Financial Crimes on US Minor Outlying Islands: A Growing Concern
The US Minor Outlying Islands have been facing a surge in financial crimes committed by individuals claiming to be sovereign citizens. These individuals believe that the US government has no authority over them, and they use this ideology to justify their illegal activities.
The Sovereign Citizen Movement
According to a study conducted by The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) in 2014, law enforcement agencies identified the sovereign citizen movement as the greatest threat to their communities. This movement, which gained popularity in the early 2000s, has been linked to numerous financial crimes across the country.
The Redemption Theory
Sovereign citizens believe that they can exploit a supposed “Redemption Theory” to commit fraud and evade taxes. They claim that the US government uses social security numbers, birth certificates, and zip codes to assign collateral values to every citizen, creating a separate legal entity known as a strawman. By rejecting this identity, sovereign citizens believe they are no longer liable for their debts.
Fraudulent Financial Activities
These individuals use fraudulent financial documents, including:
- Fake bills of exchange
- Promissory bonds
- Indemnity bonds
- Forged documents such as:
- Drivers’ licenses
- Passports
- Vehicle registrations
to commit mortgage, credit card, tax, and loan fraud. They also sell these forged documents to unsuspecting victims.
Convictions and Law Enforcement Efforts
In recent years, sovereign citizens have been convicted of a range of financial crimes, including:
- Income tax evasion
- Redemption schemes
- Selling fraudulent documents
- Financial fraud
Law enforcement agencies are working to combat this growing threat by:
- Educating themselves about the warning signs and tactics used by sovereign citizens
- Disrupting their networks and bringing them to justice
Staying Vigilant
As the US Minor Outlying Islands continue to grapple with this issue, it is essential that residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. By working together, we can protect our communities and prevent these criminals from further exploiting our financial systems.
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