Ga. accused terrorists plead not guilty

GAINESVILLE, Ga., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Four Georgia men pleaded not guilty to charges they planned to use the toxic ricin and blow up buildings as part of a nationwide terror plot, officials said.

During Wednesday's bond hearing in U.S. District Court in Gainesville, Ga., federal prosecutors said the men had targeted Attorney General Eric Holder and former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia as part of their terror plot, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The four men -- Frederick Thomas, 73, of Cleveland; and Dan Roberts, 67; Ray H. Adams, 65; and Samuel J. Crump, 68, all of Toccoa -- pleaded not guilty to charges of planning to bomb federal buildings, disperse the toxin ricin in major U.S. cities, and assassinate federal judges, prosecutors and other prominent officials.

After listening to nearly two hours of testimony on whether Thomas should be granted bond, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Cole ended the hearing without making a decision because it was running too long, WSB-TV, Atlanta, reported.

The hearing will resume next week.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McBurney said law enforcement officers seized 52 weapons and 30,000 rounds of ammunition from Thomas' home. The weapons included assault rifles, shotguns, pistols with extended magazines and revolvers and sniper-round bullets.

Defense attorney Jeff Ertel said Thomas is an avid gun collector and hunter and all the guns were legally owned.

"It's not an arsenal put together to assassinate people. It's a gun collection he had," Ertel said.