http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/four...n-1214918.html


Four North Georgia men, alleged members of a fringe militia group, on
Tuesday were 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 had held clandestine militia meetings,
beginning in March, in which they discussed using toxic agents and
assassinations to undermine federal and state government.

The four men taken into federal custody we Frederick Thomas, 73, of
Cleveland; and Toccoa residents Dan Roberts, 67; Ray H. Adams, 65; and
Samuel J. Crump, 68.

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.”

Thomas, Roberts, Adams and others who attended the meetings discussed
targeting various government officials, federal authorities said. The
meetings were monitored by the FBI and secretly tape recorded by a
confidential informant helping the FBI, according to sworn affidavits
unsealed Tuesday.

Roberts’ wife, Margaret, 59, said last night that she was shocked by the
day’s developments, which included FBI agents handcuffing her while they
searched the rural Toccoa home she has shared with her husband for more
than two decades.

“My husband would not hurt anybody and anybody who knows him knows he
wouldn’t hurt anybody,” Margaret Roberts said, her voice trembling. “Dan
has always respected the law. He’s never had a problem with the law.”

Thomas was described in affidavits as a leading speaker at the meetings.
He discussed having a “bucket list” of government officials, business
leaders and members of the media who needed to be “taken out” to “make
the country right again,” the affidavit said.