GEORGIA
A federal judge sentenced militia members —Brian Cannon, 37, Terry Peace, 47, and Cory Williamson, 29 — for planning to attack federal government targets with pipe bombs, according to officials.
The trio also wanted to motivate militia groups in other states to rise up and join them in removing government officials who they believed exceeded their Constitutional powers, officials said.
On Friday, Cannon has been sentenced to 12 years in prison; Peace has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and Williamson has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Cannon, Peace and Williamson were convicted of the charges on May 26, 2015 after pleading guilty
“In this case, anti-government ideology and rhetoric morphed into dangerous extremism and led these defendants to arm themselves and travel to a meeting to pick up pipe bombs and other explosives intended for attacks,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn of Georgia.
Adding, “The attacks planned by the defendants, while rare, posed a serious threat to not only the safety of our public servants, but also all other members of the community.”
This is the evidence presented in court, according to authorities:
- In January and February 2014, Cannon, Peace and Williamson participated in Internet chat rooms frequented by militia members and others with a shared anti-government ideology.
- During the chat room conversations, Cannon, Peace and Williamson discussed starting a “revolution” against the federal government by conducting an attack aimed at the infrastructure supporting the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
- Their goals included forcibly removing government officials who the defendants believed acted beyond the scope of the U.S. Constitution.
- During one of the online conversations, Peace said that they would launch the attack between Feb. 1, 2014 and Feb. 15, 2014.
- Peace encouraged the militia members to review guerilla warfare tactics, accumulate supplies and prepare their families.
- By Feb. 1, 2014, Cannon and Williamson had moved to Georgia and were living with Peace at his Rome, Georgia residence.
- Cannon, Peace and Williamson targeted the infrastructure supporting their federal agency targets because they believed this would reduce the amount of unnecessary casualties and make it difficult for the government to respond to their attack.
- The men decided to launch the first attack in Georgia to prompt militia members in other states to begin attacks in their respective states.
- Another participant in the chat rooms became alarmed at their plans, informed the FBI of the attack against the government, and agreed to assist in this investigation.
- On Feb. 8, 2014, Peace asked the cooperating witness to provide twelve pipe bombs and two thermite devices for use in their attack.
- Peace said he wanted the pipe bombs designed for “maximum fragmentation” and thermite devices capable of penetrating the engine block of a military-grade armored vehicle.
- Peace, Cannon and Williamson then made plans to meet with the cooperating witness after the pipe bombs and thermite devices were constructed.
- On Feb. 15, 2014, the defendants, armed with numerous firearms, drove from Peace’s residence to meet with the cooperating witness at a location in Cartersville, Georgia, to pick up the pipe bombs and thermite devices.
- Prior to their arrival, the cooperating witness was provided with 12 inert pipe bombs and two inert thermite devices.
- The three defendants were arrested as they were taking possession of the items.
- While their online conversations reflected attacks on federal targets, the defendants planned to use the thermite device at a local police department.