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Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Use Weapons of Mass Destruction
Three Georgia men have been sentenced for conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction in attacks against federal government agencies.
Brian Cannon, 37, Terry Peace, 47, and Cory Williamson, 29, planned to attack critical infrastructure and motivate militia groups in other states to rise up and remove government officials who they believed had exceeded their Constitutional power, according to U.S. Attorney John Horn of the Northern District of Georgia.
The men discussed their plans in internet chat rooms frequented by militia members and others with a shared anti-government ideology. They targeted the infrastructure supporting the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
According to the FBI, the defendants planned to launch the first attack in Georgia to prompt militia members in other states to begin attacks in their respective states. They wanted to reduce the number of casualties and make it difficult for the government to respond to their attack.
On February 8, 2014, Peace asked a cooperating witness to provide 12 pipe bombs and 2 thermite devices for use in their attack. The cooperating witness agreed to assist in the investigation and provided the defendants with inert pipe bombs and thermite devices on February 15, 2014. The defendants were arrested as they were taking possession of the items.
The charges against the defendants include conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Cannon, Peace, and Williamson were sentenced to 5 years in prison, 6 years in prison, and 6 years in prison, respectively.
The FBI’s commitment to preventing attacks instead of responding to their aftermath is illustrated in this case, said Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson for the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office.
Defendant: Brian Cannon, Terry Peace, Cory Williamson
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction
City and State: Rome, Georgia
Exact Date: February 2014
Sentence or Outcome: 5 years in prison, 6 years in prison, 6 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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