Posted on 07/07/2012 5:22:04 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Fiery Reaction to Marine’s Stolen Saddam Rifle
Is it among the spoils of war? Or worthy of a felony conviction that carries a 10-year prison sentence?
The recent conviction of a Twentynine Palms Marine from Hemet has sparked a debate from readers and a fierce defense from the Marine himself.
To rewind, Staff Sgt. Joel Cleve Miller was convicted last week of illegal possession of a machine gun. Federal prosecutors said he smuggled a chrome-plated AK-47 that once belonged to Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein’s Royal Guard back to his home in Hemet after a 2005 tour in Iraq.
Miller now faces up to 10 years in federal prison (more likely four years based on legal statutes) for the felony conviction. The conviction marks the end to a 20-year career in the Marine Corps and a checkered past that previously led to his bad conduct discharge for forging more than $30,000 in fraudulent travel expenses. He was acquitted of two other charges that he possessed and sold other weapons.
The debate comes down to the question of should a Marine’s tour of service outweigh his criminal transgressions.
In his own defense, Miller has started a website, Free Joel Cleve Miller, U.S Marine
On his site, Miller lists a brief statement that he thought all chrome machine guns were inactive. Consequently – federal prosecutors found the gun was a functioning machine gun.
“His wife and her boyfriend set Him up. They were given 5th amendment protection because they are both being investigated for perjury for there grand jury testimony. It prevented him from bringing in much of the evidence that would set him free,” Miller said.
Supporters from across the country have decried the conviction as well, arguing that Miller’s tour of service should exonerate him and calling the story a fabrication of the “libelous media.”
To be fair, the article written is based on federal court documents which outlined the evidence in the case.
Other comments call Miller a fool for being caught in a bumbling crime. One comment, who appears to be his wife also commented defending herself and turning him in.
“WOW amazing how you people want to attack ME for doing the right thing!!!! Not one of you attacking me know me nor do you know what I dealt with in my marriage!! So before you have me sent to Iraq and stoned to death get your heads out of your rear and just know you do not know the whole story also I was never in jeopardy of losing my children, or did you forget he was discharged with a dishonorable that should tell you something about him”
On his Facebook page, Miller also touts his defense and asks for support and letters to his federally appointed public defender. He is set to be sentenced in Riverside federal court Sept. 27.
The Facebook page also carries a photo of a Marine platoon with the American flag and a SS flag for the “Scout Sniper” team. It’s unclear if Miller was listed in the photo.
The flag coincidentally is also the symbol of the German Nazi Schutzstaffel – an armed guard for the Nazi’s during World War II.
The Marine Corps investigated the case last year, according to CNN, “They determined that the Marines in the photo were ignorant of the connection of this symbol to the Holocaust and monumental atrocities associated with Nazi Germany.”
Former Marine Joel Cleve Miller was convicted in U.S. court of possessing a fully automatic AK-47. Weapons experts determined the gun was from Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan because of its markings.
Earlier FReeeper thread posted about this ...
Hemet: Marine convicted of smuggling rifle from Saddam palace (AK-47 stolen from Saddam’s palace)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2902615/posts
He should have known enough to make it inoperable, at least temporarily.
Related news link references and FB page ...
“Fiery reaction to Marine’s stolen Saddam rifle”
http://blog.pe.com/crime-blotter/2012/07/06/fiery-reaction-to-marines-stolen-saddam-rifle/
“Former Marine guilty of having AK-47 from Iraq”
“Free Joel Cleve Miller US Marine”
Joel Dutch Miller (Face Book)
https://www.facebook.com/joel.d.miller.14
I think I found a use for “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
On another note, I don’t see a problem with war trophies being registered as long as they don’t create a hazard to the community, like unexploded ordnance. If someone wants an artillery shell, have EOD drill it out. Other than that it’s fine with me. The guy was willing to give his life for this country, why not let him take something home?
When my father walked off the aircraft carrier Kittyhawk on his return from the Pacific after WWII, one of the guys in his bunking area walked down the gangplank and onto US soil with several barrels sticking up out of his seabag - including a Thompson SMG.
My, oh my, how things have changed.
Looks like a machine pistol AK to me.
Dang that is one good looking AK.
Too bad he did not lose the firing pin.
Don’t we have a policy of one AK-47 per household?
I’m not necessarily trying to defend the guy ... he got the Big Chicken Dinner for other misconduct.
But ... the AK pistol is chrome plated suggesting that it may have been used as a ceremonial weapon for Saddam’s palace guard. While palace guards would be expected to carry functional and loaded weapons, maybe there was something like a palace guard precision drill team? If so, it would make sense that the weapons were de-activated.
I’m just thinking out loud ...
What a bunch of anti-gun hysteria.
If not, we should!
Oh, I think that was only for the Iraqi households. My bad.
“federal prosecutors found the gun was a functioning machine gun.”
Federal prosecutors have found a shoelace was a functioning machine gun.
Really.
We’re talking an agency which WILL convict you if they want to.
Not saying he was right or wrong, just that there is room for doubt. Lots of room.
Your talking Commiefornia here man; where anything short, stubby, black , shiny, with a pistol grip, flash suppressor or any thing that will hold more than one squirt of water is considered a weapon of mass destruction. The media p#ssys just wet themselves some thing fierce when they see any thing as lethal as a rubber band gun. I just wish I had been smart enough to retire out of state, but stuck here now.
We’re doomed.
What are the chances this Marine didn’t know the difference? Slim to none.
OTOH, it was quite the souvenir!
losing the firing pin doesn’t do it because firing pins are commonly available. Per the ATF you would have to destroy the receiver to demilitarize it.
No problem, the Feds would just fix it and proceed with the prosecution. They have done this to numerous demilled weapons.
That is reasonable. But we are now living in a communists inspired Country and we are now all criminals. No way to escape since we are lawed to death. Freedom is gone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.