( CNN ) -- `` Captain Hutaree , '' his wife and two sons planned with other militia members to kill a law enforcement official to draw the officer 's colleagues to the funeral , authorities say . Then , according to an indictment unsealed Monday , the militia planned to attack the funeral procession to kick off its war against the U.S. government . Members of the Hutaree militia , whose Web site says it is preparing for end times to `` keep the testimony of Jesus Christ alive , '' have been indicted on five counts , including seditious conspiracy and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction . Federal authorities allege militia members had declared war against law enforcement and `` foot soldiers '' of the federal government . They had conducted `` military-style training '' in Lenawee County , Michigan , about 35 miles northwest of Toledo , Ohio , since 2008 , the indictment said . The group 's Web site outlines the militia 's philosophy : `` Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment . The only thing on Earth to save the testimony and those who follow it are the members of the testimony , till the return of Christ in the clouds . '' The group 's leader , David Brian Stone -- aka `` Joe Stonewall '' or `` Captain Hutaree '' -- allegedly planned to kill a law enforcement officer to instigate a war against the U.S. government . In a phone interview Monday with CNN , Donald Stone , David Stone 's brother , said he was n't aware that his sibling was a member of the Hutaree militia nor did he believe David would set out to harm police officers . `` No , I do n't believe that would ever happen , '' he said . `` That takes a very dark person . '' Donald Stone said his brother , whom he said he has n't seen in months , is employed in a factory and `` works like everyone else . Life 's a struggle . '' The indictment alleges that killing a law enforcement official would be just the beginning : `` As a consequence of this act , law enforcement officers from throughout the nation would be drawn to and gather in the Eastern District of Michigan for the funeral , '' the indictment said . `` According to the plan , the Hutaree would then attack law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession with improvised explosive devices with explosively formed projectiles . '' The federal conspiracy charges say the militia devised several options for killing a law enforcement officer : after a traffic stop , during an ambush in a rural community , or by `` luring a member of law enforcement with a false 911 emergency call . '' The militia also considered killing a law enforcement official and family members at home , the indictment said . The intention of the group was that such acts `` would intimidate and demoralize law enforcement , diminishing their ranks and rendering them ineffective , '' the indictment said . The militia would then retreat to a rally point where it would `` wage war against the government and be prepared to defend in-depth with trip-wired and command-detonated anti-personnel improvised explosive devices . '' Hutaree members believe , according to the indictment , that their fight would `` serve as a catalyst for a more widespread uprising against the government . '' The government alleges that , in preparation for such an uprising , the militia acquired firearms , ammunition , explosives , uniforms , communication devices , vehicles and medical supplies . The militia also conducted military-style drills , including explosives and firearms training , as well as `` close-quarter battle drills . '' Members also prepared defensive fighting positions , including `` ambush kill zones '' and storage bunkers , the indictment said . On February 6 , Stone and several others intended to travel to Kentucky to meet with other militia groups , but weather conditions prevented them from reaching their destination . However , according to the indictment , Stone contacted `` a person he believed capable of manufacturing destructive devices to provide him with four anti-personnel improvised explosive devices to take with them to the summit . '' The indictment alleges that Stone identified law enforcement officers near his residence -- and one in particular -- as potential targets . Stone announced a covert reconnaissance exercise that was scheduled for next month , the indictment said , adding that `` anyone who happened upon the exercise who did not acquiesce to Hutaree demands could be killed . '' The Hutaree Web site 's main page , viewed Monday by CNN , announced an April 24 training exercise and asked visitors to `` contact headquarters immediately . '' Stone and six co-conspirators engaged in training as recently as February 20 , the indictment said , and each used at least one firearm . U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade explained the federal raid 's timing in a statement announcing the indictment . `` Because the Hutaree had planned a covert reconnaissance operation for April which had the potential of placing an unsuspecting member of the public at risk , the safety of the public and of the law enforcement community demanded intervention at this time . ''
Witness : Brother of suspect , knowing of sibling 's involvement in plot to kill law officers . Hutaree Web ##site : ` ` Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves from the sword '' Indictment : Leader contacted someone he thought was bombmaker , requested four . Militia hoped he would instigate wider uprising against government , authorities said .