Episode 330: The Sovereign Citizen Movement
Their legally dubious beliefs land them in police crosshairs, and their manipulation of the legal system often nets negative results. But various groups of these extremists all agree on one thing: the laws don’t apply to them. Are their claims rooted in anything legitimate? Or are they all being wildly misled by unscrupulous snake oil salesmen? This week’s episode is The Sovereign Citizen Movement.
SOURCES
No Greater Tragedy - February 13, 1983, US Marshal Service: https://www.usmarshals.gov/who-we-are/history/historical-reading-room/no-greater-tragedy-february-13-1983
The Sovereign Citizen Movement in the United States, ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states
Sovereign Citizens Movement, SPLC: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/sovereign-citizens-movement/#background
'Sovereign citizen' gets 10 years for bogus liens on federal judge and prosecutor, ABA: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/helpless_sap_gets_10_years_for_bogus_liens_on_federal_judge_and_prosecutor
Baba- Dainja v. AmeriCredit Fin. Servs., Inc., 710 F.3d 748, 750 (7th Cir. 2013): https://casetext.com/case/baba-dainja-v-americredit-fin-servs-inc
Accused Waukesha Parade Attacker Says He’s a 'Sovereign Citizen', Wants to Rep Himself, Law and Crime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZVJxA8gnNE
Video: Marshals raid Atlanta mansion occupied by squatters, NewsNation: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southeast/marshals-raid-atlanta-mansion-squatters/
Sovereign citizens: A plate and affidavit in Mt. Pleasant, The Morning Sun: https://www.themorningsun.com/2022/09/18/sovereign-citizens-a-plate-and-affidavit-in-mt-pleasant/
Prominent tax dodger Winston Shrout sent to prison for 10 years, Oregon Live: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2018/10/prominent_tax_dodger_winston_s.html
‘Sovereign Citizen’ Bruce Doucette Sentenced To 38 years, CPR News: https://www.cpr.org/2018/05/22/sovereign-citizen-bruce-doucette-sentenced-to-38-years/
U.S. sovereign group's leader convicted of selling fake IDs, Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-virginia-sovereignty/u-s-sovereign-groups-leader-convicted-of-selling-fake-ids-idUSKBN0GE1W720140814/
Self-proclaimed Leader of Sovereign Citizen Group Sentenced to Federal Prison for Promoting Tax Fraud Scheme, U.S. Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/self-proclaimed-leader-sovereign-citizen-group-sentenced-federal-prison-promoting-tax-fraud
Massachusetts I-95 standoff was with Rise of the Moors militia, police say, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/04/massachusetts-i-95-standoff-rise-of-the-moors-militia-police
Judge Anna von Reitz from Big Lake Alaska, Official Website: https://www.annavonreitz.com/
Grand jury indicts driver accused of shooting MPD lieut. at traffic stop, Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/02/04/grand-jury-indicts-driver-accused-shooting-mpd-lieut-traffic-stop/
Geronimo Kee, suspect in officer’s shooting, had juvenile record in Fayette County, WREG: https://wreg.com/news/local/who-is-geronimo-kee-suspect-in-officers-shooting/
Operation Vigilant Eagle: Is This Really How We Honor Our Nation’s Veterans?, The Rutherford Institute: https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/operation_vigilant_eagle_is_this_really_how_we_honor_our_nations_veterans
Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train carried out a deadly police shooting. Their twisted backstory is revealed, Australia Broadcasting Corp: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-15/qld-police-shooting-offenders-nathaniel-gareth-stacey-train/101766720
‘Queen Majesty’, 23 followers held for occupying school in Iligan, Tempo: https://tempo.com.ph/2020/12/30/queen-majesty-23-followers-held-for-occupying-school-in-iligan/
Family of Dallas cop killer ‘floored’ by shooting, apologizes to officers families, Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/09/02/family-of-dallas-cop-killer-floored-by-shooting-apologizes-to-officers-families/
DPD Releases Footage of Corey Cobb-Bey Fatal Shooting, Dallas Observer: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-police-release-footage-of-corey-cobb-bey-fatal-shooting-20462047
Man, 26, Who Shot Polk County Deputies Underwent Radical Transformation, LKND Now: https://www.lkldnow.com/man-26-who-shot-polk-county-deputies-underwent-radical-transformation/
Texas man livestreams final moments before shootout with law enforcement on Facebook, ABC 7 News: https://abc7chicago.com/sovereign-citizen-shootout-harris-county-deputies-patrick-hurst-killed-livestreamed-shooting/14674662/
Man accused of shooting MPD officer during I-240 traffic stop to make court appearance, Fox 13: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/man-accused-of-shooting-mpd-officer-during-i-240-traffic-stop-to-make-court-appearance/article_806c488c-ea8b-11ee-a49c-c3e7ec09ae27.html
Grand jury indicts driver accused of shooting MPD lieut. at traffic stop, Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/02/04/grand-jury-indicts-driver-accused-shooting-mpd-lieut-traffic-stop/
American State Nationals: The newest group of sovereign citizens, Police1: https://www.police1.com/sovereign-citizens/american-state-nationals-the-newest-group-of-sovereign-citizens
Do sovereign citizens' claims have any legal basis? | WTFAQ | ABC TV + iview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVUMENVPlhs
FDR suspends the gold standard for U.S. currency, History.com: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-takes-united-states-off-gold-standard
A QUICK GUIDE TO SOVEREIGN CITIZENS, UNC School of Government: https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/Sov%20citizens%20quick%20guide%20Nov%2013.pdf
Attention HUD REO Contractors, Property Inspectors, Section 8 Administrators, and Realtors: Watch out: Sovereign Citizen Scams, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development: https://www.hudoig.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/Sovereign_Citizen_Scams.pdf
The Sovereign Citizen Movement in the United States, ADL: https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states
‘Sovereign citizens’ squat in Balto. Co. mansion, Baltimore Sun: https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=9f8552bd-e9c7-44d3-8127-a9469e8edf24
Sovereign Citizens Movement, SPLC: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/sovereign-citizens-movement/
New Government Report Warns of Antigovernment ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Scams, SPLC: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hate-watch/new-government-report-warns-antigovernment-sovereign-citizen-scams/
Anti-Government Sovereign Citizens Taking Foreclosed Homes Using Phony Deeds, Authorities Say, ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-battling-sovereign-citizens-squatting-foreclosed-homes/story?id=11445382
Arkansas squatters claiming to be sovereign citizens refuse to move RV parked on private property, New York Post: https://nypost.com/2024/01/27/news/arkansas-squatters-claiming-to-be-sovereign-citizens-refuse-to-move-rv-parked-on-private-property/
Moorish Sovereign Citizens, Institute for Strategic Dialogue: https://www.isdglobal.org/explainers/moorish-sovereign-citizens/
