Militias: March 2010 | TPMMuckraker

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Militias: March 2010

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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Topics: FBI, Hutaree, Militia Movement, Militia movement, Militias

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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Topics: Barbara McQuade, Hutaree, Militia Movement, Militia movement, Militias

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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Topics: FBI, Hutaree, Militia Movement, Militias, Thomas Piatek

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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Topics: Hutaree, Militia Movement, Militia movement, Militias, Tina Kelley, Tina Stone

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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Topics: Christian, Eric Holder, Hutaree, Joshua Stone, Militia Movement, Militias

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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Topics: Hutaree, Michigan, Militia Movement, Militias, Pale Horse, Right-wing extremism

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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Topics: David Brian Stone, FBI, Hutaree, Michigan, Militia Movement, Militia movement, Militias

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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Topics: Add category, FBI, Hutaree, Michigan, Militia Movement, Militias

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.