mrsat_98
03-23-2013, 08:01 PM
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20130323/NEWS01/303220035/Self-proclaimed-president-of-sovereign-citizen-nation-convicted?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE
After a five-day trail, a federal jury in Montgomery has convicted Tim Turner, the self-proclaimed president of the Sovereign Citizen Nation, on a variety of charges relating to defrauding the government.
The jury convicted the 57-year-old Skipperville resident on conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, attempting to pay taxes with fictitious financial instruments, attempting to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service, failing to file a 2009 federal income tax return and falsely testifying under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The FBI began an investigation after Turner and three other individuals sent demands to all 50 governors in the United States ordering each governor to resign within three days or be “removed,” according to a news release from Sandra J. Stewart, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
The investigation found that Turner was the self-proclaimed president of the so-called sovereign citizen group “Republic for the united States of America (RuSA).” As president, Turner traveled the country in 2008 and 2009 teaching others how to defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious “bonds” to the U.S. government in payment of federal taxes.
Witnesses at the trial testified that Turner used special paper, financial terminology and elaborate borders in an effort to make the fake bonds look authentic.
Turner was convicted of sending a $300 million “bond” in his own name and of aiding and abetting others in sending 15 other “bonds” to the Treasury Department to pay taxes and other debts.
The evidence also established that Turner taught people how to file retaliatory liens against government officials who interfered with the processing of fictitious “bonds,” according to the acting U.S. attorney’s announcement. Turner himself actually filed a purported $17.6 billion maritime lien in Montgomery County, Alabama, Probate Court against another individual.
“These sovereign citizen groups use these retaliatory tax liens and fraudulent tax schemes as weapons against the United States and its citizens,” Stewart said. “It is only the hard work of law enforcement that can stop these criminals from using these financial weapons.”
— Rick Harmon
After a five-day trail, a federal jury in Montgomery has convicted Tim Turner, the self-proclaimed president of the Sovereign Citizen Nation, on a variety of charges relating to defrauding the government.
The jury convicted the 57-year-old Skipperville resident on conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, attempting to pay taxes with fictitious financial instruments, attempting to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service, failing to file a 2009 federal income tax return and falsely testifying under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The FBI began an investigation after Turner and three other individuals sent demands to all 50 governors in the United States ordering each governor to resign within three days or be “removed,” according to a news release from Sandra J. Stewart, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
The investigation found that Turner was the self-proclaimed president of the so-called sovereign citizen group “Republic for the united States of America (RuSA).” As president, Turner traveled the country in 2008 and 2009 teaching others how to defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious “bonds” to the U.S. government in payment of federal taxes.
Witnesses at the trial testified that Turner used special paper, financial terminology and elaborate borders in an effort to make the fake bonds look authentic.
Turner was convicted of sending a $300 million “bond” in his own name and of aiding and abetting others in sending 15 other “bonds” to the Treasury Department to pay taxes and other debts.
The evidence also established that Turner taught people how to file retaliatory liens against government officials who interfered with the processing of fictitious “bonds,” according to the acting U.S. attorney’s announcement. Turner himself actually filed a purported $17.6 billion maritime lien in Montgomery County, Alabama, Probate Court against another individual.
“These sovereign citizen groups use these retaliatory tax liens and fraudulent tax schemes as weapons against the United States and its citizens,” Stewart said. “It is only the hard work of law enforcement that can stop these criminals from using these financial weapons.”
— Rick Harmon