MONTEVIDEO, Minn. (WCCO) – Federal investigators say they stopped a terror attack when they arrested a Minnesota man for having pipe bombs and illegal guns.
FBI agents arrested Buford Rogers on Friday at his home in Montevideo. They say the arrest thwarted an attack on residents of the western Minnesota town.
Jeff Rogers places his American flag upside down to show what he calls the “tyranny of government.” He says his son Buford – or “Bucky” as he’s known – is part of the Black Snake Militia, and they just want freedom.
“They do not have nothing to fear from any of us,” Rogers said. “We are patriots.”
They’re also afraid the government will implant everyone with a microchip. But, he says that’s very different from plotting violence.
“I have no idea who the hell he’d even be targeting,” he said. “He’s not that kind of a person. I guarantee you that.”
But the FBI disagrees. On Friday, they raided the home Bucky Rogers shares with his parents and found Molotov cocktails, suspected pipe bombs and guns.
Neighbors watched the whole thing in disbelief. Dustin Rathbun says it was like a scene out of a movie.
“All of the sudden I hear, ‘This is the FBI. Come out the of trailer…with your hands up,’” Rathbun said.
Neighbor Alfredo Fuentes Jr. says the illegal materials found in Rogers’ home could have put the neighborhood in danger,
“It’s kind of scary for the neighbors, though. If that house got on fire, it’s gonna throw the neighborhood,” Fuentes Jr. said.
Rogers wasn’t arrested for terrorism or conspiracy, but rather for illegally possessing a gun. Because of a 2011 felony burglary conviction, he’s not allowed to have a gun. But investigators found an assault rifle in their search and say Rogers admitted to using it recently at a gun range.
Sheriff Stacy Tufto says the bombs are the main issue.
“There’d have to be a reason for the bombs,” Tufto said. “That’s all I can say.”
Local and federal law enforcement are being tight-lipped about how they learned about Rogers or his alleged plans. But some of Rogers’ Facebook postings from 2011 show his apparent disdain for the government.
“the war is here tsa agents are doing random cheeks and shooting people for no reson,” Buford wrote. “Ever one better get your guns ready cuz there comeing FEMA.”
But Jeff Rogers is steadfast about his son.
“Bucky is not a terrorist,” he said.
Rogers also told WCCO that the guns found in the search belong to him – not his son.
