Feds raid Liberty Dollar offices

[Soldier4Christ]

Feds raid Liberty Dollar offices 
Gold, silver for 'private voluntary barter currency' confiscated

A company that makes and distributes Liberty Dollar coins in various denominations has announced it is shut down – for now – after a raid by FBI and U.S. Secret Service agents in which documents, records, coins and gold and silver were confiscated.

Liberty Dollar produces and distributes the coins as "private voluntary barter currency," or coins that compete with the Federal Reserve notes used in general economic circulation.

In a news release signed by Bernard von NotHaus, the "monetary architect" for the company in Evansville, Ind., officials announced yesterday "a dozen FBI and Secret Service agents" raided the office,

"For approximately six hours they took all the gold, all the silver, all the platinum, and almost two tons of Ron Paul Dollars that were just delivered last Friday. They also took all the files and computers and froze our bank accounts," the letter said.

"We have no money. We have no products. We have no records to even know what was ordered or what you are owed. We have nothing but the will to push forward and overcome this massive assault on our liberty and our right to have real money as defined by the U.S. Constitution," it continued.

The company said it did not know when, if ever, it would be able to resume filling orders.

It also said a special website had been set up for those interested to "band together for a class-action suit."

"We cannot allow the government to steal our money," the letter said.

U.S. Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials both declined comment on the issue, referring WND to the U.S. Attorney's office in North Carolina. There a spokeswoman told WND she had no information "on the public record" she could provide.

Asked if that meant something had occurred, but officials were withholding information, she responded, "Yes."

Company information says Von NotHaus developed the Liberty Dollar in 1998 as an "inflation-proof" alternative currency to Federal Reserve Notes. The U.S. government, however, historically has taken a dim view of anything monetary that could be perceived as substituting for Federal Reserve Notes.

Authorities have attacked such alternatives as counterfeiting, while supporters of such bartering tool attack the Federal Research Notes as fakes.

That opinion was shared by Lance Haverkamp, who joined in a forum at the Courier-Press newspaper on the issue.

"Do you realize how stupid it is to say the green stuff is 'real' and the gold & silver is 'fake'… You must work for the government!" he wrote.

The organization explained its position like this:

"It's incredible how few people know the facts about the Federal Reserve. The organization chaired by Ben Bernanke is not 'Federal' – it is instead a cabal of private and international banks that does not answer to the United States government. And while there is some precious metal stored in Fort Knox, it doesn't back the debt based 'fiat' U.S. dollar that they issue, because nothing backs it except your trust in the system! Even a casual look at the Fed's history leads one to wonder how an institution that profits mightily from its own policies of victimizing Americans has maintained control over the money of the wealthiest nation on Earth. For those who have made a serious inquiry, the Federal Reserve is shadowed in deceptive origins and fraudulent policies."

Its alternative is a series of coins made of precious metals that can be exchanged for an assigned dollar amount. Over its history, the company has produced the California Bear, Chambersburg Dollar, Evansville Dollar, Hawaii Dala, Peace Dollar and the new Ron Paul Dollar, among others.

The company claims legal opinions that its products are not illegal, and posts testimonies from those who have used the Liberties.

"I am writing this to Liberty Dollar in hopes that it can be used to help with support," wrote a fan, M. Symonds, of Dallas, Texas, who reported using the coinage for $700 expenses on a trip to Austin.

"My entire trip was funded with The Liberty Dollar. It used it everywhere I went. … I am here to tell you that the major chains and businesses will accept them. Here is a list of some of the places I used them: Joe's Fina Mart, Placido, Texas; James Texaco, Lolita, Texas; Jack In The Box, Austin, Texas; Chevron, Schulenburg, Texas; McDonalds, Port Lavaca, Texas, Wal-Mart, Port Lavaca, Texas; Reeds Grocery, Odem, Texas…"

"The only catch is that as the Liberty Dollar is voluntary, your bank may not accept it for deposit," the company website said. "Of course, this also means that money cannot be siphoned away from your community by big box retailers. The Liberty Dollar is designed to stay in your community of origin for the advantage of the community."

For example, a construction worker is paid a $20 Liberty for services, he then takes it to a grocery story for $20 in groceries. The store owner pays a local utility bill with the coin, and that coin then goes to a utility company employee for wages. That employee then pays it back to the construction worker for a remodeling project.

[Soldier4Christ]

Ron Paul Nuts Busted for Making Their Own Money

If Ron Paul’s followers are not THE craziest political movement in history, I don’t know who the prize would go to. Too many of them fill the ranks of conspiracy nuts, truthers, white supremacists, and koo koo fringe. Now we can add a few more kooks to the pile.

    Federal agents on Thursday raided the Evansville, Ind., headquarters of the National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and Internal Revenue Code (Norfed), an organization of “sound money” advocates that for the past decade has been selling a private currency it calls “Liberty Dollars.” The company says it has put into circulation more than $20 million in Liberty Dollars, coins and paper certificates it contends are backed by silver and gold stored in Idaho, are far more reliable than a U.S. dollar and are accepted for use by a nationwide underground economy.

    Norfed officials said yesterday that the six-hour raid occurred just as its six employees were mailing out the first batch of 60,000 “Ron Paul Dollars,” copper coins sold for $1 to honor the candidate, who is a longtime advocate of abolishing the Federal Reserve. The group says it has shipped out about 10,000 silver Ron Paul Dollars that sold for $20 and about 3,500 of the copper $1 coins. But it said the agents seized more than 50,000 of the copper coins — more than two tons’ worth — plus smaller amounts of the silver coins and gold and platinum Ron Paul Dollars, which sell for $1,000 and $2,000.

    In the affidavit, an FBI special agent states that he is investigating Norfed for federal violations including “uttering coins of gold, silver, or other metal,” “making or possessing likeness of coins,” mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. “The goal of Norfed is to undermine the United States government’s financial systems by the issuance of a non-governmental competing currency for the purpose of repealing the Federal Reserve and Internal Revenue Code,” he states.

Railing against the Federal Reserve and IRS is one thing. Creating your own alternative currency is another. You just can’t do that.

[nChrist]

           ROFL!

I can't imagine anything like this being illegal.  Surely, you know that I'm kidding!  I never cease to be amazed.  Maybe everyone should make their own money.

[Soldier4Christ]

Sure, after all there has never been a law against it.   

 

[Rhys]

Sure, after all there has never been a law against it.   

 

Yes and no - coining money is a power reserved to Congress under the Constitution: "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the
Standard of Weights and Measures;"

What is more interesting is that this outfit has been in business for years, but the Feds waited until now - kind of makes you think that the dollar must be in far worse shape than is being admitted.

[Soldier4Christ]

It takes time to gather sufficient information to take action on such a thing as this. There is a law that permits people to make certain types of coins. Such as special commemoration coins. Public Law 108-289 and Public Law 105-124 to mention just a few of them. Another problem is in how these coins are advertised. Such as one company that advertised a coin as being one authorized by the mint when in fact it wasn't. In this particular case it is being hinted at being legal tender instead of a commemoration coin by calling it a "Liberty Dollar". It is perfectly legal to make commemorative coins without Congressional approval as long as it is advertised correctly.