Big, bad news! Liberty Dollar offices raided.

[Russell Kanning]

the thugs are trying to work is secret

[Eli]

From Hit and Run, Reason's staff blog
Your Liberty Dollar Raid Update

Updating from the previous post on the topic, the FBI did indeed raid
the
Liberty Dollar office in Indiana on Wednesday. Documents filed in U.S.
District Court in North Carolina indicate that the raid was the
culmination of a two-year undercover investigation of Liberty Dollar
and
its officers.

According to an affidavit (PDF) filed by FBI agent Andrew Romagnuolo in
support of a federal seizure warrant obtained from a U.S. Magistrate
last
week, the feds have been investigating Liberty Dollar not just for
violating federal bans on circulating alternative currency, but also
for
mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

As for the mysterious connection to the Western District of North
Carolina, the document names William Innes of Asheville as a Regional
Currency Officer for Liberty Dollar and an executive committee member
of
the company. Undercover government agents made Asheville a focus of
their
investigation as a result, attending area meetings of Liberty Dollar
prospective buyers and sellers.

The affidavit further details Liberty Dollar's structure and terms it a
"multi-level marketing scheme." The FBI claims the company realizes a
profit by selling the Liberty Dollars into circulation. The feds also
went
back to October 2002 for bank records of Liberty Dollar principals and
cite large sums of cash moving between accounts said to be controlled
by
those individuals.

The document also mentions that the company continued to circulate
Liberty
Dollars after it had been warned by the US Mint not to do so. Part of
the
evidence cited for this is an FBI agent purchasing a "The US Mint Can
Bite
Me" t-shirt at a Liberty Dollar University event in October 2006.

The affidavit concludes that because the Liberty Dollar operation uses
Federal Reserve Notes to conduct its business, it is fraudulent. "This
reliance upon FRN's by a group opposed to FRN's demonstrates that the
American Liberty Dollar Monetary system is simply a drain on the United
State Government's monetary system for financial profit via fraudulent
means," the feds claim. The document further claims there is probable
cause that violations of federal law took place as a result of these
activities.

At no point in the affidavit are Ron Paul Dollars mentioned, although
many
other coins are mentioned including a Hawaii dala offering. As such,
accounts of the raid focused on the Ron Paul angle seem off-base, at
least
given the available facts.

Posted by Jeff Taylor
http://reason.com/blog/show/123553.html
http://reason.com/hitandrun/

[John]

I have not listened to the full show yet,  but is 11/15/07 the first time that FTL did a show which stayed on a single subject all night?

WTF!  The federal government is revolting - why aren't you?

Please come home . . .

[coffeeseven]

The affidavit concludes that because the Liberty Dollar operation uses
Federal Reserve Notes to conduct its business, it is fraudulent.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[Rocketman]

Jane this crap has it's roots in the Drug War...
Money Laundering, Asset Forfeiture, etc... Federal power like never seen before. The prosecutors don't even have to go to court in 95% of the cases. they can pile on charges to the point that even innocent people plead guilty.

Darn right, Sawyer.  Good point.

[Coconut]

is 11/15/07 the first time that FTL did a show which stayed on a single subject all night?

No. Since I began listening, I remember them spending a whole night once taking calls etc from and about police they had pissed off on a Law Enforcement Forum. Another night they spent 3 hours talking about the forum/conference (that Ian calls a cult) that Mark participates in because he feels it improves his life.

[Porcupine_in_MA]

The affidavit concludes that because the Liberty Dollar operation uses
Federal Reserve Notes to conduct its business, it is fraudulent.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHA seconded.

[Jacobus]

Bernard has sent out a follow-up e-mail:

Friday, November 16, 2007: Make no mistake, the FBI and Secret Service raid on he Liberty Dollar at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, was a direct assault against the US onstitution and your right to own and use gold and silver in any way you chose.

I personally spoke to FBI agent Andrew Romagnuolo shortly after he and his gang invaded the peaceful home of the Liberty Dollar. He told me that the raid was related to the US Mint's warning and the beginning of a criminal investigation. This is the first battle of a long war that I intend to win!

