Two members of the 2nd American Militia were sentenced in federal court on August 27, 2025, for their involvement in a 2022 plot to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and for attempting to kill FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant.
Bryan C. Perry, 39, from Clarksville, Tennessee, received 15 consecutive life sentences without parole after being convicted of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and multiple counts related to the use of firearms in violent crimes. He was also given concurrent prison terms for attempted murder and assault of federal officers, among other charges. Perry will have five years of supervised release after his incarceration and must pay $3,717.98 in restitution.
Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, from Warsaw, Missouri, was sentenced to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for similar offenses including conspiracy to murder a federal officer and several counts related to firearms and violence against law enforcement officers. O’Dell will also serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment and is ordered to pay $19,234.63 in restitution.
A jury found both men guilty on November 7, 2024, after a nine-day trial that began October 28. The jury deliberated just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts. On the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm while under a protection order, making false statements to federal agents, and escaping custody.
Evidence presented at trial showed that throughout summer and fall of 2022 Perry and O’Dell recruited others into their militia group with plans to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border “to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol.” Recruitment efforts included videos posted by Perry on TikTok advertising their intentions and seeking new members.
In September 2022 Perry traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw with stolen firearms and paramilitary gear as they prepared for their planned trip south. Both continued recruiting efforts while gathering weapons and supplies at O’Dell’s residence.
On October 7, 2022 FBI agents executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s home using marked vehicles with lights activated; announcements were made identifying themselves as FBI with a search warrant when gunfire erupted from inside the house toward law enforcement vehicles outside. According to evidence presented at trial Perry fired eleven shots at agents using an assault-style rifle; several rounds struck an armored vehicle used by agents who did not return fire but instead deployed flash bangs before breaching the front door.
After negotiations those inside surrendered except for Perry who initially exited waving an American flag but then retreated back inside before being subdued by agents during which he assaulted officers causing injury.
A subsequent search recovered six firearms along with ammunition magazines containing over one thousand rounds plus body armor equipment gas masks ballistic helmets explosives zip ties medical supplies food provisions militia patches radios sniper rests go-bags filled with gear—and other paramilitary items.
While awaiting trial in September 2023 O’Dell escaped from jail leading authorities on a high-speed chase before being apprehended again.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner following investigations conducted by several agencies including the FBI Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives U.S Marshals Service Missouri State Highway Patrol Phelps County Sheriff Ray County Sheriff Caldwell County Sheriff’s Departments as well as Kansas City Police Department.
“This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.”
