Local

Details released in alleged local plot targeting U.S. government

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — Three Floyd County men are facing federal firearm charges alleging involvement in a plot targeting the U.S government.
 
Channel 2 Action News was there as federal agents searched one of the suspects' homes in Rome Saturday.
 
Terry Eugene Peace, 45, Brian Edward Cannon, 36, and Cory Williamson, 28, were arrested on federal firearms charges.
 
The FBI said they caught on to the plot after monitoring conversations online, including on a website called chatcrypt.com. The website claims it is a military-class encryption chat website.
 
The FBI said they intercepted a chat from a person using the moniker, "Chief,"  that read:
 
"We will be using Guerilla style warfare tactics... I do not want kill or injure fellow Americans. So, at least for the guys with me, we will restrain the violence toward people and target infrastructure. Then respond to violence with reciprocal violence. "
 
The criminal affidavit, obtained exclusively by Channel 2 Action News claimed the men were part of a group planning to target the U.S. government, including "TSA, DHS, and non-emergency FEMA."  Agents also intercepted chats where members claimed they were planning to "strategically sabotage power grids, transfers station, and water treatment facilities."
 
According to the affidavit, the FBI observed the suspects purchasing weapons, as well as a Vortex scope. The FBI said it also provided a confidential informant with 12 inactive pipe bombs that the group requested.
  
Channel 2 Action News has not heard back from the attorneys for the suspects.