They were supposed to discuss, authorities alleged in an affidavit, “shooting or bombing the occupants of black churches and Jewish synagogues” and “conducting acts of violence against persons of the Jewish faith.”

The FBI, though, was watching the men and soon connected them with an undercover agent. Authorities say they brokered a deal with the agent, who was posing as an arms dealer, to buy weapons, and they were arrested earlier this week on charges that they conspired to possess guns after having been convicted of a felony.

[Q&A with a man who used to go undercover for the FBI at white supremacist meetings]

According to affidavits in the case, the relatively modest charges foiled a nefarious plot. The men, according to the affidavits, planned a reign of terror — shooting or bombing religious institutions, robbing jewelers and armored cars and doing some unspecified harm to gun store owners in Virginia and Oklahoma.

One of the men said in a conversation apparently recorded by authorities that he wanted to use the proceeds to “purchase land, stockpile weapons and train for the coming race war.”

Robert C. Doyle, 34, of Chester, Va., and Ronald B. Chaney III, 34, of Highland Springs, Va., were charged with gun conspiracy counts in the case, and the FBI alleged in an affidavit the men are part of a “white supremacy extremist version of the Asatru [neo-pagan] faith.” A third man — Charles D. Halderman, 30, of Richmond — was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, although it is unclear to what extent, if any, authorities think that race or religion motivated him.

The arrests were reported previously by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Attorneys for all three men did not return messages seeking comment. A man who identified himself as Chaney’s brother noted that Chaney was not charged explicitly with trying to harm people at places of worship for their race or religion.

Read further

Suggested Reading

All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren’t