Show-Me State Times

Two members of the 2nd American Militia have been sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a 2022 plot to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and for attempting to kill FBI agents during a search warrant operation.

Bryan C. Perry, 39, from Clarksville, Tennessee, received 15 consecutive life sentences without parole for conspiracy to murder a federal officer and multiple counts related to firearms offenses. He was also given concurrent sentences for attempted murder and assault of federal officers, among other charges. Perry will serve 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 165 years in prison without parole on similar charges including conspiracy to murder a federal officer and several weapons violations. O’Dell also received five years of supervised release following his sentence and was ordered to pay $19,234.63 in restitution.

Both men were convicted after a nine-day jury trial that concluded on November 7, 2024. The jury deliberated for just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts against both defendants.

According to evidence presented at trial, Perry and O’Dell co-founded the militia group and recruited others throughout the summer and fall of 2022 with plans to confront U.S. Border Patrol at the southern border. They used social media platforms such as TikTok to recruit members and publicize their intentions.

In September 2022, Perry traveled from Tennessee to Missouri with stolen firearms and tactical gear as part of preparations for their planned trip to the border. Both men continued gathering weapons and supplies while recruiting additional participants.

On October 7, 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence in Warsaw early in the morning using marked vehicles with lights activated. Agents announced themselves over a loudspeaker before gunfire erupted from inside the house; Perry fired multiple rounds at law enforcement vehicles but agents did not return fire.

After an exchange involving flash bangs and breaching equipment by law enforcement officers using an armored vehicle known as the Bearcat, O’Dell surrendered along with his girlfriend while Perry initially resisted arrest before being taken into custody following a struggle that resulted in injury to one agent.

A subsequent search uncovered six firearms along with ammunition magazines containing hundreds of rounds, body armor vests with plates, ballistic helmets, gas masks, medical supplies, explosive target materials, zip ties, radios, sniper rests—and items associated with militia activity such as patches bearing the group’s name.

While awaiting trial in September 2023 at Phelps County Jail in Missouri on these charges,O'Dell escaped custody but was later apprehended after leading authorities on a high-speed chase through Ray County.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner following investigations conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco,Firerms,and Explosives; U.S.Marshals Service; Missouri State Highway Patrol; local sheriff’s departments;and Kansas City Police Department.

“This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner,” according to officials involved.“It was investigated by the FBI,the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco,Firerms,and Explosives,the U.S.Marshals Service,the Missouri State Highway Patrol,the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department,the Ray County Sheriff’s Department,the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department,and the Kansas City Police Department.”