Alaska Peacemakers Militia

The FBI Informant Who Ran Drugs For The Hells Angels

Ryan J. Reilly | May 25, 2012, 6:22AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francs "Schaeffer" Cox

The FBI informant who brought down an Alaska militia headed by Schaeffer Cox last year admitted this week that he ran drugs for the Hells Angels motorcycle gang before he began working with the feds.

The federal trial of Cox, Coleman Barney and Lonnie Vernon began earlier this month and could last several weeks. They are charged with plotting to murder government and law enforcement officials.

Anti-Government Extremism Thrives As Politics Get Angrier

Nick R. Martin | March 8, 2012, 2:51PM

The same populist anger that has led to political victories nationwide in recent years has also fueled an incredible rise of anti-government fanaticism, one of the leading watchdogs of American extremism said on Thursday.

B.J. Pak

States Get Serious In Confronting Sovereign Citizen Movement

Jillian Rayfield | February 28, 2012, 6:40AM

$4 billion liens against police officers. Bankruptcy proceedings against the United States government. Claims of grammar-based conspiracies or "backwards-correct-syntaxing-modification fraud."

Sovereign citizens have found bizarre and creative ways to use court filings and liens to harass public officials throughout the country -- and legislators in Georgia have had enough.

Schaeffer Cox

Judge Won't Toss Weapons Evidence In Schaeffer Cox Case

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2012, 5:14PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

A federal judge will not grant a motion by Schaeffer Cox and other alleged members of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia to throw out evidence obtained from multiple searches, which turned up weapons that are key to the prosecution's case.

Schaeffer Cox

Alaska Sovereign Citizens Indicted On Murder Conspiracy Charges

Jillian Rayfield | January 24, 2012, 2:15PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francis "Schaeffer" Cox

Schaeffer Cox and two of his followers in the Alaska Peacemaker Militia appeared in court on Monday expecting to file more motions to dismiss the charges against them. Instead they were greeted with additional indictments by a federal grand jury charging them with conspiring to kill government officials, including law enforcement officers.

Schaeffer Cox

Schaeffer Cox: FBI Informants Kidnapped Me, Turned My Life Into The Truman Show

Jillian Rayfield | December 22, 2011, 5:57AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

Alaska militia leader Schaeffer Cox is asking the court to throw out FBI recordings made by a confidential informant because the informant took actions that were "analogous to kidnapping" and turned Cox's life into a version of the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show.

Schaeffer Cox

Feds Call In Alleged Schaeffer Cox Associate As Material Witness

Jillian Rayfield | December 7, 2011, 12:40PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francis "Schaeffer" Cox

The FBI has served a material witness warrant to Michael O. Anderson, a former associate of Schaeffer Cox who was released from prison when the state dropped its charges against members of Cox's Alaska militia crew.

Bill Fulton

The Strange Case Of The FBI's Second Schaeffer Cox Informant

Jillian Rayfield | November 29, 2011, 12:29PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

Remember when Republican senate candidate Joe Miller hired a security team for that ill-fated campaign event at a public school last fall? Well, as it turns out, the head of the security team was moonlighting as a confidential informant infiltrating the Alaska militia movement for the FBI, in an effort that eventually helped lead to the arrest of Schaeffer Cox and his followers on weapons charges and an alleged plot to kill state officials.

Schaeffer Cox

Schaeffer Cox & Co. Also Charged With Possessing Grenade Launcher

Jillian Rayfield | November 22, 2011, 6:10AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francis "Schaeffer" Cox

Schaeffer Cox and two members of his Alaska militia were indicted on two additional federal weapons charges for possessing grenades and a grenade launcher.

Schaeffer Cox

Militia Leader Cox Says FBI Source Pushed Attack, 'Fanned The Flames Of Government Overthrow'

Ryan J. Reilly | November 17, 2011, 6:05AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francis "Schaeffer" Cox

An Alaska militia leader accused in a plot against the government is accusing an FBI cooperating witness of "pushing and pushing" him to mobilize against the government and fanning the flames of government overthrow.

Francis "Schaeffer" Cox recalls in an affidavit filed in federal court on Tuesday that he (accompanied by Jeremy Baker and Les Zerbe) met with gun dealer Bill Fulton in Fairbanks in August 2010. Cox says Fulton was in town to participate in a fundraiser for the Interior Conservative Coalition that was being held at Far North Tactical, which is owned by Fulton "protege" Aaron Bennett.

