RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors on Monday tried to take a hoard of silver "Liberty Dollars" worth about $7 million that authorities say was invented by an Indiana man to compete with U.S. currency.
Bernard von NotHaus, 67, was convicted last month in federal court in Statesville on conspiracy and counterfeiting charges for making and selling the currency, which he promoted as inflation-proof competition for the U.S. dollar.
His Charlotte-based lawyer, Aaron Michel, is appealing that verdict. He wrote in a motion filed Thursday that von NotHaus did nothing wrong because he didn't try to pass the Liberty Dollars off as U.S. dollars.
"The prosecutors successfully painted Mr. von NotHaus in a false light and now the U.S. Attorney responsible for the prosecution is painting the case in a false light, saying that it establishes that private voluntary barter currency is illegal," Michel wrote.
The trial was scheduled to resume Monday in Statesville. The case involves more than five tons of Liberty Dollars and precious metals seized from a warehouse, which the government wants to take by forfeiture, according to federal prosecutors and Michel.
Von NotHaus began issuing Liberty Dollars in 1998, as head of the Evansville, Ind.-based National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve and Internal Revenue Code. In 2007, the group's headquarters were raided along with the Sunshine Mint in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, where the coins were made. The case is being tried in Statesville because one of the organization's top officers is based in Asheville, and because an undercover investigator made contact with the group in North Carolina.
Federal prosecutors successfully argued that von NotHaus was, in fact, trying to pass off the silver coins as U.S. currency. Coming in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50, the Liberty Dollars also featured a dollar sign, the word "dollar" and the motto "Trust in God," similar to the "In God We Trust" that appears on U.S. coins.
"Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism," U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a statement after von NotHaus was convicted.
Von NotHaus has argued it's not illegal to create currency to privately trade goods and services. He also has said his organization took pains to say the Liberty Dollars shouldn't be called "coins" and shouldn't be presented as government-minted cash. Among other benefits, Michel's motion argues, the Liberty Dollars were a means to help keep currency in local communities by creating networks of merchants and consumers who used the money.
Numerous cities and regions around the country have experimented with local currency, but laws restrict them from resembling U.S. bills or from being passed off as money printed by the federal government.
The concerns raised by von NotHaus and his group are finding resonance among some state lawmakers, too. About a dozen states have legislation that would allow them to produce their own currency backed by gold or silver in the event of hyperinflation striking the U.S. dollar. North and South Carolina are among those states.
That's partly why von NotHaus' group has been followed for years by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that tracks political extremism. Long before the government began its investigation into von NotHaus, the group was raising concerns about the popularity of Liberty Dollars among fringe groups on the far right.
"He's playing on a core idea of the radical right, that evil bankers in the Federal Reserve are ripping you off by controlling the money supply," said Mark Potok, spokesman for the group. "He very much exists in the world of the anti-government patriot movement, whatever he may say. That's who his customers are."
Von NotHaus is currently free on bond. If the conviction against him is upheld, he faces up to 25 years in prison and a fine of $750,000. A sentencing date has not been set yet.
What about the co-op dollars so folks can purchase local goods at small mom/pop stores.....what the hell.....people aren't stupid and they do get mad once they are no longer ignorant....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
This is actually a big case, many people had there orders seized when they raided them. You can still find Liberty dollars for sale on ebay but sadly they are marked way up from what the gold and silver spot price is. They made some copper ones I remember which would be pretty cool to own even if you had to pay a little more.
"Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism," U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a statement after von NotHaus was convicted.
I can't believe this statement, maybe he needs a history lesson of the Federal Reserve and our governments elimination of a gold backed currency.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
This is actually a big case, many people had there orders seized when they raided them. You can still find Liberty dollars for sale on ebay but sadly they are marked way up from what the gold and silver spot price is. They made some copper ones I remember which would be pretty cool to own even if you had to pay a little more.
"Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism," U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a statement after von NotHaus was convicted.
I can't believe this statement, maybe he needs a history lesson of the Federal Reserve and our governments elimination of a gold backed currency.
what do they call 'digital trading'.....what's that value....apparently it's what makes the 'bubbles burst'.....nothing but gumba gangstas.....barter is the way to go....once a person's ability to survive and thrive is usurped by the elected---they're screwed we're from the government and we're here to help.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
.barter is the way to go....once a person's ability to survive and thrive is usurped by the elected---they're screwed .....
US currency can still be used for barter if you have the right stuff, pre 65 quarters and dimes contain 90% silver but finding them is damn near impossible, trust me I check all my change when I get it. Funny though how real money like the pre 65 coins hold there value against inflation. Say you had 2 quarters back in 1964, that would buy you a pack of cigarettes, those 2 same quarters today would still buy you a pack of cigarettes because of the amount of silver in them.
Our dollar is only worth 2% of what is was back when the Federal Reserve was started in 1913, use gold as an example of inflation from 1913 to today and you have a real indicator of how bad they screwed up our currency. In 1913 the feds priced gold at $30 an ounce, today it is at what $1430 an ounce
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
"Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism," U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a statement after von NotHaus was convicted.
It appears that they are beginning to use the word 'terrorism' a bit to much to make their case.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
A note to the people... "One by one, two by two, slowly your rights are slipping away from you. Better open your eyes while you still can. Nothing more than a slave to the man" MB
I will trade you a weeks worth of dinners for a keg of your beer
what's that? terrorism? folks....do we feel safe yet? patriot act/homeland security......what an F'EN JOKE......well, not really a joke but our elected legal beagals and gumba gangstas have taken the straw for the bricks and tightened our yoke......feel safe and free????
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
A field trip. Some liberty minded folks are meeting over in Woostuh Mass on the 22 of april. Anyone interested in forming alternatives to our current system will be interested in learning actual things we can do to opt out of the Fed and all of its stuff. Some info can be found here http://www.pacinlaw.net. and here http://www.statenationals.net and here http://www.hisholychurch.com dont let the church word rattle you this aint rituals or funny cloths these are a variety of folks not repubs or dems. but some free staters ,some anarchists, cristian dominion and various other patriot types. non GMO food growers coop operators. It is a pretty cool group and we could learn from them on how to come together in volutary union to mutual assure our survival. or you can continue to vote for some one else to fix it for you. I say we can do better ourselves. if ya wanna go let me know.
We didnt come this far to get this far. random 12 year old
A slave is someone that waits for someone else to free him. Ezra Pound
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