FBI Investigation Timeline prepared by Ron Cole (from jail, May 1997) | January 1997: | Special Agent Steve Dirito assigned to the FBI"s Domestic Terrorism Unit and begins to monitor militia newsgroups. (examples quoted in government complaint) | | January 30, 1997: | SA Dirito has, by this date, begun a file on "militia oriented" postings written by Ron Cole from off of militia newsgroups. (examples quoted in government complaint) | | March 1997: | Cole begins posting NALA information on the Internet. | | March 4, 1997: | SA Dirito has added at least one other newsgroup post to Cole"s file. (quoted in government complaint) | | March 12, 1997: | SA Dirito, by this date, has included articles from Cole"s website into his file. (Specifically "The Roles We Play" Partisan) | | March 31, 1997: | By this date, the FBI has begun surveillance on Cole"s. Terry"s and Kennett"s residence. | | April 23, 1997: | SA Dirito meets with Dan McNasby. | | April 23, 1997: | McNasby (informant) enters Cole"s home with intent to gather information for the FBI, then meets with Dirito later that night. | | April 28, 1997: | FBI contacts ATF and receives from them information pertaining to firearms alleged to be in Cole"s, Terry"s and Kennett"s possession, according to McNasby. | | April 29, 1997: | SA Bill Clifford calls Cole and establishes a meeting for 2:00 PM on May 1. Subject: Finding a peaceful solution to the Republic of Texas standoff. | | May 1, 1997: | Cole, Terry and Kennett are arrested by the FBI"s Domestic Terrorism Unit on Firearms charges. |
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