Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Leader of anti-government group pleads guilty to money laundering

The national leader of an anti-government movement has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and money laundering, Nevada’s U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said Friday.

Samuel Davis, 56, of Council, Idaho, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 30 counts of money laundering. Davis, who faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each count, is scheduled to be sentenced June 24.

According to a plea agreement, Davis and Shawn Rice, 48, of Arizona, allegedly laundered $1.3 million for undercover FBI agents in 2008 and 2009. Davis and Rice were told by the undercover agents that the funds were proceeds from a bank fraud scheme, specifically the theft and forgery of stolen official bank checks.

Davis and Rice allegedly laundered the money through a trust account controlled by Davis and through an account of a purported religious organization controlled by Rice. Davis and Rice took about $74,000 and $22,000, respectively, in fees for their money laundering services, officials said.

Davis was arrested with three other members of the anti-government Sovereign Movement in May 2010 after a three-year investigation by the Nevada Joint Terrorism Task Force.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Sovereign Movement is an anti-government organization whose members seek to overthrow the government through “paper terrorism” tactics, intimidation, harassment and violence.

Members believe the U.S. currency is invalid, that they do not have to pay taxes and that the federal government deceived Americans into obtaining Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, car registrations and wedding licenses, according to officials.

The Davis and Rice cases are being investigated by the FBI-led state terrorism task force, which includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Henderson Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, Metro Police, Nevada Department of Public Safety, North Las Vegas Police Department and other agencies.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Gregory Damm and Nicholas D. Dickinson.

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