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Nine Members of a Militia Group Charged with Seditious Conspiracy and Related Offenses
Detroit.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release ^ | March 29, 2010 | n/a

Posted on 03/29/2010 2:33:09 PM PDT by Cindy

Note: The following text is a quote:

Nine Members of a Militia Group Charged with Seditious Conspiracy and Related Offenses

Six Michigan residents, along with two residents of Ohio and a resident of Indiana, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade and FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena announced today.

The five-count indictment, which was unsealed today, charges that between August 2008 and the present, the defendants, David Brian Stone, 45, his wife, Tina Stone, 44, his son, Joshua Matthew Stone, 21, of Clayton, Michigan, and his other son, David Brian Stone, Jr., 19, of Adrian, Michigan, Joshua Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Michigan, Michael Meeks, 40 of Manchester, Michigan, Thomas Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Indiana, Kristopher Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio, and Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio, acting as a Lenawee County Michigan militia group called the Hutaree, conspired to oppose by force the authority of the U.S. government. According to the indictment, Hutaree members view local, state, and federal law enforcement as the “brotherhood,” their enemy, and have been preparing to engage them in armed conflict.

The indictment further alleges that the Hutaree planned to kill an unidentified member of local law enforcement and then attack the law enforcement officers who gather in Michigan for the funeral. According to the plan, the Hutaree would attack law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession with improvised explosive devices with explosively formed projectiles, which, according to the indictment, constitute weapons of mass destruction. Subsequently, and in furtherance of this plan, David Brian Stone, the Hutaree’s leader, obtained information about such devices over the Internet and e-mailed diagrams of such devices to a person he believed capable of manufacturing the devices. He then had his son, Joshua Matthew Stone, and others gather materials necessary for the manufacturing of such devices.

According to the indictment, in June 2009, David Brian Stone and his other son, David Brian Stone, Jr., taught other Hutaree members how to make and use explosive devices intending or knowing that the information would be used to further a crime of violence. In addition, the grand jury charged all nine defendants with carrying or possessing a firearm during a crime of violence on at least one occasion.

U.S. Attorney McQuade said, “Because the Hutaree had planned a covert reconnaissance operation for April which had the potential of placing an unsuspecting member of the public at risk, the safety of the public and of the law enforcement community demanded intervention at this time."

Andrew Arena, FBI Special Agent in Charge, said, "This is an example of radical and extremist fringe groups which can be found throughout our society. The FBI takes such extremist groups seriously, especially those who would target innocent citizens and the law enforcement officers who protect the citizens of the United States. The FBI would like to thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who are member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their assistance in this case."

As of this morning, eight of the nine defendants are in custody and seven of them will be making their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Donald A. Scheer at 10 a.m. Joshua Stone is currently a fugitive. Any person with information as to the whereabouts of this individual should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (313) 965-2323.

The charge of seditious conspiracy carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison, Teaching the use of explosives materials carriers a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minium penalty of at least five years in prison.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and the Michigan State Police.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Indiana; US: Michigan; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: adrian; atf; batfe; bhodoj; blissfield; clayton; clough; conspiracy; davidbrianstone; domesticterrorism; email; fbi; huron; hutaree; indiana; internet; jacobward; jfft; joshuaclough; joshuamatthewstone; jr; kristophersickles; lenaweecounty; manchester; meeks; michaelmeeks; michigan; ohio; piatek; sandusky; sickles; stone; thomaspiatek; tinastone; ward; whiting
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1 posted on 03/29/2010 2:33:10 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Cindy

What crime of violence have they committed to be charged with possession while performing the same?


2 posted on 03/29/2010 2:34:07 PM PDT by Ingtar (Congress: proof that Entropy trumps Evolution)
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To: Cindy

I totally support the governments roundup. (cause I know they are reading this and will bang on my door if I don’t support them)


3 posted on 03/29/2010 2:35:15 PM PDT by Selmore (Except for ending Slavery, Facism, Communism, and Nazism, War never has accomplished anything)
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To: Cindy

There are all sorts of lessons to be learned from this. Learn what extremist kooks do and how to avoid them. Learn what Marxofascists controlling the U.S. government can do, too.


