Good ol' boys need a reason to form a militia? As if...!
Drink beer. Smoke weed. Blow sh!t up!
Posted on 04/26/2007 7:00:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This morning in DeKalb, Marshall and Jefferson Counties, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the execution of four federal search warrants at the homes of members of a group called "The Free Militia." During the search warrants, ATF, along with state and local law enforcement recovered 130 grenades, an improvised rocket launcher with live rounds, a grenade launcher, a machine gun, a short barreled shot-gun, two silencers, numerous other firearms, 2500 rounds of ammunition, explosive components, approximately 70 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and commercial fireworks. Also recovered was enough ammunition to fill a U-Haul trailer, and over 120 Marijuana plants. While executing the search warrants, officers encountered booby traps at one location.
"Deadly explosives have been removed from these communities due to outstanding investigative efforts," stated Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney. "All evidence developed will be presented quickly to a federal grand jury. We will also ask that those arrested be detained without bond."
"Today's arrest and search warrants have been significant due to the success of the combined efforts by ATF, as well as our state, local and federal partners," stated James Cavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "The communities in the area are a lot safer, considering the fact that large quantities of live grenades and other explosive materials have been safely removed. Excellent investigative team work led us to this point in our investigation."
Those arrested today include:
RAYMOND KIRK DILLARD, a/k/a JEFF OSBORNE, 46, of Collinsville (DeKalb County), Alabama;
ADAM LYNN CUNNINGHAM, 41, of Collinsville (DeKalb County), Alabama;
BONNELL HUGHES a/k/a BUSTER HUGHES, 57, of Crossville, (Marshall County) Alabama;
MICHAEL WAYNE BOBO, 30, of Trussville (Jefferson County), Alabama;
RANDALL GARRETT COLE, 22, of Gadsden (Etowah County), Alabama;
JAMES RAY MCELROY, 20, of Collinsville (Etowah County), Alabama.
The criminal complaint charges those arrested with conspiracy to make a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Michael Wayne Bobo was charged with being a drug user in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
All the defendants appeared in U.S. District Court for an initial appearance. They will remain in Federal custody and are scheduled to appear for Detention Hearings on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at 1:30 pm before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court. An indictment has not been filed at this time; additional charges are likely.
"Governor Riley and I are pleased this operation was successful," said Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker.
"The U.S. Marshal Service, particularly in the Northern District, has enjoyed an excellent relationship with ATF," stated U.S. Marshal Martin Keely. "We were pleased that we could contribute to the success of the operation."
This investigation involved numerous federal, state and local law enforcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the lead agency assisted by the Bomb Squads from Huntsville Police Department, Jefferson County, and Gadsden County Sheriffs' Departments and Alabama Department of Public Safety Bomb Squad who worked with ATF Bomb Techs in securing the IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). Other Agencies include, The U.S. Marshal Service, The Alabama State Fire Marshals, The Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the Sheriff's Offices and District Attorneys' Offices of DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, and Jefferson Counties.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
These fellas are in for it ...
Not a word on why these people formed a militia.
So how much was it? 2500 rounds, or enough to fill a U-Haul trailer?
And how big a U-Haul trailer? ... they run from fairly small to very big.
Tater Salad, however, remains at large.
[QUOTE]...2500 rounds of ammunition, explosive components, approximately 70 Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and commercial fireworks. Also recovered was enough ammunition to fill a U-Haul trailer, and over 120 Marijuana plants....[/QUOTE]
Not clear how much ammunition was taken. 2500 rounds would not fill a UHaul.
120 maryjane plants, dumbasses are in for it now.
I would guess we won’t see them again.
From the Birmingham News....
Collinsville man with militia ties taken into custody
Posted by sstewart April 26, 2007 3:25 PM
A man taken into custody earlier today by federal authorities in Collinsville in connection with a federal raid on a militia group had told neighbors of his dislike of the federal government.
“He said the government is going to fall apart and his group is going to be prepared to take over,” said Joanne Gunnin.
Gunnin said she allowed the man she knew as Jeff Osborne to live on her property in a camper that is painted in camouflage green and covered in camouflage netting. The property is on U.S. 11 in the southern section of Collinsville in DeKalb County.
Piles of military-like knapsacks, duffel bags and a crate of olive green canteens were scattered around the campsite. The man had no running water or electricity in the camper and used a makeshift lavatory outside.
Gunnin said Osborne was supposed to be there temporarily, and had been on the property about two years.
Osborne would not tell her the name of his group, but she knew three or four men had joined.
She said that Osborne gave out uniforms to those who joined the group. He also sold some of the uniforms that were kept in her garage in a large plastic box.
“He always said that Hispanics need to leave,” Gunnin said. Collinsville has a large Hispanic population.
“I had no idea they were investigating this guy,” she said.
also....
Militias are self-styled citizen groups that form to protect individual rights and prepare for a possible revolution against government tyranny. Their enemy is Uncle Sam, particularly the FBI and ATF, which they see as the reincarnation of Hitler’s Gestapo.
There was a strong militia movement in Alabama and nationwide in the 1990s, as the groups rallied after the 1993 bloody siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas and the 1992 shoot-out in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, between former Green Beret Randy Weaver and federal agents.
Federal authorities said there has been little militia activity here in recent years.
Carol Robinson
not sure where Carol Robinson gets these facts; reads more like opinion.
Militias are self-styled citizen groups that form to protect individual rights and prepare for a possible revolution against government tyranny. Their enemy is Uncle Sam, particularly the FBI and ATF, which they see as the reincarnation of Hitler’s Gestapo.
There was a strong militia movement in Alabama and nationwide in the 1990s, as the groups rallied after the 1993 bloody siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas and the 1992 shoot-out in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, between former Green Beret Randy Weaver and federal agents.
Federal authorities said there has been little militia activity here in recent years.
agreed, just a wee bit slanted , perhaps... altho the survivors and Branch Davidians of Ruby Ridge might say otherwise
>> BONNELL HUGHES a/k/a BUSTER HUGHES, 57, of Crossville, (Marshall County) Alabama;
Hmmm... a boy named Sue. My stepmom was Bonnell.
I kinda see why Buster was pissed at the world!
ping
With middle names of Wayne and Ray they have to be guilty.
Somebody always does.
And the marijuana didn't help.Probably the marijuana sparked the whole investigation.
Living in,driving,and wearing camouflage while not in the employ of the government also draws attention.
Good ol' boys need a reason to form a militia? As if...!
Drink beer. Smoke weed. Blow sh!t up!
Somebody had better have a Class III license for these
“130 grenades”
“an improvised rocket launcher with live rounds,”
“a grenade launcher,”
“a machine gun,”
“a short barreled shot-gun,”
“two silencers,”
This here stuff, hmmmm, I think they’re in deep doo doo!
“and over 120 Marijuana plants”
No women were shot in the back of the head while fleeing? No pets were shot? No children were set on fire? Sounds like a botched raid to me. The ATF thugs are losing their touch.
“130 grenades”
“an improvised rocket launcher with live rounds,”
“a grenade launcher,”
“a machine gun,”
“a short barreled shot-gun,”
“two silencers,”
I don't know. I ain't got a problem with any of that.
Of course, FedGov doesn't like it when serfs have real militia weapons.
“Osborne would not tell her the name of his group, but she knew three or four men had joined. She said that Osborne gave out uniforms to those who joined the group. He also sold some of the uniforms that were kept in her garage in a large plastic box.”
I saw this on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.
The only question I have is why did the BATFE decide to get involved in a backyard barbecue?
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