GAINESVILLE, Ga., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Four men have been charged by federal prosecutors in Georgia with plotting to acquire silencers and the deadly poison ricin to use against the government.
An indictment handed up Thursday by a federal grand jury named Frederick Thomas, 73, of Cleveland, the alleged ringleader of the group, and Emory Dan Thomas, 67, Ray H. Adams, 65, and Samuel J. Crump, 68, all of Toccoa, Ga., The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Thomas and Adams were charged with conspiring to possess an explosive device and silencers while Adams and Crump allegedly conspired to manufacture ricin.
The FBI said the four are members of a militia group that wants to attack the federal and state governments. They allegedly discussed plans to attack public officials and others.
The four were arrested this week. A bond hearing is scheduled next week.
Ricin is a biological poison found in uncooked castor beans. Even a small quantity can be lethal.