4 posted on 03/29/2010 2:35:15 PM PDT by unspun (PRAY & WORK FOR FREEDOM - investigatingobama.blogspot.com)
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To: Ingtar

Should we let the underwear bomber go because the bomb didn’t go off? Last I checked, having a fire in your pants wasn’t illegal either. :p


5 posted on 03/29/2010 2:37:05 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm (The worst is behind us. Unfortunately it is really well endowed.)
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To: Cindy
A group like this ultimately becomes so infiltrated by informants that the informants can influence the policies of the group. I'm not saying this happened but the FBI has used agent provocateurs in the past.
6 posted on 03/29/2010 2:37:49 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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To: Cindy
While it's a stupid idea to target civilian law enforcement, there's a glaring hypocrisy in this administration indicting anyone on charges of 'seditious conspiracy'. Pot, meet kettle.


7 posted on 03/29/2010 2:39:06 PM PDT by Viking2002 (Where the hell can I get a court injunction to keep my own government out of my life?!?)
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To: Cindy

Well if they are guilty...send em to the big house....for being stupid if anything else. Abusing your second amendment rights is just plain idiocy. Besides...it’s not time yet...


8 posted on 03/29/2010 2:39:34 PM PDT by Dallas59 (President Robert Gibbs 2009-2013)
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To: Cindy

It’s sad to say but, you never know who to believe. Chairman Zero’s government or the people.


9 posted on 03/29/2010 2:39:37 PM PDT by jerri (Is it over yet?)
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To: Cindy

So IED’s are now WMD... Almost a tacit admission that Bush was right about Iraq.


10 posted on 03/29/2010 2:40:35 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: Cindy
Well, at least the government didn't shoot a pregnant mother holding a baby or gas/burn to death children in this round-up!
11 posted on 03/29/2010 2:42:22 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Cindy

Will the gov’t arrest any of us who just think about sedition?


12 posted on 03/29/2010 2:43:25 PM PDT by Ranger Warrior
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To: Cindy

Most criminal activities are exposed due to someone talking and organizations like this due to bringing in an informant. I have talked to some people in law enforcement who have told interesting stories about people getting caught because they could not shut up. and it was the ONLY thing that put the police on their trail.

This group must have been infiltrated. I suspects that most groups with more than 1 member have been infiltrated. I think even McVeigh’s group was infiltrated, but he acted “too soon” for them to catch him.


13 posted on 03/29/2010 2:43:27 PM PDT by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
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To: Cindy

If they planned what is claimed here, they deserve the worst they can get.

You can expect them to minimize everything, that it was all idle talk, etc. Over time we’ll know the truth.


14 posted on 03/29/2010 2:44:06 PM PDT by Williams (It's the policies, stupid)
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To: Cindy

How come aryes o=and dorn are in in prison for 40 years?


15 posted on 03/29/2010 2:44:34 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to GOD! Thomas Jefferson)
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To: All

http://www.google.com/search?&rls=en&q=hutaree&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8


16 posted on 03/29/2010 2:44:52 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: Ingtar
What crime of violence have they committed to be charged with possession while performing the same? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THIS IS IMPORTANT. Did they act to carry out threats. What were the alleged threats?

The FBI betterghave the goods on them, or else the nation will regard this as politically motivated arrest and trial. And this will backfire on Obama. I HOPE IT DOES!

Obama must be getting desperate to try something like this, which looks like the FBI used Muslim infiltrators of the Michigan Militia to rat on this Christian Group, and maybe organize a sting operation.

17 posted on 03/29/2010 2:45:49 PM PDT by Candor7 (Now's the time to ante up against the Obama Fascist Junta ( member NRA))
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

I have not seen all the details, but all the other crimes seem to be those of planning. Are they being charged for thinking violent thoughts while carrying a gun? Teaching and planning (even if they are about violence) are not violent in and of themselves to justify that charge. That is, unless there is more that I have not heard. Did they sink a South Korean patrol boat?


18 posted on 03/29/2010 2:46:03 PM PDT by Ingtar (Congress: proof that Entropy trumps Evolution)
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To: Cindy

“David Brian Stone, the Hutaree’s leader, obtained information about such devices over the Internet and e-mailed diagrams of such devices to a person he believed capable of manufacturing the devices.”

Who posted this on the internet? Why were they not charged?

Oh sorry, Mohammedans get a pass. ROP and all that.


19 posted on 03/29/2010 2:46:21 PM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: Selmore
LOL. I always forget there's probably some FBI, NSA, CIA or other alphabet agency monitoring this site.

One thing that's funny in this story is the definition of WMD. When I think WMD, I'm thinking, oh, killing 50k people in one shot. For that you usually need a nuclear, chemical, or biological weapon. A carpet bombing B-52 isn't even considered a WMD, but these guys in Michigan were going to use WMD? Gees, in Leftie loonie land you can just make sh_t up. I guess it's like the assault weapons ban. If it looked or sounded worse, it was obviously a much more lethal weapon than a “hunting” rifle.

