| eighbors of convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown reported police SWAT teams and at least one armored vehicle converging on a field near their Plainfield home this morning. Authorities haven’t confirmed they are moving in to arrest the fugitives, but local police, the governor’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office referred calls to the U.S. Marshal’s service, which has been negotiating daily with the Browns since their federal tax evasion conviction in January. Susan Williams, who lives a mile or so away from the Browns on Center of Town Road, said she saw police officers, SWAT team members, a fire truck, ambulance, helicopter and at least one armored vehicle assembled in a field across from her driveway. Another nearby resident, Russell Hoisington, said he saw a caravan of armored vehicles and many police cars drive past his house on Stage Road just before 9 a.m.
“There’s been a lot of cars heading up that way. Law enforcement types,” he said.
Hoisington’s two nephews live near the Browns. He said some time after 9 a.m., state police told his nephews to leave their home, but did not tell them why. The Browns answered a telephone call from The Associated Press by saying: “This is the Lord’s House. This is Sister Elaine and Brother Edward.”
They said nothing was out of the ordinary at the house.
“It’s very quiet. I have no idea. I don’t see anything going on,” said Brown, before hanging up. But he told a different story earlier today to a supporter, who recorded it and posted some of it online.
"Too many funny little things" had gone on in the past 12 hours said a bit after 9 a.m.
"One of our visitors went out for a walk at about 7:45 ... with my dog, and about an hour later, about 8:45, the dog come ripping down the driveway, and I've waited now for another half hour and - no visitor," Brown said.
He also said the power had gone out twice overnight and an airplane had flown silently over the house, where he said he was holed up with supporters.
"It could be a test to see our response time, our reaction," he said.
Numerous supporters have visited and stayed with the Browns during and after their trial. There was no way of knowing how many were there today. An Associated Press photographer in a plane over the Browns’ property this morning was told to leave the airspace. On the ground, state police set up a checkpoint at Stage Road and Route 12A and would not let reporters pass. The Browns insist federal income tax laws are invalid and have holed up in their hilltop home on 110 acres in Plainfield, which has a watchtower, concrete walls and the ability to run on wind and solar power. Brown said he has stockpiled food and supplies. They were convicted in January of scheming to hide $1.9 million of income between 1996 and 2003. They also were convicted of using $215,890 in postal money orders to pay for their residence and for Elaine Brown’s dental office. The money orders were broken into increments just below the tax-reporting threshold. U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentenced them each to 5¼ years in prison. They skipped the April sentencing hearings, and Ed Brown has said he and his wife will refuse to surrender to authorities. The couple has described the court as a “fiction” unworthy of their attention and returned government mail unopened. The federal judge who sentenced them in absentia has sent along their notice of appeal to an appellate court in Boston. Related articles:
Judge files Browns' appeal (May 10, 2007)
Nabbing tax protesters not worth loss of life (April 29, 2007)
Browns hurt no one; why imprison them? (April 27, 2007)
Tax protest backers vow to disobey (April 26, 2007)
Browns get five years (April 25, 2007)
Chronology of the Browns' case (April 24, 2007)
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