Posted on 05/07/2004 10:35:45 PM PDT by writer33
A 100-member task force arrested three men Thursday in northwestern Montana on firearms charges associated with an alleged militia plot to kill public officials.
The three arrests are the result of a lengthy federal investigation begun in February 2002 into a militia cell known as "Project 7" in Flathead County, authorities said.
The militia group was plotting to assassinate judges, police officials and other government employees in the Kalispell area, authorities said.
Evidence seized earlier suggested members of the suspected militia cell had contact with like-minded individuals in North Idaho.
It appears prosecutors are prepared to use only federal firearms charges against suspected members of the militia cell.
Court records show that a federal grand jury, monitoring the investigative work of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, has not returned an indictment accusing the suspects of conspiracy to kill or harm public officials.
Although investigators said there is little doubt a plot was afoot, their two-year investigation turned up insufficient evidence to bring conspiracy charges.
FBI and ATF agents, who previously found a large cache of firearms and ammunition, said they found additional guns Thursday when the three arrests were made.
Arrested at separate rural locations in Flathead County were James Riley Day, 60, and John William Slater, 54, according to FBI and ATF agents.
The third suspect, Steven Neil Morey, also lives in Flathead County but was arrested in Lewis and Clark County and booked into jail in Helena.
Morey and Slater are each charged with illegal possession of machine guns and possession of firearms with obliterated serial numbers.
Day is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Day has a 1973 felony conviction for possession of marijuana in Alameda County, Calif.
Other arrests are expected, authorities said.
All three men are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Ostby in Great Falls.
Federal prosecutors are expected to ask that the suspects be held in jail without bond as flight risks and dangers to the community.
"Suffice it to say, this has been a long-term investigation," said Bill Mercer, the U.S. attorney for Montana. "It has demonstrated how effective federal agencies can be when they work together."
"With these three arrests, we are ready to proceed now to the actual trial phases in the case," the federal prosecutor said.
"Given how long a process this has been, we look forward to completing it with a trial, probably this summer," Mercer said.
The task force included 70 federal agents and an estimated 30 officers from the Kalispell Police Department and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, said ATF supervisor Ken Bray.
"We hope this investigation sends a clear and convincing message that criminal activity perpetrated in order to intimidate public officials will not be tolerated," said FBI supervisory agent Scott Cruse.
The three suspects are accused of being associates of David E. Burgert, identified in 2002 as the reported leader of the Project 7 militia cell. The group reportedly took its name from the license plate designation given Flathead County.
Burgert was arrested in February 2002 after a 24-hour standoff with deputies and police near Kalispell.
Also arrested at that time was Tracy Brockway, who worked as a janitor at the Kalispell Police Department.
Authorities said Brockway used her position to gain access to personal information about law enforcement officers.
Burgert was charged in 2002 with federal firearms violations but then cut a plea bargain, agreeing to provide "substantial assistance" to federal investigators.
It's unclear exactly how much cooperation Burgert has provided to investigators, who obtained federal warrants to arrest his former associates.
He currently is serving a seven-year federal prison term.
After the 2002 arrests, investigators seized machine guns and other firearms with their serial numbers illegally removed.
They also seized a silencer, 25,000 rounds of ammunition, booby traps, body armor, commercial explosives, shackles and pipe bomb components.
Investigators also found "intelligence files" on law enforcement officers and their families.
It's not enough that we have Islamofascists to worry about, now we have the dumber-than-a-box-of-rocks militia mopes too.
I wonder if BatJack is still posting on FR under another handle?
This is the kind of thread he liked to dominate.
TRANSLATION: They don't have a case.
While this 2 year investigation was going on, at least 2 MILLION illegals entered the country. They are illegally not paying taxes, illegally getting medical benefits, committing high levels of fraud and violence.
Although investigators said there is little doubt a plot was afoot, their two-year investigation turned up insufficient evidence to bring conspiracy charges.
Sounds like the DA's trying to make a silk purse out of a major embarrassment.
Quidnunc....please: I know you were on the job a long time. Does not this whole press release simply REEK!
"insufficient evidence to bring conspiracy charges" = they have nothing
I would not be surprised. That means they spent $30M+ to bust a bunch of local yolkels who bribed the PDs janitor into letting them rummage throught the trash.
Sheesh. Makes me want to p0wn a public official through dumpster diving.
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