Albany

A self-described "resistance fighter" who was reputedly forming a militia in Greene County boasted of his ability to kill dozens of people and attack federal buildings in Albany to combat "tyranny" in the event of Armageddon, court papers revealed Wednesday.

Robert Twiss, 58, of Earlton, whose convictions include one burglary in 1981, is being held in the Rensselaer County Jail charged with unlawful possession of a rifle by a felon, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

But a federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court painted a more chilling picture of the defendant, who was arrested Sunday following an FBI investigation that began in 2015. It alleged Twiss spoke of using a Molotov cocktail on an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force building in Albany and crippling a Federal Emergency Management Agency office in Albany — even though none exists.

In one recorded conversation, Twiss allegedly bragged about his deadly ability to improvise with a propane tank by adding Tannerite, an exploding target.

"I can shoot that mother-(expletive) and make the world come to an end for a bunch of people," Twiss said, according to an affidavit to back the complaint written by an FBI agent assigned to handle domestic terrorism cases. "One bullet in that, I can kill about 40 people."

At another point, Twiss reputedly said: "I'm not a dangerous extremist, but I am extremely dangerous. There's a difference ... as you can see this is my mindset."

The FBI launched the probe after learning Twiss "was forming, or had formed, a militia based in Greene County that had plans to engage in acts of violence," the document said. The FBI used an informant to pose as someone interested in joining Twiss' militia and to record Twiss. The complaint suggested Twiss had been in a prior militia but was miffed at his former militia mates.

"They damn well better be scared of me 'cause I'm not just some (expletive) talker," he allegedly said on Aug. 22, 2015. "I mean what I say, I say what I mean, and I don't give a (expletive) who likes it."

That day, Twiss said he could "can get guns all day long" and was a "resistance fighter." If an Armageddon situation were to happen, he would go into the city of Albany and "take up arms" against the "tyranny," the complaint said.

"Twiss also told the (informant) that he knew where the Albany 'Joint Terrorism Task Force' was located, that it had a metal fence surrounding it, but that Twiss could 'reach it with a (expletive) Molotov launcher' if needed," the complaint said.

On Feb. 7, Twiss held a meeting in Hampton Manor Park in East Greenbush where, according to the complaint, he boasted about explosives.

"I am the weapon. I can make anything into a weapon and I mean anything," Twiss allegedly said. "My forte is liquid flammables. It doesn't matter whether it's compressed gas or if it's gasoline in a can from the gas station or the diesel kerosene with gasoline."

On March 5, at another militia-related meeting, Twiss allegedly said he would have to destroy the FEMA building in the event of Armageddon, saying: "I know where the FEMA center is, I know where their backup generator is and I know where their nearest substation is. OK? I know where all their telephones are. OK? And I know where the (expletive) nearest, uh, microwave unit is. Why do I know where all that stuff is? 'Cause if l'm gonna take it, if l'm gonna cripple them I need to cripple all that (expletive)."

In August, the informant recorded Twiss talking about shooting an M-1 rifle as Twiss showed the informant "some survivalist type projects on which Twiss was actively working. "On Sept. 9, the informant fired Twiss' rifle using the 50 rounds of ammunition provided by the informant, the complaint said.

Twiss, arrested Sunday, was arraigned Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Christian Hummel, who ordered him detained. Twiss was represented Wednesday by Timothy Austin from the federal public defender's office.

rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU