CONCORD, N.H. — The
New Hampshire home where a tax-evading couple staved off arrest for
nine months was defended by concrete walls, homemade bombs, 60,000
rounds of ammunition and the zealousness of a few fellow believers,
testimony and prosecution documents show.
New Hampshire home where a tax-evading couple staved off arrest for
nine months was defended by concrete walls, homemade bombs, 60,000
rounds of ammunition and the zealousness of a few fellow believers,
testimony and prosecution documents show.
Four supporters of Ed and Elaine Brown have been sent to prison for
helping the couple resist efforts to arrest them since their
convictions on tax-related felonies in January 2007. The Browns
threatened violence if federal agents came onto their Plainfield
property to arrest them, and authorities said the four supporters made
similar threats, as well.
helping the couple resist efforts to arrest them since their
convictions on tax-related felonies in January 2007. The Browns
threatened violence if federal agents came onto their Plainfield
property to arrest them, and authorities said the four supporters made
similar threats, as well.
On Tuesday, one of those supporters, Daniel Riley, 40, of Cohoes,
N.Y., received a 36-year prison term that includes a mandatory 30 years
for making and using a destructive device in a crime of violence.
N.Y., received a 36-year prison term that includes a mandatory 30 years
for making and using a destructive device in a crime of violence.
Among the explosive devices prosecutors say were seized on the
Browns' property were nine homemade antipersonnel mines intended to
fire shotgun shells from trees when approaching marshals hit tripwires.
Prosecutors said Riley built those mines and brought in a rifle.
Browns' property were nine homemade antipersonnel mines intended to
fire shotgun shells from trees when approaching marshals hit tripwires.
Prosecutors said Riley built those mines and brought in a rifle.
"Those devices, also known as spring guns, were designed exclusively
to kill U.S. deputy marshals attempting to arrest the Browns," U.S.
Attorney Thomas Colantuono said in a statement Tuesday.
to kill U.S. deputy marshals attempting to arrest the Browns," U.S.
Attorney Thomas Colantuono said in a statement Tuesday.
The Browns' willingness to entertain anti-government supporters at
their home proved to be their undoing. Marshals posed as supporters to
get onto the property and arrested them without incident in October
2007.
their home proved to be their undoing. Marshals posed as supporters to
get onto the property and arrested them without incident in October
2007.
The Browns are now serving terms of more than five years in prison
for avoiding income taxes, which they consider illegitimate, on $1.9
million of income between 1996 and 2003.
for avoiding income taxes, which they consider illegitimate, on $1.9
million of income between 1996 and 2003.
Authorities said after their arrests that the Browns would likely
face charges resulting from the standoff. But Colantuono's office
declined to comment Wednesday on the prospect of new charges.
face charges resulting from the standoff. But Colantuono's office
declined to comment Wednesday on the prospect of new charges.
Authorities say federal agents spent five days clearing the property of explosives last year so it could be searched safely.
The solar- and wind-powered home had concrete walls and clearings
creating a defensible perimeter, according to testimony and prosecution
documents.
creating a defensible perimeter, according to testimony and prosecution
documents.
Prosecutors say agents seized from the property 22 pipe bombs;
semiautomatic, assault-type rifles strategically placed throughout the
house; 60,000 rounds of ammunition; metal cans of gunpowder with fuses
or ready to accept fuses, some wrapped in nails intended to become
shrapnel; and the tree-placed mines that Riley built.
semiautomatic, assault-type rifles strategically placed throughout the
house; 60,000 rounds of ammunition; metal cans of gunpowder with fuses
or ready to accept fuses, some wrapped in nails intended to become
shrapnel; and the tree-placed mines that Riley built.
"The threat was clear, it was imminent and it was lethal," Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen said Wednesday.
Riley bought one of two 50-caliber, high-powered rifles with
effective ranges of more than a mile to defend the house, prosecutors
said. Huftalen said authorities seized night vision scopes and both
armor-piercing and incendiary ammunition for the rifles.
effective ranges of more than a mile to defend the house, prosecutors
said. Huftalen said authorities seized night vision scopes and both
armor-piercing and incendiary ammunition for the rifles.
Colantuono said he hopes Riley's long sentence will be a message
"that anyone who threatens to injure or kill law enforcement officers
who carry out the orders of our courts, and who enforce our laws, will
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"that anyone who threatens to injure or kill law enforcement officers
who carry out the orders of our courts, and who enforce our laws, will
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Other small canisters of explosives were found in trees, placed so
they could be detonated by marksmen shooting from the house, Huftalen
said. Riley bought two cases of the explosive compound, harmless until
its two ingredients are mixed, and took them to Plainfield, according
to the government.
they could be detonated by marksmen shooting from the house, Huftalen
said. Riley bought two cases of the explosive compound, harmless until
its two ingredients are mixed, and took them to Plainfield, according
to the government.
In addition to Riley, other supporters convicted of aiding the
Browns were Jason Gerhard, of Brookhaven, N.Y., who was sentenced to 20
years in prison, and Cirino Gonzalez of Alice, Texas, who was sentenced
to eight years.
Browns were Jason Gerhard, of Brookhaven, N.Y., who was sentenced to 20
years in prison, and Cirino Gonzalez of Alice, Texas, who was sentenced
to eight years.
Robert Wolffe, of Randolph, Vt., was sentenced to 30 months after
pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy and being an accessory
after the fact. Wolffe had cooperated with prosecutors and testified
against Gerhard, Riley and Gonzalez at trial.
pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy and being an accessory
after the fact. Wolffe had cooperated with prosecutors and testified
against Gerhard, Riley and Gonzalez at trial.
Riley's sentencing was delayed this summer for a mental health
evaluation, part of which became public at Tuesday's hearing, the
Concord Monitor reported. Riley was deemed capable of participating in
his defense despite a personality disorder, the paper said.
evaluation, part of which became public at Tuesday's hearing, the
Concord Monitor reported. Riley was deemed capable of participating in
his defense despite a personality disorder, the paper said.
Riley cooperated with Sven Wiberg, his court-appointed lawyer,
during his trial, but since has tried repeatedly to fire him. Riley
accuses Wiberg of being a federal employee colluding with other
government agents against him.
during his trial, but since has tried repeatedly to fire him. Riley
accuses Wiberg of being a federal employee colluding with other
government agents against him.
The reporter made a mistake. It's 60,000 per weapon.
