the sovereign citizen phenomena - ericsa sovereign... · ericsa 53rd annual training conference...

ERICSA 53rd Annual Training Conference & Exposition ▪ May 1 - 5 ▪ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The SovereignCitizen

Phenomena

Click to addspeaker information


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es

“I object to the court continuing toidentify me as a subject of corporateUnited States of America, I ask the courtto cease and desist this, andacknowledge I am a sovereign citizenwith State and Federal constitutionalrights and protections of law.”

- Shawna Cox in her response to the Federalcharges related to the Malheur Wildlife Refugetakeover, February 17, 2016


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Today’s Objectives

Who are the “sovereign citizens?”What is their origin?What do they believe?How do you identify a sovereign

citizen?What tactics do they use?How can we protect ourselves?

… Are you ready to know more?


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Who are the “sovereign citizens?

The Federal Bureau of Investigationdefines the Sovereign Citizen’sMovement in the United States ascomprised of U.S. citizens who openlyreject their citizenship status and claimto exist beyond the realm of governmentauthority.


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es The Department of Homeland Securityfurther defines the sovereign citizen as Extremists: groups or individuals who

facilitate or engage in acts of violencedirected at public officials, financialinstitutions

Believe the legitimacy of US citizenshipshould be rejectedBelieve almost all forms of established

government, authority, and institutions areillegitimateBelieve they are immune from all federal,

state, and local laws.


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Who might be a sovereign?citizem?Answer: Anyone

Efforts to pigeonhole people or groupswho ascribe to the sovereign ideologydefy categorizationSovereigns cannot be categorized interms of:RaceGenderPoliticalReligion


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Historical Perspective History of far-right groups and individuals

in the United States- Posse Comitatus 1960’s- Timothy Mc Veigh 1995

Groups share an anti- government focusSome white-supremacist elements May engage in violent confrontations with

Government officials May engage solely in “paper terrorism.”May act alone or as part of a group


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es What do they believe? The government operates outside of its jurisdiction.

Because of this belief, they do not recognize federal,state, or local laws, policies, or regulations

They are sovereign unto themselves, and do notbelieve themselves subject to governmentalauthority

“Redemption” allows them to remove themselvesfrom citizenship via notice to the government

Redemption frees them from the responsibility tocomply with laws and allows them to access theirstrawman account


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Violence Continuum

Non- violent;may identify withanti-governmentideology

ExtremistViolentarmed

CriminalSovereigns-engage inpaper terrorism’mostly nonviolent


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Identifying Sovereign Citizens


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Can you identify a sovereign citizenA sovereign citizen does not have certain

look or sound.

They are able to carry on intelligentconversation, make jokes, and hold a job.

Only when the topic of law and orgovernment arise, or charged with a crime,do their reveal their true beliefs andaffiliation.


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Sovereign SignsIt’s all in the name

JOHN SMITH Do not recognize names in caps

All capital letters signifies a corporate shell of aperson not a flesh and blood person Birth Certificates Driver License

What you may see or hear Smith:John or Smith-Family of John May add “Freeman” after name House of Smith John-Smith or john-smith I am a agent of John Smith


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es MailInternational Postage rates maybe applied

for domestic mailingsPostage applied upside-downUsing registered mailDocuments are notarized even if not

requiredDocuments may contain phrase “Accepted

for Value”Zip codes

May be excluded Placed in brackets [12345]


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es DocumentsSignatures

Followed by “SLS” Sovereign Living Soul Signing under duress Signature copyright Thumb or Fingerprint shows the uniqueness

of the person Blue ink or red ink On or near a signature or seal Blood represents flesh and blood person

Use Caution when handling papers in case ofbiological hazards


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Documents IndicatorsSovereign citizens often produce documents

that contain peculiar or out-of-placelanguage.In some cases, they speak their own

language or will write only in certain colors,such as in red crayon.


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Indicators continued

Outdated case law Site the 1215 Magna Carta Treaties with foreign governments Use phrase with UCC Uniform

Commercial Code Diplomatic Status Admiralty Law Common Law Refer to themselves as American national Site Jurisdiction


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Indicators continuedMany buzzwords are legitimate legal terms

when used in the proper jurisdiction

Most cases these words are meaningless inthe way they are used by sovereign citizens

Example They will cite Uniform Commercial Code UCC

in child support matters or municipal courtissues.


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Use Of Buzzwords

Aboriginal/indigenous Strawman Oath of Office Common Law Man on the land Non-resident alien Free Man El Bey In admiralty UCC


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Tactics

Challenge Jurisdiction

Will ask for the Judges Oath of OfficeMay file motions that don’t make any legal

sense to the court.

Appear with advisor who is not an attorneyCould appear with a hired court reporter or

stenographer ORWill record or video record the proceeding

with hidden device


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Tactics continuedMay refuse to identify themselves

May state they are a diplomat

State they are not subject to federal state orlocal government laws

Claim not to be a Fourteenth Amendmentcitizen

Will show a lack of respect to all court staff,law enforcement, and Judges


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es Paper Terrorism Creation of false documents Misrepresentation of identity Frivolous Lawsuits Phony documents including

indictments and arrest warrants Liens

- Mechanics liens- Construction Liens

Fraudulent Use of IRS Forms


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es How Can We Protect Ourselves?Training Staff

Staff need to recognize the tactics Harass and intimidate

Do not Debate policies or procedures Become aggressive Sign any documents without reading first filed

by a sovereign citizen


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es How Can We Protect Ourselves?Courtroom, Hearing Room and or

Conference Room Review all motions filed

May have a legitimate argument Be Nonreactive you can not debate them Give a defined time for response May isolate them to a location away from

public Do not touch them; may file assault charges Understand there may be future backlash


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es How Can We Protect Ourselves?Physical Safety

Know your policies Searching a party before entering for

weapons or hidden recording devices Have backup or law enforcement present Be prepared to protect against violent

behavior Create a team within the state to share

information between courts and stateagencies to report Sovereign citizensactivity


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es How Can We Protect Ourselves?Financial Safety

Monitor your credit report Search for Liens Additional 1099 filings against you

Professional Safety File complaint with the Bar

What to do if you find something Know to whom you refer the matter in

your state or office


Cre

atin

g B

right

er D

ays

for F

amili

es What We Have Learned

Who are the “sovereign citizens?”What is their origin?What do they believe?How do you identify a sovereign

citizen?What tactics do they use?How can we protect ourselves?

…