KC Reporter

Two members of the 2nd American Militia were sentenced in federal court on August 27, 2025, for their involvement in a 2022 plot to kill U.S. Border Patrol agents and for attempting to murder FBI agents during a search warrant operation.

Bryan C. Perry, age 39, from Clarksville, Tennessee, received a sentence of 15 consecutive life terms without parole. His convictions include conspiracy to murder a federal officer and multiple counts involving firearms use in violent crimes. Additional sentences totaling 20 years were handed down for attempted murder of federal officers, assault with a deadly weapon, and inflicting bodily injury on an officer. Perry also faced convictions for conspiracy to assault and injure officers, depredation of government property, illegal firearm possession as a felon, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating threats. He was ordered to serve five years of supervised release after his incarceration and pay $3,717.98 in restitution.

Jonathan S. O’Dell, age 35, from Warsaw, Missouri, was sentenced to 165 years in prison without parole. His charges included conspiracy to murder and assault federal officers, causing bodily injury to an officer, damaging government property, possessing a firearm while under protection order restrictions, making false statements, escape from custody, and using firearms in furtherance of violent crimes. O’Dell also received five years of supervised release after his prison term and must pay $19,234.63 in restitution.

The convictions followed a nine-day jury trial that concluded on November 7, 2024. The jury returned guilty verdicts after about two hours of deliberation. On the first day of trial proceedings (October 28), O’Dell pleaded guilty to three additional charges: illegal firearm possession while under court order protection; making false statements; and escape from custody.

Trial evidence showed that during the summer and fall of 2022 Perry and O’Dell recruited others into the militia they co-founded with plans to confront U.S. Border Patrol at the United States-Mexico border. Perry used TikTok videos both for recruitment efforts and for expressing intent against federal authorities.

In September 2022 Perry traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw with stolen firearms and paramilitary gear as part of preparations for the planned trip south. Both men continued recruiting efforts locally while collecting weapons and supplies at O’Dell’s residence.

According to evidence presented at trial, Perry posted several TikTok videos throughout September and early October stating intentions such as “we’re out to shoot to kill” and “our group is gonna go protect this country,” specifying their departure date toward the border.

Preparations included target practice with firearms as well as attempts to acquire more gear.

On October 7th FBI agents executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s home just after dawn using marked vehicles with lights activated. Announcements were made via loudspeaker identifying themselves as FBI agents serving a search warrant when shots were fired from inside the house toward their lead vehicle—Perry fired eleven rounds striking it multiple times.

Agents deployed flash bangs but did not return fire; after gunfire ceased they established communication leading O’Dell and his girlfriend to surrender followed by Perry who initially resisted arrest physically before being taken into custody.

A subsequent search found six firearms along with ammunition magazines containing over seventeen hundred rounds; body armor; gas masks; ballistic helmets; explosive materials; zip ties; medical supplies; militia patches; radios; sniper rests; food provisions (“go-bags”); among other items.

While awaiting trial on these charges in September 2023 O’Dell escaped Phelps County Jail but was later apprehended following a high-speed chase in Ray County.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner following investigations led by the FBI along with support from ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives), U.S Marshals Service, Missouri State Highway Patrol as well as sheriff’s departments across Phelps County Ray County Caldwell County—and Kansas City Police Department.