Posted on 01/24/2004 2:01:40 PM PST by Libloather
Mystery still surrounds E. Texans' arsenal
By LISA FALKENBERG
Associated Press
Jan. 24, 2004, 10:39AM
NOONDAY -- William Krar and Judith Bruey built an arsenal in three rented storage units in this rural East Texas town and federal authorities still don't know why.
A federal raid in April 2003 found nearly half a million rounds of ammunition, more than 60 pipe bombs, machine guns, silencers and remote-controlled bombs disguised as briefcases. Pamphlets on how to make chemical weapons and anti-Semitic, anti-black and anti-government books were also discovered.
Beside containers of hydrochloric, nitric and acetic acids, agents found more than 800 grams of almost pure sodium cyanide, which can only be acquired legally for specific agricultural or military purposes. If the ingredients were mixed, they could create a bomb powerful enough to kill everyone inside a 30,000-square-foot building, federal authorities said.
The findings led to one of the most extensive investigations of domestic terrorism since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and it's far from over. Federal investigators believe conspirators may remain free and one question lingers: how did the couple intend to use the weapons?
"There's no other reason for anyone to possess that type of device other than to kill people," said Brit Featherston, an assistant U.S. attorney and the federal government's anti-terrorism coordinator in Texas' eastern district. "The arsenal found in those searches had the capability of terrorizing a lot of people."
In November, Krar, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a dangerous chemical weapon. He could be imprisoned, but the federal statute regarding the charge doesn't specify a minimum or maximum penalty. Bruey, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess illegal weapons and faces up to five years in prison. The couple remained jailed in Texas. A sentencing hearing has not been set, but it is expected in February.
An FBI affidavit details evidence suggesting a "covert operation or plan," but there's no evidence the couple plotted to kill anyone.
Krar and Bruey moved to a house in nearby Tyler from New Hampshire about two years ago, though federal authorities don't know why.
They soon rented space at Noonday Storage and for more than a year visited their units each morning, spending hours unloading U-hauls of military surplus items or picking through piles of bathing suits and beer coolers they said they resold at shops and markets.
"We never had any problems out of them and never suspected anything out of them," said Teresa Staples, who owns the storage business in this community of 500 people about 100 miles southeast of Dallas.
Federal authorities became interested in Krar shortly after he moved to Texas, when he sent a package to a self-described militia member in New Jersey. The package included several phony documents -- United Nations and Defense Department ID cards, a social security card, birth certificates from three states -- and a note: "We would hate to have this fall into the wrong hands."
It did. The package was mistakenly delivered to a man in Staten Island, N.Y., who notified authorities. The package was traced back to Krar and the intended recipient, Edward Feltus, 56, of Old Bridge, N.J., faces up to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting the transportation of false identification documents.
Krar's attorney, Tonda Curry, acknowledges that Krar owned illegal weapons, but said there's no evidence he planned to use them.
"It was not a situation where they were at arm's reach, ready to respond to some invasion. They were miles away stored," she said. "Nothing I've seen from the government or from him indicates that the United States as a country had any reason to be afraid of Bill Krar."
But federal investigators believe Krar's past behavior indicates his potential for domestic terrorism.
In 1985, Krar was arrested in New Hampshire for impersonating a law enforcement officer, the FBI affidavit shows. He stopped paying federal income taxes in 1989. His ties to New Hampshire's white supremacist and anti-government militia groups in the mid-1990s were investigated by federal agents.
Firefighters battling a blaze at a New Hampshire storage building in June 2001 discovered thousands of rounds of ammunition and four firearms. Some were linked to Krar.
An employee at another New Hampshire storage company told investigators she feared Krar because he was "wicked anti-American," often ranting about government corruption and how he hated police officers and Americans in general because they were "money hungry grubs," according to the FBI affidavit.
In January 2003, a Tennessee state trooper stopped Krar for a traffic violation and found in his rental car two handguns, a grenade, handcuffs, a gas mask, 16 knives and 40 wine-like bottles filled with an unknown substance.
Most curious were handwritten notes that appeared to be instructions for using a secret code. The "Procedure" listed "meeting places," including hospitals or Wal-Mart stores in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
To signal levels of threat, the code ranged from "Lots of light storms are predicted," to "Tornadoes are expected in our area - Things very hot. Lay low or change your travel plans."
Krar told investigators the code was part a plan to help his girlfriend escape her ex-husband.
Despite the warning signs, Krar wasn't fully investigated until the fake documents were delivered to the wrong address. And even that red flag may have been ignored if not for the heightened attention to terror threats after Sept. 11, Featherston said.
"This is a good way to demonstrate to the public that our system is working," he said.
Yet, on Internet chat rooms and Web logs, "bloggers" criticize the Bush administration and the media for not calling more attention to the Texas raid. They contend the government and media are so focused on foreign terror threats that they overlook domestic terror dangers.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that had these men been affiliated with al-Qaida, we would have heard more," said Daniel Levitas, author of the book "The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right." "There is something of a blind spot within the Justice Department in Washington D.C. when it comes to the violent potential of America's own homegrown version of al-Qaida."
Featherston said hundreds of subpoenas were issued and the Texas case was investigated just as thoroughly as foreign cases.
"There's international terrorism and domestic terrorism, but they're all terrorism," Featherston said. "I don't care which one it is or what color their skin is. If their intention is to do harm to the citizens of this country, then all the resources necessary from the local level to the federal level will be put into the case."
Carefully...
I guess they're referring to the USPS that delivered the package to the wrong address.
Rather weak charges. Wonder what the missing info from this story is?
Yet, on Internet chat rooms and Web logs, "bloggers" criticize the Bush administration and the media for not calling more attention to the Texas raid. They contend the government and media are so focused on foreign terror threats that they overlook domestic terror dangers.
More "ANTHRAX found, it must've been the militia" BS starting?
"I have no doubt whatsoever that had these men been affiliated with al-Qaida, we would have heard more," said Daniel Levitas, author of the book "The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right." "There is something of a blind spot within the Justice Department in Washington D.C. when it comes to the violent potential of America's own homegrown version of al-Qaida."
Time to start creating the boogeyman of the domestic terrorists again, eh? Gotta create a reason to create and pass PATRIOT ACT 3 or its equivalent.
Main reason these militia wannabe terror types are less dangerous than foreign AQ types, despite probably greatly outnumbering them, is that they're so much dumber.
Maybe the Yankees were going to sabotage the onion crop. ;o)
It was more likely United Parcel or Fed Ex. If he's that paranoid of the Gooberment it ain't likely he'd use them as a shipper is it?
If this story doesn't grow "legs" and disappears into the memory hole we might guess that he's working for one of the alphabet agencies.
Geez! Didn't the Federales ever watch Terminator2?
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