MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
The self-proclaimed president of the 'Republic of the united States of America' was found guilty of several tax crimes today in federal court.
Skipperville resident, 57-year-old James Timothy Turner presides over the largest and most organized group of sovereign citizens in the country - a group that has a place on the Southern Poverty Law Center's watch list.
Turner was convicted today of conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempting to pay taxes with
fictitious financial instruments, attempting to obstruct and impede the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), failing to file a 2009 federal income tax
return, and falsely testifying under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The FBI began an investigation after Turner and three other individuals
sent demands to all fifty governors in the United States ordering each governor
to resign within three days or be "removed."
Officials say as "president" of the RuSA, Turner traveled the country in 2008 and 2009 teaching others how to
defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious "bonds" to the United
States government in payment of federal taxes.
According to a release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice,
Turner was convicted of sending a $300 million
"bond" in his own name and of aiding and abetting others in sending fifteen
other "bonds" to the Treasury Department to pay taxes and other debts. The evidence at trial also established that
Turner taught people how to file retaliatory liens against government officials
who interfered with the processing of fictitious "bonds." Turner himself
actually filed a purported $17.6 billion maritime lien in Montgomery County,
Alabama, Probate Court against another individual.
Turner remains in federal custody pending
sentencing. Turner faces a potential maximum prison term of 164 years, a
maximum potential fine of $2,350,000, and mandatory restitution.
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