Edward and Elaine Brown
Encyclopedia
Edward Lewis Brown and his wife, Elaine Alice Brown (born c. 1940), residents of the state of New Hampshire
, gained national news media
attention in early 2007 for not paying the U.S. federal income tax
and refusing to surrender to federal government
agents after having been convicted of tax crimes. After the conviction and sentencing, a long, armed standoff with federal law enforcement authorities at their New Hampshire residence ended with the arrest of Edward and Elaine Brown on October 4, 2007. In July 2009, while serving their sentences for the tax crimes, the Browns were found guilty by a federal district court jury of additional criminal charges arising from the Browns' conduct during the standoff.
in Boston
before opening a dental practice in West Lebanon, New Hampshire
. Elaine Brown earned most of the couple's income in dispute in the case in her dental practice
.
business.
. Brown was imprisoned at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord, Massachusetts
, was paroled in January 1965, and was pardoned in July 1976 by then-governor Michael Dukakis
, with the recommendation of the Massachusetts Advisory Board of Parole.
to deprive Americans of life and liberty. Among the people and organizations named by Brown were then-U.S. President Bill Clinton
, former President George H.W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev
, The Council on Foreign Relations
, the United Nations
, the Trilateral Commission
, the American Bar Association
, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).
Brown reportedly had stockpiled 18 months' worth of food, with weapons and ammunition, and believed that there would be a Federal government takeover of “private property, utilities, health facilities and the media.” The 1994 article reported that Brown believed the militia was setting up its own "courts… for the purpose of taking back America." The newspaper reported that Brown said he saw no way the conflict would end except in violence. The paper stated: “Brown, who says he is an agnostic, admits it's easy to dismiss him as a nut.”
Prosecutors in the Browns' case presented evidence that the Browns had not paid income tax since 1996 and had not filed income tax returns since 1998; they were liable for taxes of more than $625,000.
The Browns initially chose to represent themselves, without the help of a court-appointed lawyer. Halfway through the trial Ed Brown decided not to return to the court, while Elaine Brown chose to enlist the help of a court-appointed lawyer to defend her and negotiate any possible plea bargain offered by the federal prosecutor.
The Browns claimed they had not been presented with any law
that required them to pay income taxes to the federal government, an argument similar to many tax protester statutory arguments
.
Edward Brown stopped attending his case halfway through the trial. On January 18, 2007, Edward Brown was found guilty by a jury
in a Federal District Court in Concord, New Hampshire
of three criminal charges relating to his refusal to pay taxes to the US government.
The same jury also found Elaine Brown guilty of 17 tax-related criminal charges, including tax evasion
and withholding employment taxes. The tax evasion convictions of Mrs. Brown involved the failure to report income of $1,310,706 over a period of five years. Each was sentenced to over five years in prison.
Before granting Elaine Brown's release on bail, the judge of the Browns' trial ordered her not to return to the Browns' home before sentencing. As a condition of her bail agreement with the state, she was ordered to live at her son's home in Worcester, Massachusetts
, where she had been living prior to the trial. A tracking device was attached to her, and she was given permission to leave her son's home only if he was accompanying her; she later violated the terms of her release by destroying this device and rejoining her husband.
On April 14, 2007, the Concord Monitor
reported that Ed and Elaine Brown "recently ordered the clerk of the court to close their case, citing themselves as 'the court' and 'judge'." The Browns reportedly signed their filings with the court using new names: "Edward, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel," and "Elaine, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel." The court rejected the filings, ruling them frivolous
.
, "green"-style home in New Hampshire that some members of the news media referred to as a "compound." Ed Brown said that he had a stock of food and supplies and that his home could run on wind
and solar generators even if cut off from the main grid. He also stated publicly that he did not intend to go to jail and "vowed to resist arrest violently and die rather than go to prison."
