KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A prison grievance was unsealed in the present day charging Edward Kelley, 33, of Maryville, TN, and Austin Carter, 26, of Knoxville, TN, with conspiracy, retaliating in opposition to a federal official, interstate communication of a risk, and solicitation to commit a criminal offense of violence. Kelley and Austin made their preliminary look in federal court docket in Knoxville, TN, earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Jill E. McCook. Each defendants have been detained. Carter has a detention listening to scheduled for December 21, 2022.
In accordance with court docket paperwork, Kelley, who’s dealing with fees within the U.S. District Court docket for the District of Columbia associated to his assault on a legislation enforcement officer in the course of the breach of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, obtained a listing of legislation enforcement personnel who participated in that prison investigation. In conversations with a cooperating witness, Kelley and Carter mentioned plans to kill the person legislation enforcement personnel on the record. These plans included an assault on the FBI’s Knoxville, Tennessee Subject Workplace.
“Federal legislation enforcement brokers put their lives on the road each day to guard the general public,” stated United States Legal professional Francis M. Hamilton III. “Planning and threatening violence in opposition to them is among the many most critical of crimes. It’s completely unacceptable and will likely be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” stated United States Legal professional Francis M. Hamilton III.
“The FBI regularly assesses the complete spectrum of potential threats that come to our consideration and that features these whose intent is to hurt bureau workers. The arrests had been a results of a tremendous crew effort throughout the division together with our native, state, and federal companions. The partnership with the FBI Counterterrorism Division, the Division of Justice’s Counterterrorism Part, and the U.S. Legal professional’s Places of work within the Jap District of Tennessee and the District of Columbia had been instrumental within the success of the operation. We remind the general public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious exercise whatever the supposed goal,” stated FBI Particular Agent in Cost Joseph E. Carrico.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Arrowood and Kyle Wilson of the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Jap District of Tennessee, and Trial Attorneys David Smith and Jacob Warren from the Counterterrorism Part of the Justice Division’s Nationwide Safety Division.
Members of the general public are reminded that these are solely fees and that each individual is presumed harmless till their guilt has been confirmed past an affordable doubt.
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