MADISON, Wis. -- Opponents to naming Madison's newest elementary school in honor of a controversial Hmong general have a new argument in their ongoing battle to change the school's name: Vang Pao is now under arrest and charged with plotting a violent overthrow of Laos' communist government, according to Forbes Magazine.

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According to The Associated Press, Vang Pao was the mastermind behind the plot. Eight others were also arrested and charged; authorities said that they believe there will be more arrests. Vang Pao is in federal custody after a raid near Fresno, Calif., involving 200 agents.

Federal prosecutors said that Pao, and a former lieutenant colonel with the California National Guard were raising money to recruit a small army, as well as stockpiling weapons, including anti-tank missiles and grenade launchers. Prosecutors said they didn't know the arms dealer was an ATF agent.

"A final agreement was reached to have the weapons sent later this week to remote regions of Thailand, which would then serve as staging areas for entering Laos. Once in Laos, a coup attempt would be launched to include blowing up governmental buildings and assassinating officials," said U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott.

The criminal complaint said Pao, now 77, and the other Hmong defendants formed a committee "to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a military expedition or enterprise to engage in the overthrow of the existing government of Laos by violent means, including murder, assaults on both military and civilian officials of Laos and destruction of buildings and property."

Pao immigrated to the U.S. in about 1975 and has been credited by thousands of Hmong refugees with helping them build new lives, WISC-TV reported.

The attorneys for Pao had no immediate comment after Monday's court proceeding.

Madison's school board got word of the new charges filed against Pao during a closed-door meeting. Board president Arlene Silveira said the board would investigate the new allegations against Pao.

"The Madison School Board is taking the new allegations against General Vang Pao very seriously. We are in a period of gathering information related to the charges and to the sentiments of our community in order to determine our path forward," said Madison Board of Education President Arlene Silveira in a statement.

Silveira said she will place the naming of the new school on an upcoming Board of Education agenda for discussion. School district official Joe Quick said that the board hasn't yet scheduled the discussion but said it would be at a full board meeting and not at any subcommittee.

Parents and community members who have actively campaigned against naming the school for Pao said that they felt vindicated by the news.

"I feel bad that it had to come to this, that there had to be so many allegations for them to reconsider it, but on the other hand, I feel vindicated," said vocal opponent Heidi Reynolds. "This is just not a man whose name belongs on a public elementary school."

Members of the Hmong community said that the allegations are just allegations at this point.

"If what you're talking about earlier is correct, then I think in this country he may be charged," said Dr. Koua Vang, who participated in a group that supports naming the school after Vang Pao. "The school board certainly has the freedom to exercise their discretion and look at all the possibilities."

Vang said an informal group of local leaders will discuss what they'd like done following Pao's arrest. He said that because of Monday's developments "everything is on the table."

Local Hmong leaders said they are open to discussion with parents in the Linden Park neighborhood who believe the school should not be named after Pao because of allegations against him.

The research of University of Wisconsin-Madison history professor Alfred McCoy has long been critical of Pao. As a result, McCoy said he has been a target of criticism and even threats, especially after urging the Madison School Board in early May not to name a school in Vang Pao's honor.

"I said, 'If you review this, you'll see there's a rising drumbeat of criticism against Vang Pao in the national and regional press, and if you persist in naming the school after Vang Pao, you'll be subjecting this community and this city to serious embarrassment.' That was May 7. It wasn't even a month later that this happened," McCoy said.

McCoy said that it is time that Hmong contributions be recognized in Wisconsin. He suggested that the new school be named for Shong Lue Yang, who is often referred to as the "mother or writing."

Former Wis. Senator Named In Court Papers

The investigation into an alleged California-based plot to overthrow the Laotian government widened Tuesday as prosecutors examined the role of a former Wisconsin state senator.

A sworn affidavit from an undercover agent states that "probable cause exists to believe" that former Wisconsin state Sen. Gary George was among those involved in the conspiracy.

George has not been arrested or charged.

Lo Cha Thao once worked as an aide to the senator. The 34-year-old Thao was one of 10 people charged Monday in federal court in Sacramento.

George's attorney -- Alex Flynn of Milwaukee -- did not return repeated telephone messages from The Associated Press.

Earlier Tuesday, he told the San Francisco Chronicle that the allegations are "utterly preposterous and categorically false."

George recently completed a four-year federal prison sentence for accepting kickbacks from a Milwaukee social service agency.