by Mr Penguin | Nov 1, 2024 |
An important message from the Free Ian Now team:
I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out to share an urgent update about my friend, Ian Freeman, a dedicated advocate for Bitcoin, who is fighting to reunite with his family after being wrongfully imprisoned.
Ian’s journey has been a heartbreaking one. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for operating a Bitcoin exchange, but the charges against him are deeply flawed. Rather than being a criminal, Ian has been a pioneer in promoting financial independence through cryptocurrency. His prosecution raises alarming questions about government overreach and the rights of innovators—issues that affect us all.
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by Mr Penguin | Jul 30, 2022 |
On Thursday July 28th judge Joseph N. Laplante concluded the sentencing hearing for Crypto6’s Mr Nobody with a ruling to the maximum degree possible in his favor, and below is a run down of the defenses, prosecutors, and judges thoughts and arguments.
For more detail of what happened and a bit of a backstory on the sentencing check out Freedom Decrypted episode 170 where we covered the pre-sentencing motions that went into the variance granted (or in other words the request to reduce the sentence below that typically authorized by the sentencing guidelines).
The notes from the sentencing hearing are as follows:
– Mr Nobody is pleading guilty to a single count of wire fraud
Judge opens with a speech on the sentencing guidelines being the guiding force behind determining the sentence, but are not a hard rule to be followed, and he can sentence Mr Nobody outside of the guidelines.
There is a sealed pre-sentencing report that was created by the court of which came to 26 pages in length. Unfortunately due to certain information contained within it is sealed, but this is for Mr Nobody’s benefit and it may be that this report can be released by him and/or released by him with appropriate sections redacted. While this may not be relevant to Mr Nobody’s sentencing report the type of information that can be included includes information such as histories of mental illness that would be inappropriate to release to the public. Our opportunity as the public therefore to be outraged by the malicious, manipulative, or outright lies contained in it must therefore be reserved till a later date.
Possible outcome based on sentencing guidelines and guilty plea:
The guidelines recommend:
– 10 to 16 months imprisonment
– 2 to 5 years of supervised release
– A fine of $2,000 to $1 million dollars (more…)
by Ian | Sep 1, 2021 |
Nobody is out on bail!
Nearly six months after his arrest in an insanely destructive 6am raid back in March, longtime Free Keene blogger Nobody has finally been granted bail. The judge in his case suggested that Nobody, who changed his name from Rich Paul to run for Mayor in 2019 then Governor in 2020, was being held illegally.
As was the case with my bail conditions, the federal “magistrate judge” denied Nobody’s bail initially and the defense had to appeal that “de novo” to the actual judge in the case, Joseph Normand Laplante. Laplante also happens to be the chief judge for the entire Federal District Church Court. Thus far Laplante has been much more reasonable than the magistrates, though the bail restrictions on the Crypto Six have varied wildly.
For instance, Aria DiMezzo is highly restricted on what websites she can visit and must ask permission from her probation officer to go to any sites that are outside her limited “whitelist”. However she has no restrictions on drug use. In contrast, I am able to go to any website except for sites for buying, selling, and trading cryptocurrency, am on home confinement, and am subject to random drug testing. I am allowed to use alcohol, though I prefer not to.
No co-defendants are allowed to speak with each other, though after filing motions with the court to remove the contact restriction between us, Aria and I were granted an exception by Laplante for the purposes of being able to perform and run our nationally syndicated radio show, “Free Talk Live“. I have a long list of people in addition to my co-defendants with whom I am prohibited from speaking. This includes my longtime co-host and co-minister in the Shire Free Church, Mark Edgington. As part of his bail, Nobody is also prohibited from speaking with the same list of people. Aria has no such restriction.
The BEARCAT bashed in Nobody’s front door.
- Defendant shall refrain from the use of any social media platform to make any publicly viewable posts…
- Defendant shall refrain from public speaking engagements on radio, television, or podcasts, and shall also refrain from “taking the mic” at public rallies or public events.
Federal District Church Court
Arguably, the restrictions as-written don’t prohibit his newsletter or perhaps even blogging. However I wouldn’t blame him if he chose not to rather than risk a post to Free Keene being considered “social media”, violating bail and getting locked back up. Hopefully his attorneys will be fighting to get his right to free speech respected again. On the positive side, he’s not restricted on travel and can leave his home without permission from his federal handler.
So much for freedom of speech. That said, I’m glad Nobody’s finally out.
Stay tuned here to Free Keene and listen to Free Talk Live for the latest on Nobody and the rest of the Crypto Six.
by Bonnie | Jun 14, 2021 |
Nobody Interviewed on Wake Up Call at WKNH-FM.
The former Pope Indigent of The Church of the Invisible Hand, Nobody, is still in jail. He has been meeting other prisoners, listening to their stories and proselytizing while locked up. He started a newsletter called “Spank”, and has been gathering addresses of people both in and out of jail. I, Bonnie, Peace Nun of the Shire Free Church and one of the Priestesses of the Church of the Invisible Hand, have taken on the role of typing up some things he has written in jail and getting them out to subscribers of Spank. Here is the introduction that will be in every newsletter.
