Federal authorities apprehended Paul Faye, a member of a Tennessee militia, on charges of plotting to act as a “sniper” along the southern border and engage in violent acts against federal agents, according to CBS News on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
The FBI executed the arrest on Monday following an extensive investigation spanning nearly a year, which uncovered Faye’s alleged intentions and his ties to another militia member, Bryan C. Perry.
The official complaint filed this week in Nashville accuses Faye of unlawfully selling a firearm suppressor, commonly referred to as a silencer, without proper registration.
If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Faye is slated to appear in federal court on February 12 for a detention hearing.
The inquiry commenced after law enforcement noticed Faye’s frequent communication with Perry, who had previously faced charges related to conspiring to harm federal agents.
Perry, a resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, purportedly planned a violent confrontation with Border Patrol officers and sought to enlist militia members for this purpose.
As per the complaint, Faye, residing in Cunningham, Tennessee, had planned to journey to the southern border alongside Perry prior to Perry’s arrest in 2022.
Faye’s affiliations with undisclosed militias prompted investigative scrutiny.
Notably, Perry allegedly endeavored to recruit individuals to travel to the border and engage in violent activities against migrants and federal agents, including firing at FBI agents during his own apprehension.
The complaint delineates Faye’s ideologies, which include the belief that the U.S. government was preparing to confront its citizens and deliberately permitting migrants to cross the border.
Faye articulated these convictions during an initial encounter with an undercover FBI operative in March 2023.
In a disturbing development, Faye disclosed his intent to transport explosives to the border and serve as a sniper alongside a militia faction.
He discussed coordinating with militia units from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee in mid-December 2023.
Faye expressed aspirations for a ripple effect, aiming to garner media attention and support for his cause.
On January 11, Faye invited an undercover agent to his residence, revealing an arsenal of weapons, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest.
During this encounter, he outlined plans to journey to the U.S.-Mexico border and expressed a willingness to engage in violent acts.
The complaint provides specifics regarding the sale of an unregistered firearm suppressor lacking a serial number to the undercover agent for $100.
As legal proceedings progress, federal authorities are expected to delve deeper into the network of individuals associated with Faye and Perry, underscoring the imperative of vigilance in addressing domestic threats to national security.