Please note the Search Warrant, Seizure Warrant and Agent info is now posted. Click HERE for that info. If that link does not work the URL is: http://www.libertydollar.org/ld/legal/raid.htm.

Also posted is the correspondence between US Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and Edmond C Moy, Director of the US Mint. Of particular interest is Moy's statement that the! paper Certificates are not covered by the Title 18, Section 486 and hence legal. So there was no need to raid Sunshine Mint and confiscate all the gold and silver that backs the paper and digital currencies.

No need, unless the government knew their 486 case didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning and needed to expand their case into the never-never land of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering as mentioned in the Seizure Warrant. I anticipate being arrested on any one or all of these charges.

But I see my arrest and trial as a golden opportunity to win and return our great country to a value based currency. I sincerely believe that the right creative marketer could orchestrate an effective counter attack and win big. I believe the Liberty Dollar will win and become one of the great institutions in America. I have devoted the past ten year to the Liberty Dollar and am willing to risk a few years in federal prison to vindicate it. Winni! ng is certainly possible, even probable with your help.

Wi! nning wi ll require good, dedicated legal support and your support. First, if you are angry and resent the government's assault on your right to own and use gold as you please then call the agents and express your displeasure of their actions in a polite way. Don't kill the messenger, just tell them they are wrong. Add your voice to this movement.

Second: If you are owed an order and want to get your money back or have paper certificates or digital Liberty Dollars, I urge you to demand redemption or the return of your money by joining the Class Action Lawsuit. Your participation is absolutely critical. If you don't join the CAL you will not get your money back. Please click HERE to sign up for the Class Action Lawsuit. If that link does not work, the URL is: http://www.libertydollar.org/classaction/index.php.

Third: A Legal Defense Fund will be established very soon. Its purpose is to win the cr! iminal case and get your money back. It will take money to make it successful. So your contribution is also critical. Please don't let the government steal your money.

So if you have an existing order, want to redeem your paper Certificates or digital Liberty Dollars, please join the fight to defend our right to own and use gold as you so chose and sign up for the Class Action Lawsuit. This is the
only way you will get your stolen property back.

If you have no standing and want to finally get involved, no problem. There is still $20 million Liberty Dollars in circulation. Simply get some paper Liberty Dollars and sign up for the Class Action Lawsuit. There is still time for all the thick-headed Lewrockwellites, Markskousenites, Dougcaseyites and Agoraites to pull your head out and get 'right' on this important issue.

I regret to inform you that the Liberty Dollar office is now closed. The government boys took everything except for t! he desks and chairs. We have no stock, no records, no money. I! can' ;t even change the phone message because they took the phone manuals. Nor can I answer the thousands of email and calls from a national organization that now numbers into the hundreds of thousands. I am the last man standing. I need your help.

Thank you for your many offers of help. Now is the time for us to help our selves and our great country as it faces the greatest monetary challenge since the Revolutionary War. Buying gold and silver is good for you, but it will not solve our country's problems.

Government requires participation. The problems we have today are because our parents did not participate. Please keep using the Liberty Dollar. Keep the ideals and benefits of real money alive. Gold and silver is going to be very rewarding as the US dollar disintegrates. Please join the Class Action Lawsuit and give something to the Legal Defense Fund when it is established.

But you don't have to wait. Donations can be sent to the old address as the ma! il is now being forwarded. Of course we will still accept Liberty Dollars, but unfortunately due to the current situation, the attorneys require those dreaded depreciating US dollars.

Please make your check or money order out to me as there is no other bank account and mail it to: Liberty Dollar, 225 N. Stockwell Road. Evansville. Indiana. 47715.

Now is the time to band together and support our fight for value based currency as never before. Now is the time to throw off the yoke of a manipulated monetary/tax system and generate a peaceful and prosperous society.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your offer of help, prayers and support.

The Liberty Dollar and our great country sincerely needs your support.

God bless you and our great country!

