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FBI to make more arrests in alleged white supremacist group

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The FBI is still looking to make more arrests in the case against an alleged white supremacist group in Osceola County.

Recently released arrest affidavits show detailed information about the alleged group whose compound was raided in Osceola County over the weekend.

Marcus Faella, 39, Patricia Faella, 36, Paul Willard Jackson, 25, Kent Ryan McLellan, 22, Diane Stephanie Stevens, 28, Mark McGowan Jr., 29, and Jennifer McGowan, 25, were arrested over the weekend, all charged with hate crimes.

Three others were arrested shortly after, including Richard Adam Stockdale, 23, Dustin Ryan Perry, 20, and Christopher John Brooks, 26.

Arrest warrants have been issued for two other men, Verlin Lewis and Dylan Rettenmaier, who are not in custody. Investigators said they could be arrested at any time, while other members of the group remain at the Osceola County jail.

According to the police affidavit, Marcus Faella is a member of a group called American Front (AF), a militia-styled, anti-Semitic, white supremacist, skinhead organization.

"The American Front is a hard-core, racist skinhead group. They're not wannabe's," said Mark Pitcavage, of the Anti-Defamation League.

The arrests were made after investigators uncovered plots to create violent chaos in central Florida, including targets like Orlando City Hall, "So the media would report on it and bring new members." The information came from an informant who had infiltrated the group for two years, reporting everything he saw back to the FBI.

A court affidavit describes a plan to attack protesters at a rally against racism that was supposed to happen last week in Brevard County.

The affidavit claims, Faella, "Has been planning and preparing the AF for what he believes to be an inevitable race war."

A family friend of the Faella's told WFTV that's not true.

"They're being railroaded," said the friend, who did not want to be identified.

"Railroaded? Why do you say that?" asked WFTV's Renee Stoll.

"They didn't do anything," replied the family friend.

WFTV learned that investigators believe the group was involved in paramilitary training that included weapons like AK-47s, and they also trained in hand-to-hand combat. According to the police affidavit, Faella was conducting those training exercises, along with other members.

"Faella views himself and the other members of the AF as the protectors of the white race," the warrant states.

According to the affidavit, Faella believes the race war will take place in the next few years, and his intentions are to kill Jews, immigrants and other minorities.

During their investigation, police found that Faella had fortified the property, reinforcing walls and cutting firing ports into the sides of his trailer.

The report also describes how some alleged members are convicted felons who didn't want to be caught carrying guns, so they carried sharpened screwdrivers instead.

And the group is also accused of attempting to make ricin, a chemical considered a weapon of mass destruction.

WFTV has learned the charges, which include paramilitary training with intent to cause a civil disorder and conspiracy, each carry a possible five-year sentence. The sentences can be even longer when a hate crime enhancer is added.