Fulton is one of the FBI's confidential informants in the case. You may remember him as part of Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller's security detail, who handcuffed and detained Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger for trying to question and videotape Miller.

Cox's attorney Nelson Traverso wrote in a motion to dismiss the indictment that Fulton's "complete role has yet to be disclosed."

Sovereign Citizens

Schaeffer Cox-Linked 'Sovereign Citizen' Admits He Filed $2.5M In False Tax Returns

Jillian Rayfield | November 9, 2011, 8:43AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

A "sovereign citizen" in Washington pleaded guilty to defrauding the IRS with around $2.5 million in phony tax returns, on behalf of unsuspecting clients of his tax preparation and bookkeeping business.

Sovereign Citizens

AK Sovereign Citizen Had Bomb-Making Instructions, Info On 'Remote Viewing'

Jillian Rayfield | November 7, 2011, 11:49AM

A 'sovereign citizen' and member of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm when attempting to cross into Canada, and was found with instructions on how to make pipe bombs, information on carrying concealed firearms and lists of websites that teach "remote viewing."

Mary Ann Morgan

Another AK Militia Activist And Sovereign Citizen Linked To Schaeffer Cox Arrested

Jillian Rayfield | November 3, 2011, 6:02AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

A member of the Alaska militia movement and a sovereign citizen connected with Schaeffer Cox was arrested on a weapons charge while trying to cross into Canada.

Sovereign Citizens

Schaeffer Cox-Linked 'Sovereign Citizens' In WA Accused Of Threatening To Abduct Officials

Jillian Rayfield | October 26, 2011, 6:05AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

Several "sovereign citizens" in Washington State, who call themselves "County Rangers," are under investigation for various tax fraud charges and allegedly threatening to abduct law enforcement officials.

Sovereign Citizens

Alaska Judge Tosses Evidence In Schaeffer Cox Militia Case

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2011, 10:56AM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Schaeffer Cox prepares to address fellow gun rights supporters on Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Friends Community Church.

An Alaska judge barred prosecutors from using over 100 hours of electronic surveillance in the trial of Schaeffer Cox of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia, who allegedly stockpiled weapons as part of a plot to kill state officials.

Schaeffer Cox

AK Militia Suspects Want Trial Moved From Anchorage Because It's Too Much Like Seattle

Jillian Rayfield | September 20, 2011, 8:30AM

Schaeffer Cox

Lawyers for Schaeffer Cox and another member of the Fairbanks-based Alaska Peacemakers Militia have asked the court to move their trial from Anchorage because it's "a suburb of Seattle" and is "an environment alien to the accused."

Schaeffer Cox

Feds Say AK 'Sovereign Citizen' Militia Leader Boasted Of 'Nifty' Bombs, Lasers, Boats

Jillian Rayfield | September 12, 2011, 11:39AM

Schaeffer Cox

Federal officials say they first set their sights on Alaska militia leader Schaeffer Cox after a series of speeches he gave describing his plan to overthrow the government using a 3500-member militia, and weapons like bombs, lasers and and "all sorts of nifty stuff."

Sovereign Citizens

AK Man Gets Reduced Sentence After Informing On Schaeffer Cox

Jillian Rayfield | July 28, 2011, 6:00AM

Schaeffer Cox

The identity of one of the two confidential informants in the Schaeffer Cox militia case was revealed this week after a judge reduced his sentence on several felony charges, as a reward for his help in bringing about the arrest of Cox and members of his Alaska Peacemakers Militia.

Alaska

Attorneys For Schaeffer Cox Want Murder Conspiracy Charges Thrown Out

Jillian Rayfield | July 7, 2011, 2:05PM

Schaeffer Cox

Attorneys for Schaeffer Cox have asked a court to throw out murder conspiracy charges against their client, who is accused of plotting to kill a federal judge, because of the way the grand jury was conducted.

Cox, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen and leader of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia, was arrested in March, along with Coleman Barney, Lonnie and Karen Vernon, and Michael O. Anderson, for allegedly stockpiling weapons as part of a plot to kill two Alaska State Troopers, an IRS employee, and the federal judge.

Alaska

State Trial Of AK 'Sovereign Citizens' May Be Delayed Until Next Year

Jillian Rayfield | June 28, 2011, 10:21AM

Schaeffer Cox

Attorneys for the group of Alaska sovereign citizens who allegedly plotted to murder a federal judge are pushing for the trial to be delayed until after the federal charges against them have been resolved.

