N.H. tax evader prepares for raid

Cthippo · 20 Jan 2007

Associated Press said:

CONCORD, N.H. - A former militia man convicted of tax evasion prepared for a government siege Friday at his fortress-like home, but U.S. marshals gave no indication they were planning to confront him.

Ed Brown said he was ready for a swarm of federal agents to descend on his property to execute an arrest warrant issued after he failed to appear for the end of his trial. He and his wife contend that they did not have to pay income taxes, and his supporters say a conflict could be violent.

"If Mexico came up on my land and tried to take my land, would I not fight?" Brown said. "The United States is the same exact thing as Mexico in this state."

Brown, 63, and his wife, Elaine, 65, were convicted Thursday of plotting to conceal their income and avoid paying federal income tax. They argued the tax is illegitimate and they are not required to pay it.

U.S. marshals said negotiations with Brown continue and they have no plans to attack Brown's Plainfield home or act quickly on the arrest warrant. He has been holed up in his home with armed supporters for much of the trial.

"He wants attention. We're determined to keep this very low-profile," U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said.

Brown said he has a stock of food and supplies and that his home can run on wind and solar generators.

"It's all set up for me to stay here forever," Brown said by phone.

Elaine Brown, a dentist who earned most of the couple's income, was staying at her son's home in Worcester, Mass., pending the couple's sentencing in April. She said she had no plans to return to Plainfield, where she fears there will be a violent confrontation.

The Browns' case has found support on the Internet from militia members to libertarians and anti-tax groups.

Rick Stanley, a Denver-based Web radio host and a militia leader, urged listeners to join Brown at his home.

"We are continuing to ask patriots to surround Ed Brown's property and life with a ring of armed Americans with firearms and video cameras to protect a fellow American," he said. "This is the flash point. This is the time of raised pitchforks."
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Firehed · 20 Jan 2007

Well, a bit nuts, but I'd rather see someone taking a stupid stand than just being a sheep as is so popular today.

Matkubicki · 21 Jan 2007

Anti-tax and patriotic, ha ha that made me laugh so much. Lower tax maybe but anti-tax? Love to see them run a country successfully without tax.

Nexxo · 21 Jan 2007

Basically, he is an anarchist (in the real, classical definition of the word). Everybody gets to do their own thing, and look after themselves, as long as it does not adversely affect anyone else. Seems fair to me; people should be able to opt out of paying tax --provided that they do not use any tax-funded public services either.

Cthippo · 21 Jan 2007

It seems to me just fine to let him rot out there in his house waiting for a raid that never comes. After all, hes guilty of not paying taxes, he didn't kill anyone or even steal music for that matter. Throwing him in prison seems pretty much like overkill to me.

cpemma · 21 Jan 2007

I thought this was about somebody sponging on our National Health...

Anarchy can only work in a high-intelligence society, and this bloke is surrounded by idiots. Plus it's not like refusing to pay council tax because you don't use the amenities, or opting totally out of the system and living self-sufficiently...

[URL=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070111/REPOSITORY/701110383]Concord Monitor[/URL] said:

The Browns have been accused of conspiring to evade federal income taxes by funnelling nearly $2 million in profits from Elaine Brown's Lebanon dental practice into a trust and refusing to pay taxes on the income. They are also accused of conspiring to conceal large financial transactions and concealing large financial transactions, and Elaine Brown has been charged with failing to withhold payroll taxes from the practice's employees.

They stopped paying taxes in 1996, they said, and began sending interrogatory letters to the IRS, demanding an explanation of the tax laws and an opportunity to have their questions answered. When they didn't receive any, the Browns contend, they assumed that they'd caught on to a little-known truth.
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He's not got the IQ for anarchy.

"Lebanon"? -

Anyroad, his wife is plea bargaining not to go to Gitmo, he's quoting Patrick Henry, and although "federal agents seized more than 30 weapons from the Brown home in May", he's got some more.

Is this where I say, "Crazy Americans"?