Conservative Extremists Plan Terrorism to 'Protect Constitution'

By Bill Rankin , Katie Leslie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Four accused members of a fringe militia group are expected to make their first court appearance Wednesday, one day after they were arrested and charged with trying to buy explosives and make a deadly toxin to use in attacks against federal law enforcement agencies and unidentified officials.

Federal authorities said the men, all from North Georgia, had held clandestine militia meetings, beginning in March, in which they discussed using toxic agents and assassinations to undermine federal and state government. Militia members also discussed how to obtain firearms, ammunition and silencers, the FBI affidavit said.

The four men taken into federal custody were: Frederick Thomas, 73, of Cleveland; and Toccoa residents Dan Roberts, 67; Ray H. Adams, 65; and Samuel J. Crump, 68. All four men are scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate in Gainesville on Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said that as the U.S. government focuses on terrorist threats by violent international extremists, “This case demonstrates that we must also remain vigilant in protecting our country from citizens within our borders who threaten our safety and security.”

“There’s no way for us, as militiamen, to save this country, to save Georgia, without doing something that’s highly illegal: murder,” Thomas said during a meeting in March, according to the affidavit. "... When it comes to saving the Constitution, that means some people gotta die."

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