A Maryville man, Edward Kelley, 35, has been convicted by a federal jury of plotting to murder FBI employees, a decision following a three-day trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The charges against Kelley include Conspiracy to Murder Federal Employees, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Influencing a Federal Official by Threat, as per the U.S. Department of Justice.
Kelley, found guilty of serious federal offenses, is facing a potential life sentence, with United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan scheduled to carry out the sentencing on May 7, 2025; Kelley's incriminating actions unfolded while he was previously awaiting trial for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots during which he generated a "kill list" of FBI agents that were involved in the inquiry into his actions.
Conspiracy details emerged in court, revealing Kelley's plan to target the Knoxville FBI office and its employees using drones rigged with incendiary devices and car bombs, actions intended to harm, as Kelley emphasized in recorded statements saying, "Every hit has to hurt. Every hit has to hurt." His conviction is the result of collaborative efforts among federal, state, and local agencies, all part of the Knoxville Joint Terrorism Task Force, spearheaded by the FBI.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III highlighted the importance of law enforcement safety, commenting on the case, “There is simply no room in society for those who would engage in this kind of reprehensible conduct and threaten to assassinate FBI agents and others who are honorably serving to uphold the law,” while Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI’s Nashville Field Office referred to the threat as "very real," stating, "Today’s guilty verdict is a culmination of the tireless efforts of our dedicated employees and the invaluable partnership we have with our law enforcement partners."
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey T. Arrowood and Kyle J. Wilson of the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case and received assistance from a team within the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, as well as support from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, showcasing a concerted effort to address threats of violent extremism within the nation.