During the standoff, a number of supporters were camped outside his home and were encouraged to record any attempt to take Mr. Brown from his house. It was this policy of opening their door to supporters which led to the successful arrest of the couple, which was effected by United States Deputy Marshals who disguised themselves as supporters.
wrote: "The Browns changed their names in late March [of 2007] after converting to a non denominational form of Christianity
they learned from a man named Sonny. According to friends of the Browns, Sonny, who wears a long beard, all-white attire and sandals, flew from Hawaii
to New Hampshire to visit the Browns and shared his religious and legal teachings over several days." Elaine Brown was quoted as saying: "The only law book we now recognize is the Bible. The only way we're coming out of our home is either as free man and free woman or in body bags."
The Browns alleged that they were not United States citizens, that they were non-residents of the United States for tax purposes, that the New Hampshire business tax laws were incorrect, null and void, and that labor could not be taxed. According to a New Hampshire newspaper, the Browns had not paid some state taxes, and "face a state tax lien for business profit taxes" of $343,000. The paper reported that with penalties and accumulated interest, the combined Federal and state tax amount owed by Edward and Elaine Brown was over three million dollars.
In mid-July 2007, Ed Brown also announced that he would stop paying school and town property taxes to the town of Plainfield, New Hampshire
. A local newspaper quoted Brown as saying: "They don't provide me any services, I'm not going to contribute to them anymore."
The Concord Monitor reported that property tax bills were mailed to residents of Plainfield on June 1, 2007, with return envelopes. The Monitor stated that when an employee of the town of Plainfield opened the return envelope from the Browns, no check for the Browns' property taxes was included. Instead, the Browns included a note with the following statement:
Edward Brown was also quoted as having made comments about law enforcement officials and the judge in his case:
Ed Brown was reported to have stated in a radio interview in March 2007, in comments about federal authorities who were unwilling to see Brown's righteousness:
In early June 2007 Brown claimed that the law enforcement officials surrounding his properties were part of a "Zionist
, Illuminati
, Freemason
movement," and that the federal government had no jurisdiction in New Hampshire. Referring to the warrants and court orders against him, Brown said "This is just paper… This is fiction. The entire American government is fiction. We created it, didn't we?" The New Hampshire Union Leader also reported that "the Browns believe the IRS
and the federal income tax are part of a deliberate plot perpetrated by Freemasons to control the American people and eventually the world."
In an interview on February 2, 2007, on the radio show "Constitution for the Defense," Ed Brown was quoted as saying:
On August 10, 2007, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported that Ed Brown said that a war was spreading and becoming an uprising against the federal government, eventually to develop into a revolution, and that the war would come within eighteen months. The Union Leader quoted Brown:
According to the New Hampshire Union Leader:
The Browns were arrested by undercover officers, who were invited by the Browns into the Brown residence on the evening of Thursday, October 4, 2007. "[B]efore the couple realized they weren't supporters, they were already under arrest." A local television station quoted U.S. Marshal Monier as saying: "Ultimately, this open-door policy that they [the Browns] seemed to have which allowed the Browns to have some supporters bring them supplies, welcome followers and even host a picnic—this proved to be their undoing… They invited us in. We escorted them out."
After the arrests, law enforcement personnel began searching the home and found weapons, ammunition, explosive devices and booby trap
s.
Law enforcement officials found twenty "suspected pipe bombs," nine "destructive devices," bags of high explosives hanging in the trees, smoke grenades, materials for partially constructed nail bombs, two .50-caliber rifles, 18 other guns, and over 60,000 rounds of ammunition.
At a news conference on October 5, 2007, U.S. Marshal Monier said that even more charges against the imprisoned Edward and Elaine Brown are now likely: "By their continuing actions, allegedly, to obstruct justice, to encourage others to assist them to obstruct justice, by making threats toward law enforcement and other governmental officials, they have turned this into more than a tax case."
The Browns filed numerous pre-trial motions, contending (among other things) that the United States is owned by Paine Webber
and that "the most powerful court in America is not the United States Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania." According to the Concord Monitor, the Browns filed "about 30 motions, expressing views that their case is governed by commercial law, that they are not the people named in the indictment, that the federal government has no authority and that they can resolve all charges with 'promissory notes' for billions of dollars." The Browns also claimed: "The U.S. has not had a Treasury since 1921"; "The United States does not have any employees because there is no longer a United States"; "There are no judicial courts in America and there has not been since 1789"; "There have not been any Judges in America since 1789"; "The Revolutionary War was a fraud"; "America is a British colony"; "Britain is owned by the Vatican"; and "A 1040 form [Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return] is for tribute paid to Britain". Elaine Brown's court appointed lawyer requested that her competency be evaluated. On June 2, 2009, the court ruled that Edward and Elaine Brown were competent to stand trial.
