Posted on 03/22/2011 4:16:16 AM PDT by stevie_d_64
The leader of a group that marketed a fake currency called Liberty Dollars in the Asheville area and elsewhere has been found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy against the government in a case of “domestic terrorism.”
Bernard von NotHaus was convicted Friday at the conclusion of an eight-day trial in U.S. District Court in Statesville. The jury deliberated less than two hours, according to the Department of Justice.
Charges remain pending against William Kevin Innes, an Asheville man who authorities said recruited merchants in Western North Carolina willing to accept the “barter” currency, according to court records. Innes was indicted along with von NotHaus in 2009.
“Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism,” U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said. “While these forms of anti-government activities do not involve violence, they are every bit as insidious and represent a clear and present danger to the economic stability of this country.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Secret Service with help from the U.S. Mint.
“We are determined to meet these threats through infiltration, disruption and dismantling of organizations which seek to challenge the legitimacy of our democratic form of government,” Tompkins said.
Von NotHaus, 67, faces up to 25 years in prison during sentencing, which hasn’t been scheduled. The government also is seeking the forfeiture of about 16,000 pounds of Liberty Dollar coins and precious metals valued at nearly $7 million.
The government also is seeking the forfeiture of about 16,000 pounds of Liberty Dollar coins and precious metals valued at nearly $7 millionTheft by the government under color of law.
You caught that as well...
Seems tome this guy should have been ready for the government to have a slight problem with his activities...
But in wierd sense, it appears the government doesn’t believe silver, or gold for that matter has any value, unless they coin or print it, in some way shape or form...
So where are the “real” fruadulent, terrorists amoung us???
The leader of a group that marketed a fake currency called Liberty Dollars in the Asheville area and elsewhere has been found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy against the government in a case of “domestic terrorism.”
That's really stretching for the headline.
As far as undermining the U.S. economy goes, if that's the basis for a terrorism charge, will they ask Rio to extradite our absentee president?
Nuts.
Keep him there.
Seems like everything is terrorism these days. In the old days this would have been counterfeiting. Looks like the govt is going to use the terrorism hammer like they did the RICO laws. Just keep redefining it down.
if I gave you a weighed piece of gold or silver, of a known market value...For sake of argument, let’s call it a single ounce, value to be for the sake of argument $1300 for an ounce of gold, and $35 for an ounce of silver (I’m not up on the current value for silver just yet)...
I gave you a single gold (1 ounce) coin (whatever national origin) for a pressure washer you are selling at your garage sale, and you give me back “oil backed” dollars in change for that sale...Where is the crime???
If gold is still gold, and silver is still silver, and its value is still based on the physical value and nature of the metal...What difference is it if it is stamped, formed or inscribed with markings on it???
If I had handed you a nugget, and you had a scale to verify its wieght, and you called the NY stock exchange for the current market value of that gold or silver, wold you decline the method of payment???
Just something to discuss, not a point of contention with you, but I want to see what you would think in a hypothetical sense...
Most Americans are aware that it is PERFECTLY LEGAL to coin or print your own money - one just cannot counterfeit US currency. Apparently, this guy’s cash was so similar, that they got him for counterfeitting. Too bad, really - he was proving a good point. If we let the dollar float in value, WHY NOT let the kilogram, or the ounce, “float” in relative weight, (or mass) too? Same principle!
When the lowest common denominator is running the “government” show, calling all the shots...
It should be no big surprise to see the forces aligned against every American, and labeling everything terrorism is a simple way to keep the populace (that doesn’t use the grey matter between their wears too much) down, and suspicious of those of us who question and oppose the lowest common denominators...
Pretty good discussion so far...Everyone seems to understand the ramifications of this, even though most of us are not surprised by this at all...
Bingo!!!
Protecting the monopoly of the Federal Reserve.
Prior to the depression, It was not uncommon for individual banks to issue their own currency, backed by their local assets. THese were called National Notes. The looked like conventional currency except that they were brown in color and had the banks name on the front.
This thread has nothing to do with logic.
Nonviolent terrorist? Yuh, right. I guess the real crime is producing money made of actual precious metals. It makes the Fed look bad as they churn out their fiat currency by the bushel basket.
if anyone is engaging is domestic terrorism, its the federal reserve, who are stealing from us everyday
Amazing that they are so willing to go after these $ terrorists....and not the ones that yell Allah Akbar!
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