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Militia Members Sue State Police, FBI Agents Over 'Mental Anguish
Michael Meeks (L) of Manchester and Thomas Piatek (R) of Whiting, Ind. Photo credit: Detroit Free Press.

Militia Members Sue State Police, FBI Agents Over 'Mental Anguish

41 firearms and 100,000 rounds of ammunition were seized as Hutaree claims their Second Amendment rights were violated.

Michael Meeks (L) of Manchester and Thomas Piatek (R) of Whiting, Ind. Photo credit: Detroit Free Press.

Members of the Michigan-based Hutaree militia, who plotted to overthrow the government and kill police in a violent coup, have filed a lawsuit against FBI and Michigan State Police officers, claiming their constitutional rights were violated when their homes were raided and guns confiscated.

They're seeking at least $25,000 in damages for each of the lawsuit's 16 counts.

The lawsuit, which was filed by acquitted members of the homegrown militia in U.S. District Court in Detroit, are seeking no less than $25,000 in damages.

The Hutaree believed President Barack Obama to be the Antichrist and espoused dreams of creating a "Colonial Christian Republic."  They were arrested in March 2010 after details of their plot were uncovered by federal agents.

Plaintiffs Michael Meeks and Thomas Piatek, along with Meeks' parents Eugene and Sylvia Meeks, and sister Gabrielle Neely, claim FBI agents and a State Police officer showed a "reckless disregard" for their "rights" when raiding their home.

In addition to suing for "emotional distress, anxiety, and mental anguish," the suit claims the plaintiffs' Fourth and Second Amendment rights were violated.

Agents seized 41 firearms including an AK47, rifles, handguns, and shotguns, along with 100,000 rounds of ammunition from Piatek's home during the raid.

Piatek and Meeks were two of seven Hutaree members who faced a potential sentence of life in prison after being accused of plotting to kill law enforcement officers with bombs and firearms. The case was dismissed due to a reported lack of evidence.

According to the Detroit Free Press, neither the FBI nor the Michigan State Police provided comment as of Monday.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain.

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