James Ray McElroy, 20, of Collinsville was sentenced to 41 months in prison, and Randall Garrett Cole, 22, of Gadsden was ordered to spend 37 months in prison.
Both men admitted being part of a militia that authorities said feared the government and disliked illegal immigrants. McElroy, Cole and three other men who pleaded guilty to weapons charges previously said they made and stored grenades out of fear of an economic collapse, terrorism and martial law being imposed in the United States.
More convictions are coming from the other defendants, once members of this domestic terror cell.
Agents who conducted a series of raids in April seized items including 130 hand grenades, a grenade launcher, about 70 hand grenades rigged to fire from a rifle, a machine gun, a sawed-off shotgun, 2,500 rounds of ammunition and stolen fireworks that were used as a source of explosive powder.
Authorities said the group called itself the Free Militia or the Alabama Free Militia, but members said it was too disorganized to have a name. Many of its activities centered around a ramshackle camper without running water or electricity.
"We just called it the militia," said Raymond Dillard, who held the rank of major and testified during the sentencing hearing for Cole.
Man,they just sound like a bunch of hick goobers, don't they? Only thing is, even the most pathetic clowns stop being funny once they start shooting guns or hurling bombs at people. Good job, Alabama authorities and BATFE! A lot of other cops and local officials and their families can sleep safer now thanks to the stellar job that you guys did.
For me, when a militia starts to use rank within the group, you need to watch out for them.
ReplyDeleteI've belonged to a militia since 1995 and we were well known by two police dept. and and two cities. We worked along side one police dept. at a block party as security.
Not all Militia's are bad, but once they go on the attack, they are no longer a militia for the people.
What idiot' for doing dumb things.
IRONCLAD