On July 9, 2009, Edward and Elaine Brown were found guilty by the federal district court jury of all counts charged.
On October 2, 2009 Elaine Brown was sentenced to 35 years in a Federal prison.
In January 2010, Edward Brown was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
Edward Brown is scheduled for release on August 17, 2044, when he would be about 102 years old. Elaine Brown is scheduled for release in November 2042; she would also be about 102 years old if released at that time.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, gained national news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
attention in early 2007 for not paying the U.S. federal income tax
Income tax in the United States
In the United States, a tax is imposed on income by the Federal, most states, and many local governments. The income tax is determined by applying a tax rate, which may increase as income increases, to taxable income as defined. Individuals and corporations are directly taxable, and estates and...
and refusing to surrender to federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
agents after having been convicted of tax crimes. After the conviction and sentencing, a long, armed standoff with federal law enforcement authorities at their New Hampshire residence ended with the arrest of Edward and Elaine Brown on October 4, 2007. In July 2009, while serving their sentences for the tax crimes, the Browns were found guilty by a federal district court jury of additional criminal charges arising from the Browns' conduct during the standoff.
Elaine Brown
Elaine Brown attended dental school at Tufts UniversityTufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
before opening a dental practice in West Lebanon, New Hampshire
West Lebanon, New Hampshire
West Lebanon, New Hampshire, is a district within the city of Lebanon on the Connecticut River. The area contains a major shopping plaza strip along New Hampshire Route 12A, serving the Upper Valley communities along Interstates 89 and 91...
. Elaine Brown earned most of the couple's income in dispute in the case in her dental practice
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
.
Ed Brown
Ed Brown is retired from the pest controlPest control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.-History:...
business.
Earlier felony convictions and pardon
In 1960, Ed Brown was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and armed robbery in connection with an attack on a man in Somerville, MassachusettsSomerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. Brown was imprisoned at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
, was paroled in January 1965, and was pardoned in July 1976 by then-governor Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
, with the recommendation of the Massachusetts Advisory Board of Parole.
Involvement in militia movement
According to an October 1994 article in the New Hampshire Sunday News, Ed Brown was the spokesman for an organization called the Constitution Defense Militia and had become involved in the militia movement in late 1993. The newspaper reported that Brown designated various individuals and organizations as being part of a conspiracyConspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
to deprive Americans of life and liberty. Among the people and organizations named by Brown were then-U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, former President George H.W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
, The Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Trilateral Commission
Trilateral Commission
The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, non-partisan discussion group founded by David Rockefeller in July 1973 to foster closer cooperation among the United States, Europe and Japan.-History:...
, the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA).
Brown reportedly had stockpiled 18 months' worth of food, with weapons and ammunition, and believed that there would be a Federal government takeover of “private property, utilities, health facilities and the media.” The 1994 article reported that Brown believed the militia was setting up its own "courts… for the purpose of taking back America." The newspaper reported that Brown said he saw no way the conflict would end except in violence. The paper stated: “Brown, who says he is an agnostic, admits it's easy to dismiss him as a nut.”
Year 2006 and 2007 tax-related indictment, trial and convictions
In April 2006, Edward and Elaine Brown were indicted in the United States District Court in New Hampshire for numerous federal tax violations.Prosecutors in the Browns' case presented evidence that the Browns had not paid income tax since 1996 and had not filed income tax returns since 1998; they were liable for taxes of more than $625,000.
The Browns initially chose to represent themselves, without the help of a court-appointed lawyer. Halfway through the trial Ed Brown decided not to return to the court, while Elaine Brown chose to enlist the help of a court-appointed lawyer to defend her and negotiate any possible plea bargain offered by the federal prosecutor.