20 posted on 03/29/2010 2:46:40 PM PDT by throwback (o)
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To: Ingtar
Good question, only citation is:

“Because the Hutaree had planned a covert reconnaissance operation for April which had the potential of placing an unsuspecting member of the public at risk, the safety of the public and of the law enforcement community demanded intervention at this time."

I'd guess that the timing of this thing has more to do with the dems being on a roll than on any (other) immediate threat to mankind.

21 posted on 03/29/2010 2:47:36 PM PDT by norton
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To: norton
Oh, yeah...

And please see post number 3.
Me too.

22 posted on 03/29/2010 2:48:53 PM PDT by norton
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To: Ingtar

23 posted on 03/29/2010 2:49:01 PM PDT by Hoodat (For the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.)
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To: Ranger Warrior

For that admission, you can expect a knock on your door some time in the near future. BTW, if you are Christian, expect the knock tonight.


24 posted on 03/29/2010 2:49:13 PM PDT by dirtymac (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Calling all Son's of Liberty)
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To: Williams

Scary stuff coming down the road.


25 posted on 03/29/2010 2:50:26 PM PDT by Texas resident (Outlaw fisherman)
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To: Mr. Blond
So IED’s are now WMD... Almost a tacit admission that Bush was right about Iraq.

Allow me some editorial license if you will.

26 posted on 03/29/2010 2:50:41 PM PDT by TigersEye (Duncan Hunter, Jim DeMint, Michelle Bachman, ...)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
Back in the day, the wunnerful sixties, it was taken for granted that the most vociferous rabble rouser in any group was an FBI colluder.
27 posted on 03/29/2010 2:51:54 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Ingtar
As I understand it, a Michigan Grand Jury approved the indictments. I doubt these folks would have done so on a whim.
28 posted on 03/29/2010 2:52:31 PM PDT by verity (Obama Lies)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
Back in the day, the wunnerful sixties, it was taken for granted that the most vociferous rabble rouser in any group was an FBI instigator.
29 posted on 03/29/2010 2:52:39 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: verity

Michiganistan?

How can you charge someone for carrying a gun during a violent crime without also charging them for a violent crime?


30 posted on 03/29/2010 2:56:17 PM PDT by Ingtar (Congress: proof that Entropy trumps Evolution)
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To: Cindy
From the article:

Andrew Arena, FBI Special Agent in Charge, said, "This is an example of radical and extremist fringe groups which can be found throughout our society. The FBI takes such extremist groups seriously, especially those who would target innocent citizens and the law enforcement officers who protect the citizens of the United States. The FBI would like to thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who are member of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their assistance in this case."

It is their sworn duty to protect and support the United States Constitution.

31 posted on 03/29/2010 2:56:31 PM PDT by unspun (PRAY & WORK FOR FREEDOM - investigatingobama.blogspot.com)
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To: Ingtar
Perhaps you can query the foreman of the grand jury?
32 posted on 03/29/2010 2:57:41 PM PDT by verity (Obama Lies)
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To: Cindy
Check out the Islamo-loving, Muslim-ass-kissing Detroit (what a shit-hole of a left-wing demonRAT-run city) Federal Bureau of Incineration goofball who conducted this raid against this "dangerous" Christian "militia" (meanwhile, the string of ACTUAL terrorist attacks on infidels by muzzie fanatics continues on unabated)...

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/518/special-supermodel-in-charge-federal-bureau-of-islamists-gets-a-new-detroit-chief/

33 posted on 03/29/2010 2:57:51 PM PDT by DocH (Official Right-Wing Extremist Veteran Seal Of Approval)
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To: Candor7
Obama must be getting desperate to try something like this, which looks like the FBI used Muslim infiltrators of the Michigan Militia to rat on this Christian Group, and maybe organize a sting operation.

Just Eric Holder sending a message to anyone contemplating organized resistance to tyranny--

"this "democratic republic" sh*t is history. Don't even think we care about representing you."

34 posted on 03/29/2010 2:58:31 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Cindy

They should have converted to Islam if they didn’t want to be arrested and indicted.


35 posted on 03/29/2010 2:59:59 PM PDT by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you." - Steinbeck)
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To: Ranger Warrior

Will the gov’t arrest any of us who just think about sedition?

Yes, as soon as the chairman think he has enough control, he will


36 posted on 03/29/2010 3:00:08 PM PDT by munin (Enki did it)
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To: TigersEye

Personally I wouldn’t consider IED’s to be WMD’s, they just aren’t M enough.