Welcome to “Spank”, the newsletter of the Church of the Invisible Hand’s Prison Outreach Ministry.
Here, we will discuss the spirituality and beliefs of the Church, the sources that inspire it, the ideas that inform it, (both as a whole and in individual practice,) and the practices, both universal and individual, by which we express our beliefs and exercise our faith in them.
As we enter into the long predicted Tribulations and the time of Persecutions of our faith, we beg of our newer Brothers and Sisters to views us with an open mind. Our ideas may seem foreign to you. Our ways may seem strange. But if you study them, we believe you will find, as we have, a faith that works for us, both in theory and in practice. We ask nothing of you but your time and thoughts. If our ways are not for you, we will gladly refund your misery.
The Church is, like Discordianism, an open-source religion. If you agree with us for the most part, but find some of our beliefs unacceptable to you, we invite you to discard those parts of our faith that do not work for you and replace them with others that do. There are a few parts of our faith which cannot be changed without rendering your brand of religion alien to, and irreconcilable with ours. If you believe that you have the right to force your ways on unconsenting others, then your ways are not ours. Please reconsider, and if you cannot, go from us in peace. We advise you not to try to impose your ways on us, or on those we love. If you can do even this, you can live in peace with us. If you believe that races are superior to, or inferior to other races, then we have no time for you. There is one race; the human race. All else is nonsense. We will council you if you wish to hear us, but we will never recognize you as being of our faith until you recant this nonsense. Claim no connection to the Church, we excommunicate you.
The invisible hand of Nature, and its antithesis, the Visible Boot of Government, are not entities or deities in the classical sense. They are more similar to the yin and yang of Taoism. Masculine and feminine, light and dark, right and wrong, good and evil. If you feel your understanding of the Tao is so good that you may force it on others, you have no understanding of the Tao. The way which can be spoken is not the true way. The course which can be forced is not the true course.
If you know anyone who you think would enjoy our newsletter, please send us their name and address at the return address included. Soon, we hope to be able to include business reply postcards, but these things take time, and we are but an egg. Or, perhaps, a clutch. Conversely, if you wish to cancel your subscription, just let us know, or pass future copies on to others. If you want our words to be heard by others, send us money and help us amplify, market and promote our message. Five bucks a month will pay for printing and mailing for many.
We look forward to meeting you and knowing you, as we trudge the road to happy destiny. Until then, we leave you with the traditional Blessing of our People: May the Visible Boot of the Government kick not in thy Door, nor thy Teeth, nor Stomp Upon thy Face. Ramen.
If you’re interested in getting on the mailing list, email a mailing address or email to bonnie@freetalklive.com. Or send mail to Nobody at:
Nobody (Formerly Rich Paul)
314 Daniel Webster Hwy
Boscawen, NH 03303
by Mr Penguin | Jun 7, 2021 |
Bitcoin Gandhi Marches Across NH For Crypto6
Libertarian activist Dave Ridley has taken it upon himself to lead a march across New Hampshire in the hopes of bringing attention to an oppressed group of activists currently under attack by federal authorities for peacefully resisting the violence of the state.
Following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, a ‘terrorist’ leader in British ruled India, Dave has dressed the part calling himself, Bitcoin Gandhi, and marching in kind to raise awareness about the libertarian plight and migration that has brought together thousands of like-minded individuals to New Hampshire.
Mahatma Gandhi was an anti-colonial nationalist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead a successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. He in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi led a 24-day march challenging the British-imposed salt tax in the 400 km (250 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to leave India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, upon many occasions, in both South Africa and India.
Speech & March Led By Bitcoin Gandhi From The Raided Mighty Moose Mart and Bitcoin Embassy In Keene, NH To The U.S. District Of New Hampshire Courthouse
Like in the case of Mahatma Gandhi a group which has become known as the Crypto6 has been leading the way in peacefully resisting the violence of state and federal powers over the past decade. As part of the Free State Project and larger libertarian migration movement the Crypto6 moved to New Hampshire in the hope of changing the state and ridding it of the violence inherent thereof. Unfortunately this has not gone over well with many of the violent actors in power and these individuals have taken to an extreme dislike of the ideas of liberty.
In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Mar. 16, 2021, federal and local agents kicked the doors in at the Free Talk Live studio, Bitcoin Embassy NH and Shire Free Church, arresting 6 individuals and confiscating several Bitcoin vending machines, computers and other personal items. Some might say these individuals deserved what they got- after all the state slandered their names with false accusations of unlicensed money transmission, money laundering, and wire fraud. This however has already been demonstrated in hearings to be patently false and of which many other false accusations including that of violence ruled on. The judge agreed for instance with the lawyer of Ian Freeman in that he was not in fact a danger as the prosecution argued releasing him after 70 days of confinement.