The Browns claimed they had not been presented with any law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
that required them to pay income taxes to the federal government, an argument similar to many tax protester statutory arguments
Tax protester statutory arguments
Tax protesters in the United States make a number of statutory arguments that the assessment of the federal income tax in the United States violates the statutes enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by the President...
.
Edward Brown stopped attending his case halfway through the trial. On January 18, 2007, Edward Brown was found guilty by a jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
in a Federal District Court in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
of three criminal charges relating to his refusal to pay taxes to the US government.
The same jury also found Elaine Brown guilty of 17 tax-related criminal charges, including tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and withholding employment taxes. The tax evasion convictions of Mrs. Brown involved the failure to report income of $1,310,706 over a period of five years. Each was sentenced to over five years in prison.
Before granting Elaine Brown's release on bail, the judge of the Browns' trial ordered her not to return to the Browns' home before sentencing. As a condition of her bail agreement with the state, she was ordered to live at her son's home in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, where she had been living prior to the trial. A tracking device was attached to her, and she was given permission to leave her son's home only if he was accompanying her; she later violated the terms of her release by destroying this device and rejoining her husband.
On April 14, 2007, the Concord Monitor
Concord Monitor
The Concord Monitor is the daily newspaper for Concord, the state capital of New Hampshire. It also covers substantial portions of surrounding Merrimack and Belknap counties in New Hampshire's Lakes Region...
reported that Ed and Elaine Brown "recently ordered the clerk of the court to close their case, citing themselves as 'the court' and 'judge'." The Browns reportedly signed their filings with the court using new names: "Edward, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel," and "Elaine, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel." The court rejected the filings, ruling them frivolous
Frivolous litigation
In law, frivolous litigation is the practice of starting or carrying on law suits that, due to their lack of legal merit, have little to no chance of being won. The term does not include cases that may be lost due to other matters not related to legal merit...
.
The Browns' residence
The Browns lived in an energy-efficientEfficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
, "green"-style home in New Hampshire that some members of the news media referred to as a "compound." Ed Brown said that he had a stock of food and supplies and that his home could run on wind
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
and solar generators even if cut off from the main grid. He also stated publicly that he did not intend to go to jail and "vowed to resist arrest violently and die rather than go to prison."
During the standoff, a number of supporters were camped outside his home and were encouraged to record any attempt to take Mr. Brown from his house. It was this policy of opening their door to supporters which led to the successful arrest of the couple, which was effected by United States Deputy Marshals who disguised themselves as supporters.
Beliefs about religion, Zionism, Judaism, Freemasonry and taxes
The Concord MonitorConcord Monitor
The Concord Monitor is the daily newspaper for Concord, the state capital of New Hampshire. It also covers substantial portions of surrounding Merrimack and Belknap counties in New Hampshire's Lakes Region...
wrote: "The Browns changed their names in late March [of 2007] after converting to a non denominational form of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
they learned from a man named Sonny. According to friends of the Browns, Sonny, who wears a long beard, all-white attire and sandals, flew from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to New Hampshire to visit the Browns and shared his religious and legal teachings over several days." Elaine Brown was quoted as saying: "The only law book we now recognize is the Bible. The only way we're coming out of our home is either as free man and free woman or in body bags."
The Browns alleged that they were not United States citizens, that they were non-residents of the United States for tax purposes, that the New Hampshire business tax laws were incorrect, null and void, and that labor could not be taxed. According to a New Hampshire newspaper, the Browns had not paid some state taxes, and "face a state tax lien for business profit taxes" of $343,000. The paper reported that with penalties and accumulated interest, the combined Federal and state tax amount owed by Edward and Elaine Brown was over three million dollars.
In mid-July 2007, Ed Brown also announced that he would stop paying school and town property taxes to the town of Plainfield, New Hampshire
Plainfield, New Hampshire
Plainfield is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 2,364. The town is home to the Helen Woodruff Smith Bird Sanctuary and Annie Duncan State Forest....
. A local newspaper quoted Brown as saying: "They don't provide me any services, I'm not going to contribute to them anymore."
