Men sentenced for plot against the government

Two Toccoa, Georgia men convicted in a plot to produce ricin and attack the U-S government will serve 10-year prison terms. Samuel J. Crump and Ray H. Adams were sentenced Friday in the U-S District Court in Gainesville. The 58-year old Adams and the 71-year old Crump were found guilty in January of conspiracy to possess and produce a biological toxin for use as a weapon and possession of a biological toxin for use as a weapon. Federal prosecutors say Crump and Adams plotted to make ricin and had actually taken steps toward making toxin. According to U-S Attorney Sally QullianYates, both the words and actions of the defendants supported an idea dangerous to democracy, that violence is justifiable when citizens grow frustrated with government. Yates said the case demonstrated that America must remain vigilant in protecting the country, not only from the threat posed by international extremists, but also from those within the country’s borders who threaten its safety and security.