37 posted on 03/29/2010 3:00:26 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: Ingtar

” How can you charge someone for carrying a gun during a violent crime without also charging them for a violent crime? “

The same way they could convict one M. Stewart of ‘lying’ (”I didn’t do it”) to the Feds about a crime that was never proved to have been committed....

They got us comin’ and goin’......


38 posted on 03/29/2010 3:01:03 PM PDT by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
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To: verity

The charges sound inflated to make a political statement. Either that or they are not charging them for enough. I’ve been on a jury. I’ve seen what happens with grand juries. The people who were on it likely had no clue what they were voting on. A grand jury accused the lacrosse team also.


39 posted on 03/29/2010 3:01:09 PM PDT by Ingtar (Congress: proof that Entropy trumps Evolution)
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To: Cindy

If they were going to kill law enforcement officers, then I’m glad they were stopped, but I’m still scratching my head wondering why haven’t our alphabet soup agencies done ANY raids on any of these Islamic training centers in America?

Here we are being invaded from the South, infiltrated from the east, but their main concern is a small group of white midwesterners making pipe bombs (WMD’s????) and carrying guns???

I’m thinking this is more politically motivated then anything. A news flash to change the headlines for a while. Oh, and what do you want to bet that they either attended a Tea Party or know many Tea Partiers!!! Gasp! You don’t have to guess how the media will use that.


40 posted on 03/29/2010 3:01:59 PM PDT by ScubieNuc
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To: Ingtar
I am neither judge nor jury. Thus you shall have to seek your own counsel.
41 posted on 03/29/2010 3:05:15 PM PDT by verity (Obama Lies)
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To: Cindy

Did they light the fuse on one and it didn’t go off? That’s what I would call “attempted use”.


42 posted on 03/29/2010 3:05:31 PM PDT by Terry Mross ("God, please send Pat Leahy to Murtha's house.")
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To: Williams

Fox had a link to their website, but it of course is down/overloaded. Did anyone get a copy of their website because I would like to see for myself what their beliefs are. (Not that I don’t trust the MSM or anything like that.)


43 posted on 03/29/2010 3:09:22 PM PDT by sportutegrl (VETO PROOF MAJORITY IN 2010)
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To: Ranger Warrior

Will the gov’t arrest any of us who just think about sedition?

Yes, as soon as the chairman think he has enough control, he will


44 posted on 03/29/2010 3:11:50 PM PDT by munin (Enki did it)
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To: sportutegrl

I heard they were trying to start a revolution. 9 men? This was surely the smallest revolution ever.


45 posted on 03/29/2010 3:12:45 PM PDT by Shimmer1 (When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt)
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To: Cindy

I don’t trust the DOJ or FBI to be apolitical on this. The ATF was grandstanding for Reno at Waco. We have the very worst of people in charge in Washington and they have shown no competence at being impartial. We have them defending terrorists at the expense of national security.


46 posted on 03/29/2010 3:16:12 PM PDT by depressed in 06 (Tea parties today, Lexington tomorrow.)
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To: Cindy

This was a warning from the government.


47 posted on 03/29/2010 3:16:57 PM PDT by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)
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To: unspun
It is their sworn duty to protect and support the United States Constitution./

It is indeed.

I wonder when they'll start doing their job.

48 posted on 03/29/2010 3:20:35 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron ("Because without America, there is no free world" - Canada Free Press - MSM, where are you?)
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To: hinckley buzzard; Fred Nerks; Beckwith; LucyT
We are organizing against tyranny. If Holder and Obama think that such foolishness will destroy the resolve of patriotic conservatives they are mistaken. It will only strengthen our resolve.

Political dissent is not criminal. And we will dissent loudly and in an organized fashion. When we do that the Obama campaign becomes ineffective.Thats why we have this inintiative against " spitting resisters, and thoise flaming right womngers who are threatening our poor poor dem reps who do not vote as required by their constituents?

Sorry Holder and Obama. Your feet will be held to the fire you have kindled, whether you like it ir not.

49 posted on 03/29/2010 3:22:59 PM PDT by Candor7 (Now's the time to ante up against the Obama Fascist Junta ( member NRA))
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To: ScubieNuc

Excellent points. We are definitely through the looking glass at this point.


50 posted on 03/29/2010 3:23:01 PM PDT by dagogo redux (A whiff of primitive spirits in the air, harbingers of an impending descent into the feral.)
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