by Ian | Aug 3, 2022 |
Nobody
In a recent post here at Free Keene, Chris Waid presented his notes from the sentencing hearing for Nobody as a, “Big win for Mr. Nobody“. This is ridiculous spin. For those who didn’t hear the news, my co-defendant Nobody was recently sentenced to “time served” of approximately six months in jail as well as $2,100 in fines and fees, a forfeiture of $10,000, and two years’ probation. He had taken a plea to one count of “wire fraud”, despite not having defrauded anyone. Like the other Crypto Six defendants, he was intimidated into a plea deal by the threat of further charges.
Whether or not he took the plea and even if he went to trial and “won” on every count – as Aria and I are hoping to do – it would not be a “win”. As Mark Stevens put it in his book, “Adventures in Legal Land“, whenever you are targeted by the state, it is a loss. Even if you “win” and defeat the charges, you still lose your time. You still lose your ability to focus on things that are actually important to you instead of focusing on a criminal trial and the stress of bail conditions and the government’s axe hanging over your head. Basically, when they bring charges against you, you are going to lose – the only question is how much?
In Nobody’s case, he went through a horribly and unnecessarily violent pre-dawn raid on his home, spent several months behind bars, most of a year on restrictive bail conditions, and now is having his personal finances decimated. He has nearly nothing left after paying their extractions, is now a federal felon for life, and is still under multiple probation restrictions for two years. All of this damage has been brought upon him simply because, as he described it, he was convicted of, “contempt of bank”. It’s great that he doesn’t have to go back to prison, but this is not a win.
In other Crypto Six news, the remaining two defendants, Aria DiMezzo and me, have had motions filed by our defense attorneys, including a motion to dismiss the “money transmitter” charges, a motion to block the prosecution from using blockchain analysis experts, and a notice of a “public authority defense”. The hearing on these motions is set for September 1st at 9:30am at Concord Federal District Court Church.
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 | Jun 30, 2022 |
It was about ten degrees Fahrenheit at around 6am on March 16th, 2021 when dozens of armed agents from the FBI, IRS, USPS, ATF, and Keene Police swarmed onto the duplex containing the Free Talk Live studio. They smashed in windows and a front door, set off explosions, flew in drones, and held multiple peaceful bitcoin activists at gunpoint. Simultaneous raids were being conducted in multiple other locations, with six people arrested in total. They were since dubbed “the Crypto Six” by supporters.
One had her charges dropped and three have taken plea deals despite never harming another human being. Two remain, facing hundreds of years in prison for completely victimless, made-up financial “crimes” regarding bitcoin.
Now, more than a year later, the FBI has returned the surveillance DVRs they took from the property. This is some of the footage taken at the scene of the Free Talk Live studio in Keene, NH:
by Ian | Apr 30, 2022 |
Mr Bitcoin & Bitcoin Gandhi Visit Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston In Support Of The Crypto6
The last month has been a busy one in the “Crypto Six” case. First, three of the Six took felony “wire fraud” plea deals after prosecutors threatened to load them up with even more victimless “crime” charges. Even though no one was actually defrauded out of any money or property, the three – Renee and Andy Spinella and Nobody – agreed to become federal felons, reluctantly admitting guilt to one count each of “wire fraud”, despite no one actually being defrauded out of money or property.
Unfortunately, even though the three are completely peaceful, honest people, now they will be saddled with felony convictions that makes them look dishonest. It’s understandable though, why they would take such a plea. The federal gang is a scary bunch of people and they know how to intimidate. Even when a defendant did nothing wrong, that doesn’t mean a jury will do the right thing and set the accused free. The supermajority of people charged criminally at the state or federal level will take the plea deal, simply because they see it as a way to make their suffering end. Or at least, so it seems in the moment. While it may end the current prosecution, it sets them up for failure later if they are ever arrested again, as then they have a felony conviction, so the next sentence will be even harder.
Though federal juries have surprisingly issued some “not guilty” verdicts in recent years, like the verdicts in the Michigan governor “kidnapping” cases and the Bundy ranch cases, generally juries are pretty obedient to the state, so it’s highly risky to take a case to trial. Plus, federal cases are frequently biased against the defense, like that of Ross Ulbricht, where they weren’t able to call many witnesses or make the case they wanted. So, I don’t blame my friends for admitting to “crimes” they didn’t commit just so they can have some predictability as to what is coming next for them. Nobody is expecting a verdict of “time served” for the six months he did behind bars last year prior to being granted bail in September. Renee is facing up to 18 months in prison and Andy is expecting some amount of probation, or so I hear. I’m still not allowed to speak with my friends under my bail conditions. Their sentencing dates are in late July.
The fourth of the Crypto Six, Colleen Rietmann, co-owner of Mighty Moose Mart in Keene, has had her charges dropped. Perhaps the feds did not want to be seen prosecuting a grandmother in front of a jury at the same time as they are trying to allege that Aria DiMezzo and I were victimizing elderly women caught in romance scams online.
NH’s Unmatched Bitcoin Community
Curiously, during one of the plea deal hearings this month, the prosecutors admitted that there were no damages to the “victims”, so they couldn’t ask for any restitution as part of the sentencing. How exactly then were these banks “victimized” by fraud if no money or property was lost? I guess we’ll find out when the case goes to trial this November. As Nobody put it, he has been convicted of “contempt of bank”. Apparently it’s felony charges with up to 30 years in prison for anyone who hurts the banks’ feelings in the “free” country of America.
While it’s no fun to be under highly restrictive bail conditions – I have an ankle monitor on for nearly a year now – at least now all the feds’ cards are finally laid on the table and now we can construct our defense.
The Crypto Six case is an attack on our freedoms. It is an attack against freedom of speech, freedom of religion, libertarian activists in New Hampshire, and against cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. While we are not the first to be accused of victimless “crimes” for spreading Bitcoin, nearly all of those so accused in the past have taken the plea deals, out of fear for what could happen. Aria and I are going to trial and so the feds will actually have to put on their case for the first time, in a desperate attempt to prop up the ever-inflating US Dollar and the banking cartel. Bitcoin is not a crime!
by Mr Penguin | Jul 8, 2021 |
Aria DiMezzo, one of the Crypto6 raided on March 16, 2021 over selling of Bitcoin and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Free Talk Live speaks out on the US government’s attempt to oppress the worlds population through draconian attacks on financial freedom. Aria spoke at this years Porcupine Freedom Festival at Rogers Campground in Lancaster NH. It’s not just those selling Bitcoin that have something to fear, but all of us.
First they came for the socialists, and I DID speak out—
Even though I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I DID speak out—
Even though I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I DID speak out—
Even though I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and I realized speaking out wasn’t enough.
Migrate to the shire– because alone- and spread out we’re all helpless. Talk is cheap. However together we’re a force to be reckoned with and that’s the real reason the FBI is on the attack. The FBI is very afraid. Undoubtedly the FBI can attack a few free staters, but they’ve already ultimately lost the war whether they realize it yet or not. Win or lose any particular case in court and it does not matter. The publicity draws in far more people and with each new mover we inch closer to achieving our long term goal of freedom and liberty in our lifetime.
I also want to put out a special thank you to the FBI for without them we would not have been able to generate the amount of publicity this case has brought nor attracted a new generation of activist to the migration. For the first time in the history of the migration movement the Porcupine Freedom Festival sold out almost doubling that of any prior year.
Direct IPFS link to video: https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmRGbS2sJFqnhA8RCjUKjHer5PZ6mu4Q8Xdn7Nw2WtEQ4u
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.
