2 men accused of plotting to shoot at immigrants are convicted of attempting to kill federal agents

Two men who co-founded a militia group have been convicted of attempting to murder federal agents ahead of a planned trip to the Texas-Mexico border to shoot at immigrants illegally crossing there and any federal agents who might try to stop them. A jury at the U.S. District Court in the Missouri state capital of Jefferson City found Jonathan S. O’Dell, 34, of Warshaw, Missouri, and Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee, guilty of more than 30 felony counts each, the chief federal prosecutor for western Missouri, Teresa Moore, announced Friday. In September 2022, O’Dell’s home about 100 miles became a staging site as the two men collected firearms, ammunition, paramilitary gear and other supplies, according to the government’s evidence. Prosecutors said Perry posted a TikTok video in September saying that their militia group was going to “go protect this country,” and another in early October saying the group would be “out huntin’.” Prosecutors said the two men viewed U.S. Border Patrol agents as traitors for allowing immigrants to cross into Texas. The day before they planned to leave for Texas, an FBI team using an armored vehicle served a search warrant on O’Dell’s home, and prosecutors said Perry fired 11 rifle shots at them.