Federal authorities are joining the investigation in to a case of potential domestic terrorism in Greenwood.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WTHR) - Federal authorities are joining the investigation in to a case of potential domestic terrorism in Greenwood.

According to police, 31-year-old Christopher Byrne had weapons and claims to be part of a movement the FBI connects to terrorism. Johnson County's deputy prosecutor wants the case moved to federal court, because Byrne's alleged behavior isn't illegal under Indiana law, but violates federal statutes.

Christopher Byrne concerns - perhaps even scares law enforcement authorities, including Johnson County Deputy Prosecutor Rob Seet.

"He seems to have nothing to lose and seems to be willing to do something really, really bad," he said.

Police arrested Byrne outside the Greenwood Park Mall earlier this month. In his car, they say he had a rifle, ammunition, a scope, a noise suppressor, and bottles of common cleaners that, mixed together, become a destructive device of toxic gas.

According to police, Byrne called himself a "sovereign national." Sovereign citizens are labeled as extremists. They insist they are exempt from paying federal taxes, as well as many federal and state laws.

It is watched by the Southern Poverty Law Center, where Mark Potok is a senior fellow.

"(The) FBI, in fact, has described sovereign citizens as recently as 2011 as a domestic terror movement," Potok said.

He went on to explain that sovereign citizens believe they are not required to have driver's licenses, or license plates, or insure their vehicles. This has led to violent confrontations with police.

"In fact, sovereign citizens have been responsible for the murder of at least seven law enforcement officials in the last 10 years or so," Potok said.

Byrne has a criminal history including drunk driving and a conviction for possessing of a police rifle and other equipment taken from two stolen police cars. In Johnson County, he recently pled guilty to having a handgun without a license. Sentencing in that case is in November.

The deputy prosecutor says he sees nothing but contempt.

"Contempt for government, contempt for police, contempt for the courts, prosecutors," Seet said.

Nothing found in Byrne's car violated any Indiana laws, he explained. However, Seet said federal law prohibits convicted felons from having rifles. He is sharing evidence with the U.S. district attorney.