Jason Robert Williams allowed a default judgment to be
entered against him in a nonpayment-of-rent case. Williams, represented by his
brother “Julian Kevin: Williams” then
sought to vacate the default judgment claiming that 2720 refused to credit his
payment.
Jason
had delivered to 2720 Realty, his Landlord, a “lawful Bill of Exchange.” It was
a realistic looking but worthless money order.
2720
Realty deposited the instrument with its bank. It was returned uncashed and
stamped “FRAUD.”
Jason appears
to be part of a group of “Sovereign Citizens.” Sovereign Citizens have three
basic beliefs. First, they adhere to
the redemption theory, which is based on the premise that when the federal
government abandoned the gold standard in 1933 it secretly pledged the physical
bodies of its citizens as collateral to borrow money.
Second, Sovereign Citizens believe that
the government created a fictitious entity for each citizen, and set up secret
trust accounts through birth certificates and social security cards.
Third, SCs believe they can ‘redeem’
their birth certificates and in doing so, tap into their secret Treasury
accounts. Using this theory, they further believe they can create money orders
and sign drafts drawn on their Treasury Direct Accounts to pay for goods and
services. And in this case, rent.
Marc
Finkelstein, a Brooklyn Housing Court Judge, was not impressed and called the
redemption theory “implausible,” “clearly nonsense,” “convoluted,” “peculiar,”
“without merit,” and “equal parts revisionist legal history and conspiracy
theory.”
Judge
Finkelstein also allowed that “. . . Jason Robert: Williams will not prevail in
this matter.” Unfortunately, Julian Kevin: Williams could not be reached for
comment.
There
have been numerous cases in the past few months in which the Sovereign Citizen
theory has been advanced in eviction and other civil cases. At least in New
York.
In Texas
we have seen recently the specious public filings and recordations that
mandated a fix by our Texas legislators. Even more recently we experienced
“squatters” who thought they were gaining title to property by moving into
vacant properties. Can the Sovereign Citizen movement – in the civil law
context - be far behind?
See 2720 Realty v. Jason Robert Williams;
L&T 077392/12; September 6, 2012.
Lessons learned (and one disclaimer):
1. Beware
the Sovereign Citizens. Terry Nichols, Oklahoma City bombing co-conspirator,
was / is alleged to be a Sovereign Citizen.
2. Sovereign
Citizens may be using every means possible to disrupt America, including civil
court proceedings.
3. I
tried diligently to review this case. I could not. It does not appear to be
published in any manner. Consequently, these allegations are taken primarily
from an article published in Texas Lawyer,
and unless / until proven, should be assumed to be nothing more than
allegations.
Reprinted with the permission of North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS®, Inc.
