town to participate in a fundraiser for the Interior Conservative Coalition that was being held at Far North Tactical, which is owned by Fulton "protege" Aaron Bennett.

Fulton is one of the FBI's confidential informants in the case. You may remember him as part of Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller's security detail, who handcuffed and detained Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger for trying to question and videotape Miller.

Cox's attorney Nelson Traverso wrote in a motion to dismiss the indictment that Fulton's "complete role has yet to be disclosed."

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Frederick Thomas

Feds: Senior Citizen Militia Members Targeted Holder, McKinney

Ryan J. Reilly | November 10, 2011, 6:03AM

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that four elderly militia members charged in a plot against citizens and federal employees were targeting Attorney General Eric Holder and former Rep. Cynthia McKinney as potential assassination targets.

Holder and McKinney's names were included on a hit list compiled by 73-year-old Frederick Thomas, federal prosecutors said at a bond hearing. Authorities also said Thomas had stockpiled 52 guns and 30,000 rounds of ammunition in his Georgia home. All four suspects pleaded not guilty.

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Militia movement

Fringe Militia Member Accused In Ricin Plot Called Right-Wing Blogger's Novel 'Far From Fantasy'

Ryan J. Reilly | November 4, 2011, 6:00AM

One of the elderly 'fringe militia' members arrested on Tuesday for allegedly plotting a ricin attack against U.S. citizens and federal employees was a frequent commenter on a right-wing blog and thought a novel written by the blogger that allegedly inspired his plot was likely to come true.

Former Alabama militia member turned "Sipsey Street Irregulars" blogger Mike Vanderboegh said in a post that he never corresponded with 73-year-old Frederick Thomas, the man the feds considered the ringleader of the group. But he did say he believed "Ahab" was Thomas' screen name that he used to leave comments on the website.

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Joshua Clough

First Defendant To Plead Guilty In Hutaree Militia Plot

Ryan J. Reilly | November 2, 2011, 3:55PM

Joshua Clough, one of nine members of the Hutaree militia in Michigan arrested by federal authorities in the spring of 2010, will be the first militia member to plead guilty.

Clough -- also known as "Mouse" -- has a plea hearing scheduled for Nov. 8, according to a court notification first reported by the Detroit Free Press. The details of his guilty plea weren't clear and his lawyer did not immediately respond to TPM's request for comment.

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Militia Movement

Meet The Senior Citizen Militia Members Arrested In Georgia Bio Attack Plot

Ryan J. Reilly | November 2, 2011, 1:20PM

Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested four Georgia senior citizens for allegedly plotting to attack U.S. citizens and government officials with the deadly toxin ricin. Lets meet the players.

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Georgia

Feds: Four Members Of Georgia 'Fringe Militia Group' Plotted Biological Attack On Citizens, Government Officials

Ryan J. Reilly | November 2, 2011, 6:30AM

Four Georgia men who belonged to a "fringe militia group" were arrested by FBI agents on Tuesday and charged with plotting an attack against U.S. citizens and federal employees using the biological toxin ricin.

Authorities say 73-year-old Frederick Thomas of Cleveland; 67-year-old Dan Roberts; 65-year-old Ray H. Adams; and 68-year-old Samuel J. Crump, all of Toccoa, Ga. began meeting in March 2011 as part of a covert group that called itself, well, the "covert group."

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Hutaree

FBI Expanding Interaction With Local Agencies To Combat Militia Extremists

Ryan J. Reilly | September 22, 2011, 2:35PM

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has expanded their interaction with other federal and state agencies to combat militia extremists, the bureau said in a blog post this week.

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Militia Movement

Manhunt For Former Montana Militia Leader Following Shooting

Jillian Rayfield | June 13, 2011, 10:50AM

Armed militia man on the run in Montana

Police are still searching for the former leader of the anti-government "Project 7" militia after he allegedly opened fire on authorities Sunday and led them in a car chase.

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Montana

Montana Bill Would Create Armed State Militia Force

Jillian Rayfield | February 8, 2011, 10:58AM

A Montana Republican has introduced a bill that would create a volunteer armed militia called a "home guard," that would answer directly to the governor or local sheriffs during emergencies.

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Guns

'Gun Ban Obama?' Not So Much, Say Gun Control Advocates

Ryan J. Reilly | October 12, 2010, 9:18AM

President Barack Obama and ATF agents

To hear some gun rights activists tell it, President Barack Obama wants to take away your guns and, any minute now, jack-booted federal agents could knock on your front door to collect them.

