O’Dell and Perry, Conspiracy to Murder, Missouri 2022

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In a shocking turn of events, a federal trial jury has convicted two members of the 2nd American Militia of conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and attempted murder of FBI agents.

The defendants, Jonathan S. O’Dell, 34, of Warsaw, Mo., and Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee, were found guilty on Thursday, November 7, of conspiracy to murder officers and employees of the United States government.

O’Dell and Perry planned to travel to Texas to shoot at illegal immigrants crossing the United States – Mexico border and murder officers and employees of the U.S. Border Patrol who would attempt to stop them. They were also found guilty of conspiracy to assault federal officers and employees and conspiracy to injure federal officers and employees.

Additionally, O’Dell was found guilty of one count of threatening to injure another person. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell also pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.

O’Dell escaped from the Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Mo., on September 29, 2023, while being detained in this case. He stole a car and fled to Ray County, Mo., where he was recaptured following a high-speed flight from law enforcement on October 1, 2023.

Perry was also found guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing body armor by a violent felon, and one count of threatening to injure another person. Perry has a prior felony conviction for aggravated robbery.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

The evidence introduced during the trial indicated that throughout the summer and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd American Militia, a group they co-founded. They advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw prior to leaving for the United States – Mexico border.

O’Dell and Perry are currently awaiting sentencing and face a maximum of life in prison for their crimes. The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of extremist ideologies and the importance of vigilant law enforcement.