Terror plotters sentenced
3 sentenced to 12 years in prison for a plot to overthrow the government.
Three men who plotted to spark a series of events that they hoped would eventually lead to the overthrow of the U.S. government were sentenced to prison Friday.
Although Terry Peace, Brian Cannon and Cory Williamson were sentenced in separate
hearings, all were sentenced to 12 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Harold Murphy.
Prosecutors say the three men participated in online chats primarily on Facebook between Jan. 23, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2014, that were monitored by the FBI after an informant tip.
During the online conversations the three men discussed using “guerilla war” tactics and planned to launch the attacks against the government.
They planned to target the Norcross police department, as well as other federal agencies that they believed participated in activities that went against the U.S. Constitution.
All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain and use weapons of mass destruction charges in March.
Although all men admitted to a part in the conspiracy lawyers for Cannon and Williamson said they played lesser roles than Peace.
Comparing Peace to the quarterback of a football team, Cannon’s attorney Chris Twyman, said Peace called the shots and his client was just a minor participant. The judge disagreed. “This defendant was well aware of everything that was going on in this case. Everything,” Murphy said.