Such predictions started during the 2008 campaign. "Obama would be the most anti-gun President in American history," screamed a banner at the National Rifle Association's GunBanObama.com. It got so bad that Obama even had to reassure voters he wouldn't take away their guns. Even after the election, gun sales boomed.

You'd expect a President so opposed by many gun rights groups to get high praise from gun control advocates since he took office. But advocates like those from the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence are far from satisfied with the progress on gun control being made in this administration.

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Hutaree

Appeals Court: Hutaree Must Stay Behind Bars

Justin Elliott | June 23, 2010, 2:54PM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

Overturning the ruling of a lower court, a federal appeals court Tuesday ruled that five members of the Hutaree militia, who are accused of plotting to kill police, are a potential danger to the community and cannot be released on bail pending trial.

In May, a U.S District Court judge in Michigan ruled that the Hutaree members were not a flight risk and did not present a threat to the community.

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Hutaree

Judge Rules Charged Hutaree Members Can Be Released Until Trial

Ben Frumin | May 3, 2010, 12:05PM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

Nine members of the Hutaree militia group accused of plotting against the government can be released until their trial.

The nine members of the Christian militia group were indicted in March on multiple charges involving an alleged plot to attack police, including seditious conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

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Hutaree

Hutaree Leader On Police: We Can 'Burn Their House Down'

Justin Elliott | April 30, 2010, 10:19AM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

Prosecutors seeking to keep the Hutaree locked up without bail Thursday released secretly recorded tapes of the militia members discussing attacks on police, the Detroit News reports.

Hutaree leader David Stone is heard on the tapes, recorded by an undercover FBI agent in February, talking about local police as an appealing target.

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Hutaree

Judge Questions Holding All Nine Defendants In Hutaree Trial

Eric Lach | April 29, 2010, 11:09AM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

At a bond appeal hearing for members of the Hutaree militia on Wednesday, a federal judge questioned prosecutors about the evidence being used to justify holding all nine defendants until trial, according to a report in The Detroit News.

U.S. District Judge Victoria A. Roberts said that the seditious conspiracy charge requires proof of "imminent lawless action ... against the United States."

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Hutaree

Undercover FBI Agent Posed As Hutaree's Bombmaker

Justin Elliott | April 13, 2010, 12:08PM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

The FBI decided to infiltrate the Hutaree Christian militia after becoming alarmed by the group allegedly detonating bombs in the woods in rural Michigan, NPR reports in a long investigation of the group.

We already knew that the FBI had an undercover agent in the group, one who even recorded its alleged leader preaching against the New World Order.

Nine members of the militia are charged in an alleged plot to kill police. One of the specific counts is attempted use of weapons of mass destruction for an alleged plan to use IEDs during a police funeral.

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Hutaree

Feds: Guns, Crack, Steroids, Hitler Book Found At Hutaree Homes

Justin Elliott | April 12, 2010, 3:05PM

Kristopher Sickles

Prosecutors allege that a dizzying array of drugs, weapons and even a collection of speeches by Adolf Hitler were found at the homes of several of the alleged members of the Hutaree Christian militia.

The AP got a look at the search warrant records in the case, in which prosecutors allege that nine Hutaree members were plotting to kill police. At the trailer of Hutaree leader David Stone, three DVDs labeled "Waco," a grenade holder, over 35 guns, and materials for a "funnel shape charge" were allegedly found.

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Hutaree

Hutaree Member To Stepmom: I Don't Need A Job -- I Already Have One Prepping For 'The War'

Justin Elliott | April 12, 2010, 9:23AM

Tina Stone and Joshua Stone

Still more details are emerging in court filings about the Hutaree Christian militia, and unlike last week's revelation that police were in a dramatic armed standoff with member Josh Stone, 21, the latest filing offers almost sitcom-like details of the inner workings of the group.

In a filing arguing against bond for Tina Stone, the woman who married alleged Hutaree leader David Stone late last year in a heavily-armed ceremony, prosecutors allege that Tina Stone and Josh Stone -- David's son from a previous relationship -- once got into an argument after Tina submitted a job application on his behalf.

