Virginia assistant principal, brother busted at airport over alleged disturbing ICE violence plot: ‘Penetrate the vests’

An assistant principal in Virginia and his brother were arrested at an airport while en route to Las Vegas where they allegedly wanted to meet with “like-minded individuals” and plan violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

John Bennett, 54, and Mark Bennett, 59, were both busted at Norfolk International Airport on Wednesday — less than a week after they allegedly hatched the deranged anti-ICE plan, WTKR reported.

An off-duty officer with the Norfolk Police Department claimed he overheard the brothers four days earlier discussing “how ICE agents are kidnapping individuals and that they need to do something about it” while dining at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the outlet.

Mark Bennett allegedly told his brother about his intentions to fly to Las Vegas and meet with “like-minded” people to formulate “enforcement ideas and plans,” according to the complaint.

The elder brother also allegedly confessed that he had recently purchased an assault rifle specifically because “it utilizes the explosive rounds that are needed to penetrate the vests” worn by ICE agents, according to the complaint.

John Bennett, an assistant principal at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, piped up and said he wanted to tag along on the trip to Vegas and “go hunting,” as alleged in the complaint.

The complaint states that Mark Bennett bought a ticket to fly to Sin City on Wednesday. It’s unclear if his brother ever purchased one as well.

John Bennett was placed on leave following his arrest, WTKR reported.

He did take a one-year break from teaching and tried his hand at police work, according to his LinkedIn, before hanging up his badge and returning to teach high school mathematics.

The brothers are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding.

They were both granted bond after their arraignment on Thursday, 13 News Now reported.