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Federal agents made arrests in six states — including Utah — on Thursday, rounding up supporters of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy for their participation in a 2014 armed standoff with federal agents.
In all, 12 men were arrested, including two of Bundy's sons: David "Davey" Harold Bundy, 39, of Delta, Utah, and his brother, Melvin D. Bundy, 41, of Round Mountain, Nev., federal officials said.
The men are two of the 14 children of Cliven Bundy, the 69-year-old Bunkerville, Nev., cattleman who last month was arrested and indicted on 16 federal charges related to a standoff near his ranch as part of a long-running dispute with the Bureau of Land Management over unpaid grazing fees.
More than 200 people participated in the standoff, which resulted in the release of about 400 head of Bundy's cattle, which had been seized by federal agents.
In a news release, the U.S. Department of Justice said the arrests follow the Wednesday return of a new grand jury indictment in Nevada's U.S. District Court.
The indictment charges 14 new individuals with one count each of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, weapon use and possession, assault on a federal officer, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, extortion to interfere with commerce and interstate travel in aid of extortion.
The charges carry penalties ranging from five to 20 years in federal prison.
The indictment also alleges five counts of criminal forfeiture, which could require defendants to surrender more than $3 million in properties derived from the proceeds of the alleged crimes, the DOJ statement says.
"This investigation began the day after the assault against federal law enforcement officers and continues to this day," Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said in a statement. "We will continue to work to identify the assaults and their role in the assault and the aftermath, in order to ensure that justice is served.
In Utah, David Bundy was arrested just after 7 a.m. Thursday at the site of a home the Millard County contractor is building for his family just south of Delta, his wife told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Marylynn Bundy said she was alerted to the arrest by a worker who was blocked from getting to the house by law enforcement.
"I think they are just trying to get all the Bundy men locked up, so they can raid their homes," Marylynn Bundy said.
Two of Cliven Bundy's other sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, were charged alongside their father in the original indictment. They also face federal charges in Oregon for organizing the six-week occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
"My husband had nothing to do with that Oregon stuff," said Marylynn Bundy, who said she was raised in Delta and has six children with her husband.
David Bundy was, however, with his family in Nevada in 2014 when Cliven Bundy's dispute with the Bureau of Land Management bubbled up into the standoff with federal agents, she said.
David Bundy was arrested and cited for taking a photograph of federal agents who were working to seize the family's livestock, his wife said.
He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
Also arrested on Thursday were: Gerald A. DeLemus, 61, of Rochester, N.H.; Eric J. Parker, 32, of Hailey, Idaho; O. Scott Drexler, 44, of Challis, Idaho; Richard R. Lovelien, 52, of Westville, Okla.; Steven A. Stewart, 36, of Hailey, Idaho; Todd C. Engel, 48, of Boundary County, Idaho; Gregory P. Burleson, 52, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Joseph D. O'Shaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Ariz.; and Micah L. McGuire, 31, and Jason D. Woods, 30, both of Chandler, Ariz.