Bernard von NotHaus
Monetary Architect

[John]

Thanks for that info. 

I think this issue today is a clear signal that the federal government has turned their "preemptive" wars toward the people of these once independent states.

The lawyers (including the judges), the politicians, and the boys (and girls) with badges and guns, who always suck up to their slimy masters, think they can just do whatever the HELL is in their own perverted whim.

[Kat Kanning]

von Nothaus was arrested?

[error]

von Nothaus was arrested?

No, but he said he expects to be arrested.

I doubt he'll be arrested. If he were, the government might have to admit it was wrong and give all the gold and silver back.

[Russell Kanning]

the fed and the LD cannot coexist ... his company cannot be a large institution as long as the federales have guns and are ready to use them

[Pat McCotter]

Jane this crap has it's roots in the Drug War...
Money Laundering, Asset Forfeiture, etc... Federal power like never seen before. The prosecutors don't even have to go to court in 95% of the cases. they can pile on charges to the point that even innocent people plead guilty.

Ok but I really still don't understand how other places can sell gold coins and no one cares what people do with that stuff do they? I am just anxious to know how they can prove like he said that one doing it is OK, but  '10 of us doing it' broke the law. If that is true, then most people who swap secret Santa at Christmas parties are breaking the law...geesh. 

I know it's from a commie's son - Arlo Guthrie - but it's still good. From Alice's Restaurant:

======================================================
And friends, somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder, is a
study in black and white of my fingerprints.  And the only reason I'm
singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar
situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if you're in a
situation like that there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into
the shrink wherever you are ,just walk in say "Shrink, You can get
anything you want, at Alice's restaurant.".  And walk out.  You know, if
one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and
they won't take him.  And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,
they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an
organization.  And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and
walking out.  And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and
all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the
guitar.
======================================================

[PattyLee loves dogs]

Well, they stole ALL the gold in the country in 1933:
http://www.the-privateer.com/1933-gold-confiscation.html

So clearly, we must applaud them for their more moderate actions in recent years 

[Pat McCotter]

It would be like me offering you a clam shell in return for a mussel shell...we agreed to trade

My reading of the US Mint's site is that if one person does that, it's okay.  However, it ten people agree to trade clam shells for goods or services, that's illegal and they'll punish you.  After all, you're making trades and not giving government a share of that trade, so that's illegal in this country.

Hmm, here come da chip. Then they'll know if I bake you some friggin' lasagna for mowing my lawn and charge me taxes on the transaction..I frequently use lasagna as an instrument of barter. We'll hafta call it the lasagna tax.. LOL

Barter is a taxable activity:

Topic 420 - Bartering Income

Bartering occurs when you exchange goods or services without exchanging money. An example of bartering is a plumber doing repair work for a dentist in exchange for dental services. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged must be included in the income of both parties.

Income from bartering is taxable in the year in which you receive the goods or services. Generally, you report this income on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business. If you failed to report bartering income on returns you have already filed, you should correct this by filing an amended return, Form 1040X (PDF), for each year involved. For information on amended returns, refer to Topic 308.

A barter exchange is any person or organization with members or clients that contract with each other (or with the barter exchange) to jointly trade or barter property or services. The term does not include arrangements that provide solely for the informal exchange of similar services on a noncommercial basis.

The Internet has provided a medium for new growth in the bartering exchange industry. This growth prompts the following reminder: Barter exchanges are required to file Form 1099-B for all transactions unless certain exceptions are met. Refer to Barter Exchanges for additional information on this subject.

If you are in a business or trade, you may deduct any costs you incurred to perform the work that was bartered. If you exchanged property or services through a barter exchange, you should receive a Form 1099-B (PDF), Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions. The Form 1099–B or other statement generally will show the value of any cash, property, services, credits, or scrip you received from the exchange during the year. The IRS will also receive the same information.

If you receive income from bartering, you may be required to make estimated tax payments. Refer to Topic 355 for additional information.

Additional examples of bartering, and information on how to report the income, are described in Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.