A 31-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man linked to a violent extremist group is heading to federal court this afternoon after authorities discovered a stash of homemade explosives. Jarred G. Gilliam faces a federal criminal complaint for the illegal possession of destructive devices, specifically three Molotov cocktails that prosecutors say he kept over a year-long period ending June 3, 2026.
Federal court documents tie Gilliam to a group called the “Red Legs,” an organization that allegedly advocates for violent attacks against military personnel and government agencies. Investigators say Gilliam utilized an encrypted messaging app to chat with other suspected members about launching assaults with incendiary weapons. The group’s primary targets included local and federal property, with a heavy emphasis on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Missouri National Guard, and various political groups.
The unsealed complaint details a series of chilling messages sent through the encrypted app, detailing a step-by-step escalation toward violence.
“If ice moves to kc, thoughts on an armed response,” Gilliam allegedly wrote in one message.
Other communications showed a group trying to map out a long-term strategy for sabotage and infrastructure damage. “It wouldn’t make sense to panic now, the time for panicking has long passed. Now we must make our peace, arm ourselves, and prepare to do what is necessary,” one message stated. Another added, “After we build our ranks and adequately arm ourselves, we can look into escalation.”
The group also discussed gathering intelligence on military supply lines and using advanced tactics, according to the court filings. “I recommend we start slow at first. Maybe some basic sabotage… We should locate abandoned warehouses where we could potentially secure seized armor… First, we need to find a way to track military shipments, we don’t want to derail the wrong train,” a message read.
The suspect also showed explicit interest in using unmanned aircraft for arson attacks, asking, “What are the chances we could get away with using drones to drop incendiary’s [sic] to demolish key infrastructure,” before later following up with, “I like the idea of using drones carrying cocktails to demolish key structures…Frozen water areas.”
Gilliam is locked in for his initial court appearance today, Monday, June 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Jennifer B. Wieland in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The wider investigation into the Red Legs has already rippled across state lines. Authorities identified several other alleged members during the probe, including 26-year-old Lake Ethan Roberts of Kansas City, Missouri. Roberts is currently facing separate federal prosecution across the river by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri for possessing unregistered destructive devices.
The ongoing case is being spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with field assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is handling the prosecution for the government.
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