FEAR (terrorist group)

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FEAR
LeaderIsaac Aguigui
Michael Burnett
Anthony Peden
Christopher Salmon
Dates of operation2011-September 11, 2012
Active regionsUnited States Georgia and Washington United States
Ideology
[1]

The FEAR militia (Forever Enduring, Always Ready) was an American terrorist group of between four and eleven individuals that the State of Georgia alleged in 2012 to have planned to destroy a dam and poison apple orchards in Washington State, set off explosives in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, and assassinate President Barack Obama.[2][3] Four of the individuals charged were soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The group killed two people in an attempt to prevent them from revealing their plans to the public. The group used the Army to recruit militia members, who wore distinctive tattoos that resemble an anarchy symbol.[1]

Killing of Deirdre Aguigui[]

On July 17, 2011, Isaac Aguigui strangled his wife Deirdre. She was approximately 7 months pregnant at the time. He received $100,000 in death benefits and an additional $400,000 from a life insurance policy; part of the funds were then used to arm the group. [4]

Killing of Michael Roark and Tiffany York[]

On December 6, 2011, the bodies of 19-year-old Michael Roark and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Tiffany York, were found by two fishermen near a rural road in southeastern Georgia. It was believed that Roark was killed for his part in giving information to Fort Bliss authorities in El Paso.[5] On December 10, four soldiers based in nearby Fort Stewart were arrested in connection with the killings - Private Christopher Salmon, Sergeant Anthony Peden, Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, and Private First Class Michael Burnett. The soldiers ranged in age from 19 (Aguigui) to 26 (Burnett). Two days later, Salmon and Peden were charged in Long County court with malice murder. Aguigui and Burnett were charged with being a party to murder. All four were denied bond.[5]

FEAR's leaders, clockwise from top-left: Michael Burnett, Anthony Peden, Christopher Salmon, Isaac Aguigui

In August 2012, Burnett agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in exchange for testifying against Salmon, Peden, and Aguigui.[3][6]

On September 11, 2012, five more men (Christopher Jenderseck, Timothy Martin Joiner, Adam Dearman, Randall Blake Dearman and Anthony Garner) were indicted on various counts of tampering with evidence, burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, and violations of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act in connection with the militia.[3] On October 15, Jenderseck, a former Army medic, pleaded guilty to destruction of evidence of the murders (specifically, a mobile phone, spent shotgun shells, and blood-spattered clothes), and received seven years of probation in exchange for agreeing to testify against the remaining defendants and any future defendants in the case.[7]

Verdicts and sentences[]

In July 2013, ringleader Aguigui pleaded guilty to malice murder, felony murder, criminal gang activity, aggravated assault, and using a firearm while committing a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[8] Salmon pleaded guilty to malice murder in April 2014 and accepted a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.[9] Salmon's wife Heather Salmon took a plea deal and was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.[10]

In May 2014, Peden, 28, pleaded guilty to malice murder and received a life sentence that includes the possibility of parole after at least 30 years in prison.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "F.E.A.R. (Forever Enduring Always Ready)". TRAC Terrorism. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Eliza (30 August 2012). "FEAR Militia Group Faces the Music". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Martinez, Michael; Valencia, Nick. "5 more charged in anti-government militia plot linked to Fort Stewart". CNN.com. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Army private convicted of murdering pregnant wife". cbsnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b Bluestein, Greg. "4 soldiers charged in Ga. killings". The Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09.
  6. ^ "Georgia soldier accused in militia case, now charged with killing pregnant wife". cbsnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. ^ Bynum, Russ (17 October 2012). "Former soldier pleads guilty in militia case". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Fort Stewart soldier pleads guilty in F.E.A.R. plot, receives life in prison". Savannah Morning News. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  9. ^ Bynum, Russ (4 April 2014). "Fort Stewart soldiers plead guilty in 2011 militia slayings". Online Athens. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  10. ^ Redman, Wendi (8 August 2015). "Family disappointed after FEAR Militia murder case plea deal". MS News Now. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Soldier gets life sentence for murders with Georgia anti-government militia". The Guardian. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
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