Man accused of posing as anti-terror agent

A 55-year-old man is facing federal charges for allegedly posing as a “Special Response Agent” with the allegedly fictitious “United States Special Response Department Anti-Terrorism Unit.”

Leonard Hugh Fuller asked agents at the Eastport, Idaho, border crossing on July 9 if he could store his gun there while he went on vacation in Canada, according to court records. He showed the officers a badge and credentials and they agreed to hold his 9 mm Beretta until he returned.

After he left, officers took a closer look at the photocopies they’d made of his paperwork and called the State Department, which Fuller allegedly said was his employer.

The State Department said they had never heard of the so-called Special Response Department or Anti-Terrorism Unit, though, and couldn’t find Fuller listed as an employee.

When Fuller returned from vacation Wednesday and asked at the Port of Entry for his weapon back, officers asked him for his badge and paperwork, according to court records.

He allegedly told officers he had “lost them in Canada,” but when they searched his car, they found both under the driver’s seat.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents interviewed Fuller and he told them he made the credentials and bought the badge after starting a private security firm, the “United States Special Response Department.”

According to court papers, Fuller said he had registered his company with the government but had lost all of his paperwork in a flood.

At that point, Fuller was arrested and booked into the Bonner County Jail on charges of producing fraudulent ID documents, a federal felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

A hearing is scheduled for U.S. District Court in Coeur d’Alene this afternoon on a motion by the U.S. District Attorney’s office to hold Fuller without bail.

Nancy Cook, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Idaho, said investigators are still trying to determine where Fuller is from.

An agent at the Port of Entry said they believe he is from Oregon, but they haven’t confirmed that.

“It’s kind of a mystery,” Cook said. “We’re anxious to find out where he’s from.”