[....] All four were charged with traveling and using the internet to organize or participate in riots, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Private messages between group leaders, members and associates show an effort to keep their violent intentions secret, according to an FBI affidavit attached to the complaint. One man, Benjamin Daley, urged members in a 2016 phone call to attend events wearing polo-style shirts and khakis, and to get military-style haircuts.

In an August 2017 exchange with someone considering joining the group, Daley said the individual would have to “change your [style] up a bit when your with us.” The associate said he could grow out his hair and drop the “boots and braces look,” the affidavit said. Daley responded: “think its time to reimagine the nationalist look and playbook, we have become predictable that needs to change.” He told another associate to keep a low profile on social media.

In private Facebook messages to the person in January, Daley said: “I would be mindful of saying anything that could be misconstrued as a call to violence. I know people who literally have had feds show up at there door over posts. [J]ust food for thought. Trust I’m not speaking in terms of morality rather practicality.”

In a hearing Wednesday, the judge in the case [....]