KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri man was one of two men convicted by a federal trial jury Thursday for their roles in a plot to kill U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Jonathan S. O’Dell, 34, of Warsaw, Missouri, and Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee, were convicted of conspiring to murder officers and employees of the United States government.

The two men arranged to travel to Texas to shoot at illegal immigrants crossing the United States-Mexico border. They also planned to kill U.S. Border Patrol officers and employees who would try to stop them.

O’Dell and Perry were also convicted of one count of conspiracy to attack federal officers and employees and one count of conspiracy to injure federal officers and employees.

They were convicted of seven counts of attempted murder of FBI special agents, seven counts of assaulting FBI special agents with a deadly weapon, three counts of assaulting FBI special agents, and 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. and federal charges of destruction of property.

O’Dell was also found guilty of threatening to injure another person. On the morning of the first day of the trial, O’Dell also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm while subject to a court protective order, making false statements to a federal agent and fleeing. from custody.

While in custody in this case, O’Dell escaped from the Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Missouri, on September 29, 2023. He stole a car and fled to Ray County, where he was captured again two days later after a high-speed chase.

Perry was also convicted of two counts of possession of a firearm, one count of possession of body armor by a violent felon, and one count of threatening to injure another person. There is a person with a previous criminal record for aggravated robbery.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that throughout the summer and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals into a group they co-founded called “2.”^And American Militia.”

On September 5, 2022, Perry traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell, bringing with him at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and a gas mask.

In preparation for their journey to the border, they used O’Dell’s house as accommodation and collected firearms, paramilitary equipment, ammunition and other supplies.

Perry posted videos on TikTok in September and October 2022 to recruit other members into their conspiracy. O’Dell and Perry also contacted several people outside the state of Missouri.

They continued to take preparatory steps to further their plots, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other equipment, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.

On October 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s home.

Federal agents approached the property around 6 a.m.

As they approached, an agent used the loudspeaker on an armored vehicle to announce that they were with the FBI and had a search warrant for the house. There were seven agents in or behind the vehicle.

When gunshots were heard through the windshield of the vehicle, the FBI agent began repeating the announcement. Perry fired 11 shots from his multi-caliber rifle and several bullets hit the vehicle.

Agents responded by placing flash grenades around the residence. Agents then used a ram to break down the front door of the residence.

Agents did not return fire, and after the gunfire stopped, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with people inside the residence to come out.

While O’Dell and his girlfriend exited the residence and surrendered to authorities, Perry eventually did the same.

Perry lowered an American flag from the front porch of the residence and walked down the stairs waving the flag. After Perry began walking toward the agents, he turned around and walked back into the residence.

Agents pursued Perry, who began fighting and shaking his fists, attacking agents several times and injuring at least one agent before being taken into custody.

Agents then searched the home and found six firearms, 23 magazines loaded with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of assorted other ammunition, 11 spent casings and other miscellaneous items.

The jury in U.S. District Court in Jefferson City deliberated for less than two and a half hours Thursday before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending the trial that began on Monday, Oct. 28.

Under federal law, O’Dell and Perry are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole and life imprisonment in federal prison without parole.

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