Authorities say two white supremacists attempted to illegally buy weapons and explosives to use in attacks on synagogues and black churches.
The Associated Press reports that Robert Doyle and Ronald Beasley Chaney III attempted to buy explosives, a pistol with a silencer and automatic weapons from FBI agent James Rudisill, who was undercover as an illegal arms dealer. Mr. Doyle and Mr. Chaney are being charged with conspiracy to possess firearms after being convicted of felonies.
A third man and associate of Mr. Doyle, Charles Halderman, is also accused in a plot to commit a robbery to obtain money to help Mr. Doyle buy weapons for “an impending race war,” Agent Rudisill’s affidavit says, according to the AP.
Mr. Doyle and Mr. Chaney are said to “ascribe to a white supremacy extremist version of the Asatru faith,” according to Agent Rudisill’s affidavit, which also said Mr. Doyle planned to host a meeting in September to discuss “shooting or bombing the occupants of black churches and Jewish synagogues, conducting acts of violence agains persons of Jewish faith, and doing harm to a gun store owner in the state of Oklahoma.”
It was after the FBI confirmed that the meeting took place that Mr. Doyle and Mr. Chaney met with an undercover agent about buying weapons, reported the AP. After the sale took place Sunday, Mr. Chaney was arrested immediately and Mr. Doyle was arrested later that day.
Police searched Mr. Doyle’s home and found more than 30 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition from his truck, which corresponded to one of the weapons he “ordered” from the undercover agent.
The FBI did not say if they believed attacks were imminent.
All three men have been convicted of multiple felonies, and are being held in custody until their court appearances, AP reports.
• Jennifer Pompi can be reached at jpompi@washingtontimes.com.
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