The Concord Monitor reported that property tax bills were mailed to residents of Plainfield on June 1, 2007, with return envelopes. The Monitor stated that when an employee of the town of Plainfield opened the return envelope from the Browns, no check for the Browns' property taxes was included. Instead, the Browns included a note with the following statement:
-
- Nay! Nay! The land… at 401 Center of Town Road, Plainfield, New Hampshire [the Browns' residence], and all that is in and upon it, including the Lords bodies, are in the kingdom of heaven, belonging to the Lord, have been claimed by him, and thus can be claimed by no man, nor can any man have beneficial interest in it… Stand down and away from the Lords land and the bodies of the Lord. So it is written. So it is done.
Edward Brown was also quoted as having made comments about law enforcement officials and the judge in his case:
-
- I wouldn't want to be this U.S. attorney. I wouldn't want to be this judge or these other people. This James John or anybody else that decides to come down here. Their names are already out there… They are just as vulnerable as I am. And if they're so foolish and stupid to think that they're not, hey, doom on them.
Ed Brown was reported to have stated in a radio interview in March 2007, in comments about federal authorities who were unwilling to see Brown's righteousness:
-
- Once you've used the lawful word, you've done it the absolute proper way, and they still come at you, they are now attacking the Creator himself or itself,… You kill them. That is exactly what the Ten Commandments tell you to do.
In early June 2007 Brown claimed that the law enforcement officials surrounding his properties were part of a "Zionist
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, Illuminati
Illuminati
The Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
, Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
movement," and that the federal government had no jurisdiction in New Hampshire. Referring to the warrants and court orders against him, Brown said "This is just paper… This is fiction. The entire American government is fiction. We created it, didn't we?" The New Hampshire Union Leader also reported that "the Browns believe the IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
and the federal income tax are part of a deliberate plot perpetrated by Freemasons to control the American people and eventually the world."
In an interview on February 2, 2007, on the radio show "Constitution for the Defense," Ed Brown was quoted as saying:
-
- This is the beginning of one very huge movement. I'm not quite sure you understand the ramifications of what's going on right now. This is massive. This is international. We are fed up with the Zionist Illuminati. That's what this is all about. Loud and clear. Zionist Illuminati. Lawyers, whatever they are, okay, it's going to stop. And if the judge is a member of that, I know that McAuliffe [the Federal judge in Brown's tax case] is, I know that U.S. Attorney Colantuono is, they'd better stop. This is a warning. You can do whatever you want to me. My job is to get the message out, and I'm getting the message out, and I'm warning you guys - not you guys [referring to the radio show hosts], them - to cease and desist their unlawful activity in this country and every other country because once this thing starts, we're going to seek them out and hunt them down. And we're going to bring them to justice. So anybody wishes to join them, you go right ahead and join them. But I promise you, long after I'm gone, they're going to seek out every one of you and your bloodline.
On August 10, 2007, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported that Ed Brown said that a war was spreading and becoming an uprising against the federal government, eventually to develop into a revolution, and that the war would come within eighteen months. The Union Leader quoted Brown:
-
- "It has never, ever been resolved without war!" an infuriated Brown shouted during an interview on his porch Wednesday [August 8, 2007].
-
- If federal agents storm Brown's property, he and his supporters will come out shooting. Brown said yesterday [August 9, 2007] that if those agents kill him or his wife, Elaine, his supporters will systematically find and kill Plainfield Police Chief Gordon Gillens, Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Prozzo and others Brown says are sworn to protect him.
According to the New Hampshire Union Leader:
-
- He [Ed Brown] points his finger at Freemasons, Zionist Jews and what he says is a secret society known as the IlluminatiIlluminatiThe Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
. Brown said his extensive research shows these groups are all working together in a global conspiracy.
- He [Ed Brown] points his finger at Freemasons, Zionist Jews and what he says is a secret society known as the Illuminati
-
- "We're not conspiracy theorists," Brown said, settling into a chair on his unfinished concrete porch. "We deal with conspiracy facts. Freemasonry and JudaismJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
—that is the truth. That is the fact. That is where all the world's problems come from… I know for a fact that they're working together."
- "We're not conspiracy theorists," Brown said, settling into a chair on his unfinished concrete porch. "We deal with conspiracy facts. Freemasonry and Judaism
February 2007
- On February 1, Ed Brown publishes an open letter restating his arguments against the government and pleading with supporters to come to his home to aid in his defense against the government.
