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4 in Ala. guilty but deny being militia
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 26, 5:48 PM ET
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Four northeast Alabama men pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal weapons charges and said they were arming themselves because they feared terrorism, a failing economy and the possibility of martial law being imposed in the United States.
However, the men denied prosecutors' allegations that they were members of a militia that opposed the government and immigrants.
Appearing one at a time in court, the four said their group didn't have a name and stockpiled weapons with no plan to attack anyone.
"We were scared that some things might deteriorate into some bad things over here, that there could be some more foreign terrorist attacks, and we were just getting ready to defend ourselves," defendant Raymond Kirk Dillard said.
James Ray McElroy, who lived in a makeshift tent near Dillard's ramshackle camper, said he "got together with some boys to make some grenades" not realizing it was illegal to have such explosives. He told U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon they were scared "of a decline in the economy."
"We were just building them to protect ours and our own," McElroy said, adding, "We were also afraid of terrorists."
"You were afraid of terrorists coming to DeKalb County?" the judge asked.
"To the United States, your honor," McElroy said.
Neighbors and authorities have said Dillard railed against the government and Mexicans, but he denied a link between the group's weapons and taking any action against illegal immigrants.
Authorities have said the group was known as the Free Militia or the Alabama Free Militia, which the defendants denied. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Whisonant said prosecutors would likely present evidence about the group's operations and plans at sentencing, which was not immediately scheduled.
Whisonant said Dillard, 46, was a militia leader who bestowed a military rank to members. Dillard pleaded guilty to six charges including conspiracy; making 10 unregistered hand grenades and a silencer; illegal possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; and possession of two unregistered grenades made by himself and the others.
McElroy, 20, Adam Lynn Cunningham, 41, and Randall Garrett Cole, 22, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to make hand grenades and other weapons charges.
The men face prison sentences ranging from 10 years to 50 years and fines from $250,000 to $1.5 million.
A fifth man, Bonnell Hughes, pleaded guilty Monday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_re_us/weapons_raids;_ylt=AgVzWxKqbfNfG5hW.UTYjeNbIwgF
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 26, 5:48 PM ET
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Four northeast Alabama men pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal weapons charges and said they were arming themselves because they feared terrorism, a failing economy and the possibility of martial law being imposed in the United States.
However, the men denied prosecutors' allegations that they were members of a militia that opposed the government and immigrants.
Appearing one at a time in court, the four said their group didn't have a name and stockpiled weapons with no plan to attack anyone.
"We were scared that some things might deteriorate into some bad things over here, that there could be some more foreign terrorist attacks, and we were just getting ready to defend ourselves," defendant Raymond Kirk Dillard said.
James Ray McElroy, who lived in a makeshift tent near Dillard's ramshackle camper, said he "got together with some boys to make some grenades" not realizing it was illegal to have such explosives. He told U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon they were scared "of a decline in the economy."
"We were just building them to protect ours and our own," McElroy said, adding, "We were also afraid of terrorists."
"You were afraid of terrorists coming to DeKalb County?" the judge asked.
"To the United States, your honor," McElroy said.
Neighbors and authorities have said Dillard railed against the government and Mexicans, but he denied a link between the group's weapons and taking any action against illegal immigrants.
Authorities have said the group was known as the Free Militia or the Alabama Free Militia, which the defendants denied. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Whisonant said prosecutors would likely present evidence about the group's operations and plans at sentencing, which was not immediately scheduled.
Whisonant said Dillard, 46, was a militia leader who bestowed a military rank to members. Dillard pleaded guilty to six charges including conspiracy; making 10 unregistered hand grenades and a silencer; illegal possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; and possession of two unregistered grenades made by himself and the others.
McElroy, 20, Adam Lynn Cunningham, 41, and Randall Garrett Cole, 22, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to make hand grenades and other weapons charges.
The men face prison sentences ranging from 10 years to 50 years and fines from $250,000 to $1.5 million.
A fifth man, Bonnell Hughes, pleaded guilty Monday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_re_us/weapons_raids;_ylt=AgVzWxKqbfNfG5hW.UTYjeNbIwgF
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