This isn’t the Crypto6’s first rodeo with the authorities however. After a decade of nonviolent activism both Ian Freeman, Nobody (formally known as Rich Paul), and others have been targeted by both state and federal authorities. In may of 2012 the FBI setup a sting with the help of the state to ensnare Nobody. FBI agents were waiting at the local Keene PD and upon arrival offered Nobody a deal he couldn’t possibly refuse- or so they thought. They told him face spending the rest of his life in prison or wear a wire into the Keene Activist Center. After refusing and taking his case to trial he was convicted of selling a small amount of weed and spent a year locked up up.
In March of 2016 the FBI were at it again. Two weeks after Mark Edge went live on nationally syndicated radio accusing the FBI of being hypocrites in their handling of the largest child pornography bust of the decade FBI agents stormed the studios of Free Talk Live. This time the FBI simply lied, obtaining a warrant to search under the guise that someone had downloaded child pornography-but explicitly slandering the name of a leading activist Ian Freeman and his radio show. This attempt at undermining the show largely failed. Everyone knew Ian advocated peace and was a staunch advocate against the use of violence. After some legal wrangling the FBI was forced to admit defeat and return computers seized. This however did not deter the FBI and had continued hunting for something to charge him with, and those surrounding him.
In spite of Ian Freeman’s immaculate legal and operational record the FBI once again pursued him and those closest to him for ‘crimes’ involving cryptocurrency. Not unknown to the government Ian Freeman worked to ensure compliance of his churches cryptocurrency vending operation through the obtainment of legal counsel and petitioning of the government to change New Hampshire law on cryptocurrency. Thanks to the participation of Free Staters, those who moved to NH as part of the migration, New Hampshire law did get changed making all operations clearly legal under state and federal law.
For much of this march Dave Ridley has been calling for the state and federal government to stop the violence against the Crypto6 by going around to police stations, federal buildings, and other government offices to ask bureaucrats to discontinue their participation in and cooperation of the federal governments activities. Unfortunately mostly to no avail.
Like Mahatma Gandhi on June 2nd, 2021 Dave Ridley concluded his 24-day march as Bitcoin Gandhi by committing an act of civil disobedience. Dave and around two dozen other activists gathered at the US District Courthouse in Concord, NH to break an unjust anti-speech law, fed speech-restriction §102-74.415, that prohibits the handing of grievances to federal authorities. This act of civil disobedience was chosen for its apparent and blatantly unconstitutional nature and having been a law routinely used against activists on past occasions. In fact this wouldn’t be the first time Dave Ridley himself has been arrested or convicted for breaking this law. This time however the federal government didn’t want the negative publicity such an arrest would bring to the cause of the Crypto6 and thereby sent out a public relations expert to deny it’s very existence.
To contribute to the Crypto6 legal fundraiser, follow the ongoing developments in the Crypto6 case, or purchase a Crypto6 fundraiser t-shirt, “Bitcoin Is NOT A Crime: Free The Crypto6” check out the TheCrypto6.com.
by Ian | Aug 25, 2020 |
Nobody Speaks at Mask Freedom Rally in Keene
Given the pollsters regularly ignore liberty-minded candidates like libertarians, Free Keene hired polling firm Robocent to conduct the only fairly-written scientific poll of both Republican and Undeclared voters, thus far. We purchased a randomly selected list of landlines for actual New Hampshire voters: 25,000 Republicans and 25,000 Undeclareds. In order to have been included in our phone list, the individuals must have voted at least once since 2016. Democrats were not polled as they cannot vote in the Republican primary.
The poll consisted of three questions, the first being a question about which candidate the respondent is supporting for NH governor. Here is the exact copy as delivered over the phone poll:
In the republican primary for New Hampshire governor there are three candidates. Which would you want to have as your governor? Press one for Karen Testerman Press two for Chris Sununu Or press three for Nobody.
525 Undeclared voters took the poll, which by the way is a larger sample size than the unfair poll by St. Anselm. Of the 525 respondents, 132 of them (25.14%) chose Nobody! 24 (4.57%) chose Karen Testerman and 369 (70.28%) selected incumbent Chris Sununu.
FreeKeene.com Primary Poll Results 2020
In total, 1219 New Hampshire voters participated in this poll question. 190 (15.59%) chose Nobody, 64 (5.25%) chose Karen Testerman, and 965 (79.16%) chose Chris Sununu.
Nobody’s results are amazing considering he’s had near-zero media coverage for this primary. He had more media for his mayoral run in Keene last year. He’s also spent and raised next to nothing thus far on his campaign. That said, if the media had bothered to pay attention to Sununu’s two challengers, perhaps they would have fared better against the tyrant king incumbent. According to the rest of the poll, both Undeclared and Republican voters were largely unaware of Nobody and Testermans’ respective campaigns. Here is the copy for the second and third questions of the poll: (more…)
