A Tennessee man was arrested Monday after allegedly plotting to carry out a violent attack against federal agents at the U.S.-Mexico border with the help of multiple militia groups.

Paul Faye of Cunningham is charged with possessing, selling or transferring an unregistered firearm following a nearly yearlong undercover investigation, according to a criminal complaint filed in Nashville.

Faye allegedly said that he wanted to stir up the hornets nest at the border and intended to coordinate the attack with militia groups from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. He hoped that news of the violence would set off a domino effect in which others would travel to the border to support his effort, according to conversations cited in the complaint.