-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Anti-government activist faces trial for fraud, threats ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.msnbc.com/local/rtsc/3530.asp ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 20 - An anti-government activist who employed the tactics of the Montana Freemen by allegedly producing phony checks and issuing the verdicts of a self-created "court" against IRS agents and federal judges could face one of those judges this week. PETER KAY STERN, a retired engineer and chief justice of a self- described "common-law" court, was scheduled to stand trial Monday before District Judge Lacy H. Thornburg on charges that include threats to kidnap two of Thornburg's judicial colleagues. Stern has been held without bond since his arrest in September. A federal magistrate ruled there was "evidence of threats and weaponry which could be used to kill law enforcement." A leader in North Carolina's so-called patriot movement, Stern was charged with bank fraud, conspiring to defraud the government, attempting to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws, threatening to kidnap federal judges, and using the mail to communicate threats. Stern's group, Our One Supreme Court, attracted notoriety for sending official-looking summonses to public officials and ordering them to appear as defendants. Town managers, IRS agents and federal prosecutors were ordered to pay multi-million-dollar fines. In his common-law court, Stern and other "justices" denied the authority of laws passed by Congress or state legislatures, saying his group's judgments were based solely on the U.S. Constitution. They claimed to administer binding judgments that were a valid way to escape paying taxes and other debts. The government says Stern's activities began seven months after the Internal Revenue Service determined he owed $56,000 in back taxes and a month after attending a seminar run by the Montana Freemen. Prosecutors said he was among seminar participants who learned how to produce phony checks and carry out financial schemes such as filing bogus liens against enemies. Beginning in December 1995, Stern allegedly issued at least seven worthless checks. In each case, he or an associate demanded a refund from banks, the IRS or mortgage companies for an amount over the debt owed, according to the indictment. Stern allegedly tried to intimidate IRS agents by demanding they pay a $1 million penalty. In January 1996, he sent letters threatening to kidnap federal judges Graham C. Mullen and Richard L. Voorhees, the indictment said. He allegedly used his title as the chief justice of the "court" to sign an order demanding the release from detention of a fellow tax protester. Stern disputes the government's constitutional power to prosecute him. He has filed challenges and appeals claiming "defects, illegalities (and) misconduct of prosecution." -end article- Related articles: http://www.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?20000321_n2.txt&n http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000320/us/militant_on_trial_2.html ---------------- "I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." -Thomas Jefferson *********************[EMAIL PROTECTED]******************** The Patriot Resource Center: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/6627/ Online Patriot Internet Radio: http://www.geocities.com/aresister_2000/ **********************Live Free or Die!*********************<>< <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
