FBI Steals 91-Year-Old Man’s Artifact Collection

[Lucille]

They seized not only the artifacts, but his HOME.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/...ct-collection/

On the grounds that the government and big museums do not want him to have it. (Thanks to Travis Holte)

Writes a friend:

My definition of “art” is the physical representation of human creativity.

Now, how does one define “art” crimes? Simple, it’s when government involves itself with art.

The “art crimes unit” is the government team responsible for committing art crimes.

http://reason.com/blog/2014/04/03/in...i-raid-of-doom

He’s a “real life Indiana Jones,” trumpets a Time headline today. The publication is referring to Don Miller, a 91-year-old Indiana man. We have no idea what sort of inventive traps and possessive, violent aboriginal warriors (or Nazis!) he may have had to overcome to amass his huge collection of artifacts, but he can now say he knows what it’s like to be the target of a raid.

On Wednesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) descended on his home and seized it and all his belongings, including thousands of historical and cultural artifacts obtained over the past 80 years.

The FBI believes some of them were obtained illegally, but they don’t know which ones (if any), and it may take them months—or even years—to find out.
[...]
Miller has not been charged with any crimes. Indeed, according to the Star, this entire raid is to determine whether any of the artifacts were illegally obtained:

The aim of the investigation is to determine what each artifact is, where it came from and how Miller obtained it, Jones said, to determine whether some of the items might be illegal to possess privately.

Jones acknowledged that Miller might have acquired some of the items before the passage of U.S. laws or treaties prohibited their sale or purchase.

So because they don’t know whether Miller had obtained any of these artifacts illegally, they seized an elderly man’s home and his property to find out.

[Dr.3D]

It appears in this case, they assume he is innocent of any charges and thus they will punish him till such time they are able to find him guilty.

This could be any one of us. They decide one of us must have done something wrong so they confiscate all of our possessions to see if they can determine any wrongdoing. Now why wasn't there some kind of protection written into the Constitution keep such things from happening?

[KCIndy]

It appears in this case, they assume he is innocent of any charges and thus they will punish him till such time they are able to find him guilty.

This could be any one of us. They decide one of us must have done something wrong so they confiscate all of our possessions to see if they can determine any wrongdoing. Now why wasn't there some kind of protection written into the Constitution keep such things from happening?

The Constitution? You mean that document that Ron Paul suggested the government actually follow? I remember how derisive all the politicians were when he suggested the government should strictly adhere to the Constitution:

"Crazy old man!"

"We don't do it that way anymore!"

"That's outdated and outmoded."

"How quaint. But Ron Paul just doesn't understand how the real world works."



YES, YOU IDIOT POLITICIANS! **THAT** CONSTITUTION!! IF YOU SELF-SERVING JACKALS HADN'T BEEN WIPING YOUR FEET WITH IT ALL THESE YEARS, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MESS!!! DAMN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR CIRCUMVENTING IT TO SERVE YOUR OWN SELFISH, GREEDY AND CORRUPT DESIRES!

[fisharmor]

IF YOU SELF-SERVING JACKALS HADN'T BEEN WIPING YOUR FEET WITH IT ALL THESE YEARS, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MESS!!! DAMN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR CIRCUMVENTING IT TO SERVE YOUR OWN SELFISH, GREEDY AND CORRUPT DESIRES!

What mess?
This doesn't happen to self-serving jackals.
With the exception of Cheye Calvo, who was only a small jackal, and let's face it, he has a foreign sounding name, which means he isn't a real American and therefore has no rights.

[KCIndy]

What mess?
This doesn't happen to self-serving jackals.

You're right. It doesn't...





















.... not yet.

[donnay]

This is absolutely disgusting, what they are doing to this man.

[Czolgosz]

There is nobody to stop them.

[tod evans]

There is nobody to stop them.

We are all "nobody".....

Sooner or later us nobodies will have had enough...

[angelatc]

There is nobody to stop them.

Yep. Every site on internet that is talking about this is ragging on the FBI. But as far as I can tell, nobody is actually organizing a counter-attack. And so it goes.

[phill4paul]

Same with asset forfeiture laws. We believe these assets of yours were acquired illegally so we will seize them. But, hey, if you don't like it you can have your day in court to prove that your assets were obtained legally.

[navy-vet]

Who was the blabber mouth anyway?

[navy-vet]

Just goes to show, if you have anything of value, you best keep it to yourself. Share and some jackass will turn you in to the Gestapo...

[Anti Federalist]

Same with asset forfeiture laws. We believe these assets of yours were acquired illegally so we will seize them. But, hey, if you don't like it you can have your day in court to prove that your assets were obtained legally.

Where we will use the unlimited funds at our disposal to show that your possessions are guilty.

Now, $#@! off and move along.

Outside, it's Amerika...

[Anti Federalist]

Just goes to show, if you have anything of value, you best keep it to yourself. Share and some jackass will turn you in to the Gestapo...

See Something Say Something.

[Anti Federalist]

Yep. Every site on internet that is talking about this is ragging on the FBI. But as far as I can tell, nobody is actually organizing a counter-attack. And so it goes.