The argument arose, naturally, during an alleged discussion "about building destructive devices for the Hutaree." The filing alleges:

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Hutaree

Prosecutors: Hutaree Member Engaged In Dramatic Armed Standoff With Police

Justin Elliott | April 9, 2010, 6:14PM

Joshua Stone

One of the nine members of the Hutaree Christian militia prepared for a violent showdown with police -- to the point that he "secreted weapons" around the rural Michigan home where he was holed up late last month -- before finally surrendering after a daylong standoff, prosecutors allege in a new court filing.

The new allegations regarding Joshua Stone -- the 21-year-old son of alleged Hutaree leader David Stone -- come in a filing by the government arguing against bail for Stone. The government's account reveals that heavily armed police surrounded a property in rural Hillsdale County for an entire day before Stone and other unidentified associates -- all allegedly armed -- finally surrendered.

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Hutaree

Report: Hutaree Created Map Of Country With Locations Named After Themselves

Justin Elliott | April 7, 2010, 9:09AM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

The ex-fiance of the leader of the Hutaree Christian militia tells the AP that the group harbored delusions of grandeur to the point that they created "a big map on a room in their house of their own country and their own names of their countries and cities and stuff."

Andrea Harsh, who was engaged to alleged Hutaree leader David Stone, described the map as "very extensive."

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Rex Rammell

Idaho GOP Gov Hopeful: I'm OK With Militias Showing 'A Little Force' (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | April 2, 2010, 11:18AM

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell of Idaho

Via Suzy Khimm at Mother Jones: A longshot Republican gubernatorial candidate in Idaho says in a new interview that he has no problem with militias showing "a little force behind the scenes."

ABC's Nightline caught up with Rex Rammell at a training session of the North Idaho Lightfoot Militia. Rammell, who last made national headlines in August when he joked about buying tags to hunt President Obama, is seen in the ABC segment firing a large scoped semi-automatic rifle.

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Kristopher Sickles

Charged Hutaree Member: I'm No Extremist

Justin Elliott | April 2, 2010, 9:41AM

Kristopher Sickles

Kristopher Sickles, one of the alleged Hutaree militiamen accused in a plot to kill police and the creator of a series of colorful YouTube videos, insists in a statement released by his brother that he is "not an extremist, racist or a cop killer."

"My intentions were good and I am simply guilty by association and personally had no intentions of harming any person, member of law enforcement or the United States government," said Sickles, of Sandusky, Ohio, according to the Dayton Daily News."I would never blindly follow or assist a group who obviously had a different agenda than my own," he said.

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Hutaree

Prosecutors: 46 Guns Found In Home Of Alleged Hutaree Member

Justin Elliott | April 1, 2010, 9:18AM

Members of the Hutaree militia: Joshua Stone, Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr. (left-right, top row); Michael Meeks, David Stone, Sr., Joshua Clough (second row); Kristopher Sickles, Jacob Ward, Thomas Piatek (bottom row).

FBI agents found 46 guns and 13,000 rounds of ammunition in the Indiana home of one of the nine alleged members of the Hutaree Christian militia, prosecutors said at a hearing Wednesday.

That man, Thomas Piatek, was ordered held without bond and will face charges with the other charged Hutaree members in Detroit.

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Militias

FBI Deems Risk Of Militia Violence 'Low'

Justin Elliott | March 31, 2010, 2:34PM

Police in Wheatland Township, Michigan, during the Hutaree raid

In a bulletin distributed to police departments and obtained by the AP, the FBI concludes that in the wake of the arrests of members of the Hutaree militia "the likelihood of violent conflict from the remaining group members or other militia extremists" is "low."

The FBI has seen an increase in "chatter" from militias and other extremist groups. But the fact that the arrests of the nine Hutaree members -- charged in an alleged plot to kill police -- went smoothly eased authorities' concerns of any blowback, according to the AP.

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Hutaree

Prosecutor: Some Militias Are Fine, But Hutaree 'Crossed The Line'

Justin Elliott | March 31, 2010, 9:56AM

Members of the Michigan militia Hutaree (clockwise from top-left): David Stone, Sr., Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr., Jacob Ward, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, Kristopher Sickles and Thomas Piatek

The federal prosecutor who brought charges against members of the Hutaree Christian militia tells CNN that authorities are fine with "peaceful" militias in Michigan, but Hutaree "really crossed the line."

"They advocated that government was their enemy and that federal, state and local police officers were their foot soldiers and they refer to them as 'The Brotherhood,'" said Barbara McQuade, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Michigan, in an interview with CNN.