- On February 13, prosecutors ask a court to seize the Browns' property.
- On February 20, Elaine Brown returns to her home in order to be with her husband.
- On February 22, ruling her actions a violation of her bail agreement, a federal judge issues a warrant for Elaine Brown's arrest.
March 2007
- On March 2, a federal judge signs an order for the Browns to pay $216,000 to the government or else face the seizure of their property, including their home. The order is to become final at their sentencing in April.
April 2007
- On April 24, U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentences Ed and Elaine Brown to five years and three months in prison each for concealing earnings and failing to pay federal income tax on nearly $2 million of income. Neither of the Browns appeared in court for the sentencing.
- On April 26, Judge McAuliffe issues an order that the notices of appeal filed by the Browns on January 28 should be treated as having been filed on April 24 (the Browns' sentencing date) and that their initially premature notices of appeal would be treated as having been timely filed. The judge also orders that within thirty days, the Browns should either file the appellate fee ($455 each) or file a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperisIn forma pauperisIn forma pauperis is a Latin legal term meaning "in the character or manner of a pauper". In the United States, the IFP designation is given by both state and federal courts to someone who is without the funds to pursue the normal costs of a lawsuit or a criminal defense...
.
May 2007
- On May 18, Ed and Elaine Brown are reported as stating they do not intend to appeal their convictions on federal tax evasion charges. They said they have abandoned "man's law" and now follow only the rules and laws put forth in the Bible.
June 2007
- On June 7, police, SWATSWATA SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
teams, and armored vehicles are seen gathering in a field near the Browns' home. United States MarshalUnited States Marshals ServiceThe United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
Stephen Monier confirms that one Brown supporter was detained near the Browns' property. Several sources later identify the Browns' supporter as a man named Danny Riley, and state that he was detained while walking the Browns' dog, Zoe. Monier's office later releases a press statement indicating that the government agents were not raiding the Browns' home, but were in the area to serve a warrant for the seizure of Elaine Brown's dental office in West Lebanon, New HampshireWest Lebanon, New HampshireWest Lebanon, New Hampshire, is a district within the city of Lebanon on the Connecticut River. The area contains a major shopping plaza strip along New Hampshire Route 12A, serving the Upper Valley communities along Interstates 89 and 91...
. (Subsequent testimony at trial revealed that this operation was in fact an arrest attempt.) In the evening of June 7, Riley records a video describing his encounter with and detainment by federal agents earlier that day. In the video Riley claims that one camouflageCamouflageCamouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
d agent fired two shots over his head after he fled from the agent once happening upon him hiding in the woods near the Browns' property. Riley claims that after being tackled and tasered, he was threatened with 15 years in jail by the FBI unless he told the media that the siege was expected and planned for, and was not the outcome of an abortive attempt to serve a warrant. - On June 18, the Browns host a press conference at their home with Randy WeaverRandy WeaverRandall Claude "Randy" Weaver is a former Green Beret who was at the center of a deadly confrontation with U.S. federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992.-Early life:...
, who was involved in a deadly standoff with federal officials at Ruby RidgeRuby RidgeRuby Ridge was the site of a violent confrontation and siege in northern Idaho in 1992. It involved Randy Weaver, his family, Weaver's friend Kevin Harris, and agents of the United States Marshals Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation...
. Weaver voices his support for the Browns, and the Browns reiterate their intentions to avoid arrest by the government.
July 2007
- On July 14, the Browns hosted a small concert at their Plainfield property. The concert was organized by the We The People Radio Network to "save the Browns", and drew an estimated crowd of 200 people. Dave Cahill, Poker Face & others performed.
