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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Jury convicts man of filing false liens

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a self-proclaimed "sovereign" citizen of filing more than $20 billion in false liens against government officials.

Ronald James Davenport faces up to 40 years in prison and a $1 million fine after being convicted of four counts of filing false retaliatory liens against government officials, but he has no criminal history and likely will receive much less time.

The $5 billion liens against all property owned by former U.S. Attorney Jim McDevitt, U.S. District Court Clerk James Larsen, IRS Revenue Officer William Waight and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rolf Tangvald were filed in retaliation for a 2008 civil suit seeking $250,000 in unpaid taxes from Davenport.

"Rather than properly defend himself in the action, the defendant attacked those he perceived as facilitating the lawsuit," prosecutors said in a trail briefing.

Davenport, then 62, was arrested in June 2010 but has been out of jail and is living in Chewelah, according to court documents.

His ex-wife described him as a vehement anti-tax advocate and told authorities he might "go Ruby Ridge" if the government tried seizing his home for unpaid taxes, according to a previous report. Davenport described himself in court filing as a sovereign, a group of people who typically do not recognize the authority of the federal government.

A sentencing date has not been set.



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