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Hutaree

Undercover FBI Agent Helped In Sting Of Hutaree Militia

Justin Elliott | March 30, 2010, 6:20PM

Thomas Piatek

A nice catch from the Wall Street Journal: A court document in the Hutaree case appears to have inadvertently revealed that an undercover FBI agent was involved in bringing down the Christian militia group.

The indictments of the nine Hutaree members -- charged in an alleged plot to kill police -- show up in a court record database on March 23. But the indictments were still sealed at the time. The Feds didn't make arrests until this past weekend.

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Hutaree

For Hutaree, Militia Ethos Extended To Family Life

Justin Elliott | March 30, 2010, 12:50PM

A photo from the Facebook page of Tina Kelley

For the leading family of Hutaree, the armed Christian group in Michigan accused of plotting to kill police, membership in the militia went beyond paramilitary training sessions and into something resembling a full-blown lifestyle choice.

In recent wedding pictures posted on Facebook, several Hutaree members who are now in custody are shown posing in front of the militia flag with assault rifles.

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Militias

Ninth Charged Militia Member Surrenders

Justin Elliott | March 30, 2010, 8:43AM

Joshua Stone

Joshua Stone, the son of the leader of the Christian militia Hutaree who was the ninth person charged in an alleged plot to kill police, has surrendered and will appear in court today, the AP reports.

Stone was previously described as a fugitive.

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Hutaree

'Our Country Is In Peril': Accused Hutaree Member Appears To Have Posted Videos Calling For Armed Marches On Washington

Zachary Roth | March 29, 2010, 11:31AM

A scene from a video on the Hutaree Youtube account

In October 2008 -- in the midst of the financial crisis, and as it appeared increasingly likely that Barack Obama would be elected president -- a man with a balaclava over his face, dressed in combat fatigues and holding an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, posted a video on YouTube. Using the alias Pale Horse and describing himself as a member of the Ohio Militia, the man warned: "Things are bad. Things are real bad, and it's going to be a lot worse--our country is in peril," before encouraging viewers to arm themselves. The video, billed as a "wake-up call" for America, was viewed more than 70,000 times before being removed last spring.

Today, Kristopher Sickles -- aka "Pale Horse" -- was one of the nine people charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with an alleged plot to kill law enforcement officers, and to "oppose by force the authority of the U.S. government," as part of a Christian militia group known as the Hutaree, based primarily in Michigan.

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Hutaree

Nine Christian Militia Members Charged With Seditious Conspiracy, Attempted Use Of WMD

Justin Elliott | March 29, 2010, 10:04AM

Members of the Michigan militia Hutaree (clockwise from top-left): David Stone, Sr., Tina Stone, David Stone, Jr., Jacob Ward, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, Kristopher Sickles and Thomas Piatek

Nine members of the Christian militia group Hutaree have been indicted on multiple charges involving an alleged plot to attack police, including seditious conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. Attorney in Michigan announced this morning.

"Six Michigan residents, along with two residents of Ohio and a resident of Indiana, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence," according to the government's press release, which you can read in full below.

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Hutaree

Michigan Christian Militia Raided By Feds Was Preparing To Battle Antichrist (VIDEO)

Justin Elliott | March 29, 2010, 9:10AM

A scene from a video on the Hutaree Youtube account

Hutaree, the Christian militia in southeast Michigan reportedly raided by the FBI Sunday, was preparing to battle the Antichrist because "Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment," according to its Web site.

A Joint Terrorism Task Force, led by the FBI, arrested at least seven people in three states as part of the raids on the Adrian, Michigan-based group, the Detroit News reported.

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Larry Deen

'Operation Exodus': Louisiana Sheriff Taps Locals For Emergency Security Plan

Zachary Roth | March 3, 2010, 5:55PM

A training session for "Operation Exodus" volunteers

A Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," as part of "Operation Exodus," a program to provide security in the event of a terrorist attack or civic unrest. "It's a calling," he says.

The office of Sheriff Larry Deen of Bossier Parish, near Shreveport in the northwest part of the state, last month selected for the program 200 local residents -- mostly ex-law-enforcement personnel -- and began training them in "defensive techniques in the event of a struggle," reports the Shreveport Times. The plan calls for the new recruits to be sent to protect food from grocery stores, gas from gas stations, and other crucial local resources, should the situation demand it.

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