Formal indictments handed down against militia suspects

GAINESVILLE - Four North Georgia men accused of plotting terror attacks in Atlanta and other U.S. cities have been formally indicted by a federal grand jury.

The indictments are the next formal step in the case against 73-year-old Frederick Thomas of Cleveland,and 67-year-old Emory Dan Thomas 65-year-old Ray Adams and 68-year-old Samuel Crump, all of Toccoa.

The four were arrested earlier this week, accused of being part of a fringe militia group with intentions of carrying out terror attacks across the country.

Frederick Thomas and Emory Dan Thomas were indicted Thursday by federal prosecutors with conspiring to possess an explosive device and illegally possessing an unregistered silencer. Adams and Crump were indicted on two counts, conspiring to possess and produce the biological toxin ricin and attempted production of the deadly toxin.

All four suspects are to appear in court next week for a bond hearing.