U.S. Marshals Pose As Supporters To Arrest Ed and Elaine Brown

U.S. Marshals Pose As Supporters To Arrest Ed and Elaine Brown

Tax protesters Ed and Elaine Brown were tricked by US Marshals who entered their home yesterday afternoon posing as supporters. The Marshals entered the house at a time when there were no other supporters present and catching the Browns off guard were able to arrest them and remove them from the property.

For months, convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown pledged to die in a hailstorm of bullets rather than surrender to federal agents. They had survived on food, water, and supplies delivered by supporters who came from across the country to their heavily fortified, secluded mountain compound in Plainfield, N.H.

The Browns have been in a standoff with authorities since their sentencing in April on tax evasion charges. They insist that there’s actually no law forcing private citizens to pay income taxes and refused to surrender — saying they would not come out alive.

So far the speculation is that the Browns were infiltrated and tricked before being violently subdued as authorities refuse to provide any details behind their arrest beside the fact that they did not peacefully surrender.

It is still unclear whether any violence was used to apprehend the Browns, all that is known is that they are now in federal custody and have begun serving their 63 month sentence.

Marshals spoke at a press conference at the federal courthouse in Concord NH today.

U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier has commented:

“Ultimately, this open-door policy that they seemed to have which allowed the Browns to have some supporters bring them supplies, welcome followers and even host a picnic –this proved to be their undoing. They invited us in. We escorted them out.”

A small team of marshals pulled off the ruse, arresting the Browns without incident on the couple’s front porch, Monier told local press.

Reports are suggesting that weapons have been seized at the property including “explosive devices”, and “booby traps” which were placed in the woods. Monier added that the Browns may face further charges relating to the weapons.

Monier said that officials have seen no trouble from other supporters of the Browns, but he warned that anyone who thinks about getting involved or helping them now could face charges.

The Browns will likely face additional charges related to the weapons found in the house, Monier said. They were convicted in January of scheming to avoid federal income taxes by hiding $1.9 million of income between 1996 and 2003 and were sentenced in April.

Monier would not reveal where the Browns are, saying only that they were being transferred to a federal prison. He said their location would be announced once they arrive.