And I'm as guilty as the next man...just another day in the land of the phree.

[Valli6]

I'm starting to get the impression that this is not a "raid", though it's certainly being portrayed that way in the media. Miller never hid this collection and may have actually reached out to some authority to help figure out what to do with it - it seems there are no kids. Perhaps this is just government and/or media jerks expoiting the stituation to scare and impress us with dramatic tactics.

Donald Miller sounds like an interesting man with a lot of interests; collector, WWII veteran, ham radio operator. The 2nd local story below, links to a 4 part story from 2007 where he discusses some role he played in “The Manhattan Project” and the atomic bomb. http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/l...e-Twice?zc_p=0 Accompanying pictures of him show what appear to be artifacts and lots of WWII memorabillia in the background. The man's a true collector and his house really is a museum!

This story from a local publication refers to an inventory, not a raid. It sounds like Miller invited people in.
4/2/14

Local collection being inventoried
By Frank Denzler
Rushville Republican

A large Federal Bureau Investigation presence was realized shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Don Miller residence in south western Rush County.

Miller has a storied life and for a number of years has collected and displayed a number of items in his residence in a climate controlled environment.

He is an avid collector of Indian artifacts.

FBI spokesperson agent Drew Northern said Wednesday that although there is a large F.B.I. presence in the area, there is no public threat.

“Mr. Miller does have a large collection of artifacts. We are working with him to help repatriate some of those items,” Northern said Wednesday afternoon.

He continued by saying that at this time many of the items were being logged and inventoried.

“Basically what that means is that treaties, federal laws and statutes dictate who can have these types of items. Mr. Miller has been collecting for a long time as everyone knows and he wants to make sure they go back to where they belong,” Northern said.

Read more on this story as information is made available in Friday’s edition of the Rushville Republican.
Contact: Frank Denzler @ 765.932.2222 x106.
- See more at: http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/l....y3PFhFqS.dpuf

Some of the artifacts:
4/2/14

"He had a head with an arrowhead stuck in it, like a skull and all kinds of Indian artifacts from arrowheads to hatchets to peace pipes to just anything," explained Runnebohm.

Outside, near the front door, we saw statues that appeared to be from the Far East.

Several people in Waldron said the house was like a museum, that school groups and Scout troops would go on regular tours…

...Agents won't say what all the items are, but say there are thousands of artifacts spanning the globe.

"China, Haiti, Australia, Russia, New Guinea, Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Greece, Peru, and we believe several other countries," said Special Agent Jones...
http://www.wthr.com/story/25144019/2...-for-artifacts

[Anti Federalist]

Jones acknowledged that Miller might have acquired some of the items before the passage of U.S. laws or treaties prohibited their sale or purchase

Three felonies a day...

[devil21]

The FBI will see to it that they are returned to their "rightful owners", of course.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/fbi-se...-indiana-home/

A 91-year-old man, Donald Miller of Waldorn, Indiana has been found to have collected thousands of ancient artifacts over a span of 80 years and storing them in his home. The artifacts were seized by the FBI on Wednesday, who have promised to return those items which the owner had no right to possess due to federal and state laws as well as treaties. Among the items are Native American, Russian, Chinese, Peruvian, Haitian, and Australian relics as well as more from other countries.

In a news conference, Special Agent Robert Jones of the FBI called the cultural value of the artifacts “immeasurable,” but would not give detailed information on any of the items individually. He declined to offer information as to why the investigation into Miller’s collection began, but he acknowledged that the FBI had received information about the artifacts and deployed its art crime team to investigate. The monetary value of the relics has not been determined.

Miller, a world traveler who claims to have visited 200 countries, collected items from places he visited. Although some of the artifacts were not obtained through proper channels, some of the items were collected legally or prior to laws against their collection being passed.
.................
Zimmerman added that he had seen collections like Miller’s only in “the largest museums."
more at link

[Philhelm]

In a news conference, Special Agent Robert Jones of the FBI called the cultural value of the artifacts “immeasurable,” but would not give detailed information on any of the items individually.

Did he possess the crown, sceptre, and orb of the Holy Roman Empire, or was it something stupid, like an arrowhead?

[Dr.3D]

I think this might be the same topic.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...act-Collection

[Valli6]

This story was posted in the Individual Rights & Liberty forum ( http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...act-Collection ), and after doing some searching it's looking like this may not be a raid at all, but something 91-year-old Don Miller may have initiated because he has no offspring and wants his collection to go somewhere it will be appreciated and taken care of.

A local story published yesterday tells us they are doing an "inventory" - there's nothing about a raid. It says Miller's (locally) well-known collection is being inventoried, that the FBI is working with Miller to help him, and implies that Miller wants the items properly dealt with, according to FBI spokesperson agent Drew Northern.

Local collection being inventoried
By Frank Denzler
Rushville Republican

A large Federal Bureau Investigation presence was realized shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Don Miller residence in south western Rush County.

Miller has a storied life and for a number of years has collected and displayed a number of items in his residence in a climate controlled environment.

He is an avid collector of Indian artifacts.

