2 Ga. men guilty in anti-government plot

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GAINESVILLE, Ga., April 10 (UPI) -- Two Georgia militia members admitted in federal court Tuesday they plotted to attack government buildings and employees.

Frederick Thomas, 73, of Cleveland, Ga., and Dan Roberts, 67, of Toccoa, Ga., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gainesville, Ga., to conspiring to obtain an unregistered explosive device and silencer.

"These defendants are members of a fringe militia group who, in planning attacks on innocent citizens and their own government, conducted surveillance of government buildings and purchased what they believed were explosives and a silencer for use in those attacks," U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a release. "This case demonstrates that we must remain vigilant in protecting our country from citizens within our own borders who threaten our safety and security."

Authorities alleged Thomas and Roberts were members of a known militia organization who last year sought to establish a "covert group" that would plan and execute armed attacks on government buildings and federal employees, including law enforcement agents. Investigators said Thomas said he had compiled what he called a "Bucket List" of government employees, politicians, corporate leaders and members of the media that needed to be "taken out" to "make the country right again."