Nine members of an anti-government Christian militia were charged with plotting to attack police in Michigan, an indictment unsealed Monday said. Prosecutors say the Hutaree militia planned to kill a member of law enforcement and then attack the funeral to provoke a response by law enforcement.
They would then retreat to one of several "rally points" to "wage war against the government and be prepared to defend in depth with trip-wired and command detonated anti-personnel Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), abuses and prepared fighting positions," the charging document said.
"It is believed by the Hutaree that this engagement would then serve as a catalyst for a more wide-spread uprising against the government," the indictment said. The Hutaree website says it is "preparing for the end time battles to keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive." The group's logo is a cross with the initials CCR, which stand for Colonial Christian Republic and its name means "Christian warrior." A video posted on the website depicts a group of men in military gear replacing a burning United Nations flag with their flag.
Prosecutors said a weekend raid on militia members in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana was necessary to prevent people from being harmed during a "covert reconnaissance operation" the group had planned for April. Eight of the militia members were arrested, but the leader's son - Joshua Stone - is considered a fugitive.
"This is an example of radical and extremist fringe groups which can be found throughout our society," Andrew Arena, special agent in charge of the Detroit office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said in a statement. "The FBI takes such extremist groups seriously, especially those who would target innocent citizens and the law enforcement officers who protect the citizens of the United States."
The militia members face charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, teaching the use of explosive materials and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Those charged were: militia leader David Brian Stone, 45; his wife, Tina Stone, 44; his sons Joshua Matthew Stone, 21 and David Brian Stone, Jr., 19; Joshua Clough, 28; Michael Meeks, 40; Thomas Piatek, 46; Kristopher Sickles, 27; and Jacob Ward, 33. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison in convicted.