- On July 17, a Chevrolet BlazerChevrolet S-10 BlazerThe Chevrolet Blazer and the similar GMC S-15 Jimmy are mid-size SUVs from General Motors. Production began alongside the larger K5 Blazer and Jimmy in 1983 and lasted through 2005. In the United States retail sales after 2004 were limited to two-door Blazer models, all other models being sold...
sport utility vehicle (SUV) owned by Elaine Brown is seized by the United States marshal after the SUV is involved in a traffic accident in which a 17 year old girl was injured and her Chrysler ConcordeChrysler ConcordeThe Chrysler Concorde was a large four-door, full-size, front wheel drive sedan produced by Chrysler from 1993 to 2004. It replaced the Chrysler Fifth Avenue on the lineup. One of Chrysler's 3 original Chrysler LH platform models derived from the American Motors/Renault-designed Eagle Premier, it...
sedan totaled. The driver of the SUV was identified as Jason Gerhard of Brookhaven, New YorkBrookhaven, New YorkThe Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
. According to the girl's mother, Judy Dunham, Gerhard did not immediately stop and, after returning to the scene of the accident, refused to provide his personal information to the 17 year old girl. During his daily internet radio broadcast, Ed Brown confirmed that "a friend" had been using Elaine Brown's vehicle to go buy food. U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier confirmed that the vehicle had been impounded and that he was investigating the circumstances of the incident.
- On July 28, reports of "30–40" shots fired at the Browns' property were posted on a website. A local media report contradicts this, stating that there was no law enforcement activity at the property, and that "[p]eople who live in that area also report no activity."
August 2007
- On August 22, the Concord Monitor reports that Ed and Elaine Brown have "succeeded in first recruiting and then driving out an ever-changing cast of supporters from across the country."
September 2007
- On September 12, four men are arrested by the United States Marshals Service for allegedly helping to obstruct justice in connection with the Browns' standoff. Charges against the four include accessory after the fact and possession and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
October 4, 2007 arrest: The standoff ends
On October 4, 2007, Ed and Elaine Brown were arrested without incident, ending the standoff. United States Marshal Stephen Monier stated: "The Browns may now begin serving their 63-month federal prison terms… High profile situations like this are always difficult, but they don't have to be tragic. I'm glad no one was injured, and that the community remained safe throughout the operation."The Browns were arrested by undercover officers, who were invited by the Browns into the Brown residence on the evening of Thursday, October 4, 2007. "[B]efore the couple realized they weren't supporters, they were already under arrest." A local television station quoted U.S. Marshal Monier as saying: "Ultimately, this open-door policy that they [the Browns] seemed to have which allowed the Browns to have some supporters bring them supplies, welcome followers and even host a picnic—this proved to be their undoing… They invited us in. We escorted them out."
After the arrests, law enforcement personnel began searching the home and found weapons, ammunition, explosive devices and booby trap
Booby trap
A booby trap is a device designed to harm or surprise a person, unknowingly triggered by the presence or actions of the victim. As the word trap implies, they often have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. However, in other cases the device is placed on busy roads or is...
s.
Law enforcement officials found twenty "suspected pipe bombs," nine "destructive devices," bags of high explosives hanging in the trees, smoke grenades, materials for partially constructed nail bombs, two .50-caliber rifles, 18 other guns, and over 60,000 rounds of ammunition.
At a news conference on October 5, 2007, U.S. Marshal Monier said that even more charges against the imprisoned Edward and Elaine Brown are now likely: "By their continuing actions, allegedly, to obstruct justice, to encourage others to assist them to obstruct justice, by making threats toward law enforcement and other governmental officials, they have turned this into more than a tax case."
