A Tennessee man was arrested after he allegedly told undercover FBI agents he wanted to "stir up the hornet's nest" at the U.S.-Mexico border by using bombs or by acting as a sniper, according to a federal criminal complaint. Following a nearly yearlong investigation, the FBI arrested Paul Faye in Tennessee on Monday and charged him with possession of an unregistered silencer, a felony. The FBI became aware of Faye, 55, of Cunningham, while investigating a separate case involving another Tennessee man who was indicted last May for conspiring to kill Border Patrol officers. The FBI discovered in that case, that Faye had discussed plans as early as October 2022 to join forces with far-right militia members at the border. Faye had stockpiled multiple AR-15 rifles, numerous firearms, and "a large amount of ammunition," the FBI found, and he discussed planting explosives at the border on several occasions, USA Today reports.
A preliminary and detention hearing for Faye is scheduled for Feb. 12 in Nashville. An undercover FBI agent first contacted Faye in March 2023d. Faye believed the federal government was planning to "take on its citizens" and that it was admitting undocumented immigrants into the U.S. to aid in that effort. Faye claimed to have contacts with militias in Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. He said he intended to meet with "Alpha," an individual who could provide explosives and implied killing Border Patrol officers was part of the plan when he told the FBI agent that he could obtain a bulletproof vest at the border. U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis, noted that the firearm possession charge "follows the defendant’s planning over the course of eighteen months to travel to the border and commit acts of violence against migrants and federal law enforcement." Faye indicated one of his main goals was to generate media attention to draw further support, the complaint said.
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