steve and sarah nick built up the huge arsenal , including a 50-caliber machine gun , a sniper rifle , and 17,000 rounds of ammunition , after it was claimed they stole more than $ 50,000 .
many of the 30 weapons were legally owned , but the couple , who are said to have links to the michigan militia , are accused of plundering mrs nick 's 67-year-old mother 's savings to fund the potentially deadly haul .