Prison life
Shortly after his imprisonment, Ed Brown claimed that he has been mistreated, tasered, gassed, subjected to sensory deprivation, and isolated from other inmates. In a recorded telephone call between Ed Brown in prison and a Brown supporter named Shaun Kranish, Brown and Kranish revealed that Kranish had previously introduced Brown to a man known as "Dutch" who thereby infiltrated Brown's circle of acquaintances, and that Dutch turned out to be a deputy United States Marshal who was among the group of deputies arresting Ed and Elaine Brown on October 4, 2007, ending the standoff.Trials and guilty verdicts in connection with the standoff
Both Edward and Elaine Brown and some of their followers were subsequently charged, tried, and found guilty of crimes in connection with the standoff.Convictions of followers
Four individuals who assisted Ed and Elaine Brown in the standoff were convicted in connection with the matter. Danny Riley of Cohoes, New York was sentenced to 36 years in federal prison, after having been convicted of helping to supply the Browns, and of stockpiling weapons and threatening law enforcement officials. Riley was convicted of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and using guns and bombs in connection with the standoff. Also convicted in other trials were Jason Gerhard of Brookhaven, New York (sentenced to twenty years in prison), Cirino Gonzalez of Alice, Texas (sentenced to eight years in prison), and Robert Wolffe of Randolph, Vermont (who was sentenced to two and a half years).2009 indictment, trial, and guilty verdicts for the Browns
As a result of the events during the standoff, Edward and Elaine Brown were indicted on January 21, 2009 by a federal grand jury in Concord, New Hampshire, and were charged with knowingly and willfully conspiring, by force, intimidation and threat, to prevent employees of the United States Marshals Service in the discharge of official duties in the arrest of the Browns, in violation of ; conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States in violation of and subsections (a) and (b) of ; carrying and possessing a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, in violation of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of ; being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of ; obstruction of justice in violation of ; and failure to appear for sentencing, in violation of . Edward Brown was also charged with one count of failure to appear for trial in violation of . See Indictment, United States v. Edward Brown and Elaine Brown.The Browns filed numerous pre-trial motions, contending (among other things) that the United States is owned by Paine Webber
Paine Webber
Paine Webber and Company was an American stock brokerage and asset management firm that was acquired by the Swiss bank UBS AG in 2000. The company was founded in 1880 in Boston, Massachusetts, by William Alfred Paine and Wallace G. Webber. Operating with two employees, they leased premises at 48...
and that "the most powerful court in America is not the United States Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania." According to the Concord Monitor, the Browns filed "about 30 motions, expressing views that their case is governed by commercial law, that they are not the people named in the indictment, that the federal government has no authority and that they can resolve all charges with 'promissory notes' for billions of dollars." The Browns also claimed: "The U.S. has not had a Treasury since 1921"; "The United States does not have any employees because there is no longer a United States"; "There are no judicial courts in America and there has not been since 1789"; "There have not been any Judges in America since 1789"; "The Revolutionary War was a fraud"; "America is a British colony"; "Britain is owned by the Vatican"; and "A 1040 form [Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return] is for tribute paid to Britain". Elaine Brown's court appointed lawyer requested that her competency be evaluated. On June 2, 2009, the court ruled that Edward and Elaine Brown were competent to stand trial.
On July 9, 2009, Edward and Elaine Brown were found guilty by the federal district court jury of all counts charged.
On October 2, 2009 Elaine Brown was sentenced to 35 years in a Federal prison.
In January 2010, Edward Brown was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
Edward Brown is scheduled for release on August 17, 2044, when he would be about 102 years old. Elaine Brown is scheduled for release in November 2042; she would also be about 102 years old if released at that time.
See also
- Taxation in the United StatesTaxation in the United StatesThe United States is a federal republic with autonomous state and local governments. Taxes are imposed in the United States at each of these levels. These include taxes on income, property, sales, imports, payroll, estates and gifts, as well as various fees.Taxes are imposed on net income of...
- Tax protester historyTax protester historyA tax protester, in the United States, is a person who denies that he or she owes a tax based on the belief that the constitution, statutes, or regulations do not empower the government to impose, assess or collect the tax. The tax protester may have no dispute with how the government spends its...
- Potentially dangerous taxpayerPotentially dangerous taxpayerA Potentially dangerous taxpayer is a designation assigned to taxpayers of the United States of America who have demonstrated a capacity for violence against employees of the Internal Revenue Service or other government agencies, contractors or their families...
External links
- Bombs, Taxes, and Red Crayons Blog - daily updates on the 2009 Brown trial, the 2008 supporter trial, including court dockets and documents
- America: Freedom To Fascism Media Team interview of the Browns on 6/6/07
- Ed and Elaine Brown's Official Website, created by Shaun Kranish
- Ed & Elaine Brown's Myspace page
- Official Ed Brown Video Blog - videos of interviews with Ed and Elaine Brown.
- Danny Riley's video
- The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments IRS PDF File
- Ed & Elaine Brown's Media Press Conference 6/18/2007
- Select Trial Documents filed in Case # 1:06-cr-00071-JD