Sovereign Citizens

Two AK Sovereign Citizens Lose Tax Case Which Allegedly Led To Plot To Kill Judge

Jillian Rayfield | May 31, 2011, 12:49PM

Lonnie and Karen Vernon, two sovereign citizens and militia members in Alaska, lost a court case over $180,000 in taxes they owe to the IRS, a case that allegedly led to a plot to kill a U.S. District Judge, an IRS employee, and two state troopers.

Schaeffer Cox

Six AK Militia Suspects Appear In Court After Pleading Not Guilty To Alleged Plot To Kill Federal Judge

Jillian Rayfield | April 6, 2011, 2:47PM

Schaeffer Cox

All six of the Alaska militia members accused of plotting to kill two state troopers and a federal judge appeared together in court for the first time Tuesday, after five of them pleaded not guilty to the charges late last month.

Investigators said in a court filing last week that they have over 130 hours of audio and video recordings, among other evidence, garnered with the help of two confidential informants over a 10-month investigation of the suspects, who were members of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia.

Schaeffer Cox

Feds: Alaska Militia Members Also Plotted To Kill An IRS Employee

Jillian Rayfield | March 18, 2011, 4:20PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francs "Schaeffer" Cox

The U.S. Attorney for Alaska has announced new federal charges, including conspiracy to kill an IRS employee, against four of the five militia members arrested in Fairbanks, Alaska last week. The militia members allegedly stockpiled weapons as part of a plot to kill multiple Alaska State Troopers and a federal judge.

Alaska

Court Docs Say AK Militia Members Plotted To Use 'Twice The Force' Against Law Enforcement

Jillian Rayfield | March 14, 2011, 4:00PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francs "Schaeffer" Cox

Five suspected Alaska militia members arrested last week were arraigned in court on Friday, and the criminal complaints in the case reveal how they allegedly stockpiled weapons while plotting to keep their leader, Schaeffer Cox, from being arrested after skipping his court date.

Sovereign Citizens

'Sovereign Citizens' Arrested In Alaska For Alleged Plot To Kill Police, Federal Judge

Ryan J. Reilly and Jillian Rayfield | March 11, 2011, 4:48PM

Second Amendment Task Force organizer Francs "Schaeffer" Cox

Militia activist Schaeffer Cox and four associates who reportedly stockpiled weapons were arrested on Thursday for allegedly conspiring to kill multiple Alaska State Troopers and a federal judge.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that the group -- Cox, Lonnie. G. Vernon and his wife Karen Vernon, as well as Coleman Barney of North Pole and Michael Anderson -- were taken into custody by state police. All five face several state charges, including "conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit arson, misconduct involving weapons in the third degree, hindering prosecution in the first degree and tampering with evidence," according to a press release by the Alaska State Troopers.

Only one of the individuals, Lonnie G. Vernon, has been charged on the federal level so far. He's alleged to have threatened to murder U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline from on or about Feb. 4, continuing through Feb. 16.

TPMMuckraker Alaska Peacemakers Militia

Ryan J. Reilly | May 25, 2012, 6:22AM

Nick R. Martin | March 8, 2012, 2:51PM

Jillian Rayfield | February 28, 2012, 6:40AM

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2012, 5:14PM

Jillian Rayfield | January 24, 2012, 2:15PM

Jillian Rayfield | December 22, 2011, 5:57AM

Jillian Rayfield | December 7, 2011, 12:40PM

Jillian Rayfield | November 29, 2011, 12:29PM

Jillian Rayfield | November 22, 2011, 6:10AM

Ryan J. Reilly | November 17, 2011, 6:05AM

Jillian Rayfield | November 9, 2011, 8:43AM

Jillian Rayfield | November 7, 2011, 11:49AM

Jillian Rayfield | November 3, 2011, 6:02AM

Jillian Rayfield | October 26, 2011, 6:05AM

Jillian Rayfield | October 18, 2011, 10:56AM

Jillian Rayfield | September 20, 2011, 8:30AM

Jillian Rayfield | September 12, 2011, 11:39AM

Jillian Rayfield | July 28, 2011, 6:00AM

Jillian Rayfield | July 7, 2011, 2:05PM

Jillian Rayfield | June 28, 2011, 10:21AM

Jillian Rayfield | May 31, 2011, 12:49PM

Jillian Rayfield | April 6, 2011, 2:47PM

Jillian Rayfield | March 18, 2011, 4:20PM

Jillian Rayfield | March 14, 2011, 4:00PM

Ryan J. Reilly and Jillian Rayfield | March 11, 2011, 4:48PM

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Alaska Peacemakers Militia