FBI spokesperson agent Drew Northern said Wednesday that although there is a large F.B.I. presence in the area, there is no public threat.

“Mr. Miller does have a large collection of artifacts. We are working with him to help repatriate some of those items,” Northern said Wednesday afternoon.

He continued by saying that at this time many of the items were being logged and inventoried.

“Basically what that means is that treaties, federal laws and statutes dictate who can have these types of items. Mr. Miller has been collecting for a long time as everyone knows and he wants to make sure they go back to where they belong,” Northern said.

Read more on this story as information is made available in Friday’s edition of the Rushville Republican.
Contact: Frank Denzler @ 765.932.2222 x106.
http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/l...ng-inventoried

[Carson]

Someone leaves something for him to find and someone else has a problem with it. I'm not sure I do.

They sound kind of grabby to me.



It's called human nature. Have a life full people. All of our forefathers did.

[Valli6]

Another local report that Donald Miller contacted the FBI for help assessing the collection.

FBI working with artifact collector to return items
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2014 12:05 PM US/eastern
Andy Proffet, Staff writer

WALDRON — The FBI on Wednesday was working with a collector near Waldron with assessment of cultural artifacts in his collection.

During the investigation, which could last up to a week, police closed 850 West between SR 244 and CR 900 South.

FBI spokesman Drew Northern called 91-year-old Donald C. Miller of Waldron "an amateur archaeologist," who had collected the artifacts over his lifetime.

"Mr. Miller has a large collection of artifacts and we are working with him to help him repatriate those items to the appropriate folks," Northern said.

"There are treaties and statutes that deal with repatriation of cultural artifacts, and Mr. Miller is working with us to return those."

Northern said he couldn't specify whether the artifacts in question were of native American or foreign origin.

"But they are items of great cultural value that Mr. Miller has amassed in his private collection over the years, and the FBI is there, we have our resources meticulously cataloging and collecting and working with Mr. Miller to preserve these items," Northern said.

Northern said Miller had contacted the FBI about returning the items, but couldn't elaborate on why Miller was looking to repatriate the artifacts now.

"There's no way to know at this point how long the process will take," Northern said. "The goal is to do this as quickly as possible, also maintaining the integrity of the process and protecting the cultural items."

Northern also said there was no way to assess a monetary value on the collection on Wednesday afternoon.

"More importantly, the cultural value of these items is immeasurable, so we're treating those items with great respect," he said.

Outside agencies brought in archaeologists and anthropologists to help catalog the items. They will then decide if any were stolen or need to be repatriated to the indigenous tribes they came from.

Authorities said Miller was cooperative so far and was not considered a criminal suspect. Miller told agents he had been collecting the artifacts since he was a child.

Andy Proffet is a staff writer for The Shelbyville News. Follow him on Twitter @AndyProffetTSN.
http://www.shelbynews.com/articles/2...5859694070.txt

[Carson]

Ever see pictures of the piles of electric stuff we trick other countries into taking to salvage. Wouldn't it be something if some archaeologists over there dug it up and sent it all back!

[DamianTV]

Did he possess the crown, sceptre, and orb of the Holy Roman Empire, or was it something stupid, like an arrowhead?

More like a Rock...

What I wanna know is how the FBI knew he had such a "collection" to begin with? And why is it even worth the effort of the FBI to get involved in such a situation?

[devil21]

Strange story, for sure. Media reports are all over the map. Who calls the FBI to disperse personal property and why the hell are we paying for it??

Hmm....well maybe this guy.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/04/...rural-indiana/

A federal law enforcement source told CBS News the man on the property has a large collection of artifacts that the authorities are attempting to recover.

Officials told WISH the man has a large collection of historical artifacts, including items from World War II. The man reportedly worked on the project that created the atom bomb.

[green73]

I think this might be the same topic.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...act-Collection

merge!

[devil21]

I hate linking to Beck but this article covers some of what's allegedly been found at the house and contradicts the statement that he "requested" the FBI's help.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014...-from-the-fbi/

This whole story stinks. 100 agents for artifacts? Tunnels to block off viewers? There's definitely something more to this raid than just some old dusty relics.

[Henry Rogue]

So they don't know if a crime has been committed, but they are going to take his property so they can find out if a crime has been committed. I'll tell you what crime has been committed, a bunch of jack booted nazi thugs broke into an old man's home and stole his property, that's the crime that has been committed.

[angelatc]

I hate linking to Beck but this article covers some of what's allegedly been found at the house and contradicts the statement that he "requested" the FBI's help.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014...-from-the-fbi/

This whole story stinks. 100 agents for artifacts? Tunnels to block off viewers? There's definitely something more to this raid than just some old dusty relics.

Don't be so sure. I wonder how many of the relics he has were aquired before the laws currently on the books were even drafted? Of course, at 91, he doesn't have the time to let the court system sort it all out.

Jones said some statutes and laws from the last several decades may not have been in effect when Miller collected some of the item

That right there makes it unconstitutional. They can't pass de facto laws. Unless they pass them against an old man who will die before he gets to the Supreme Court.