The US Federal Bureau of Investigations is reporting that members of an anti-government group in the Atlanta area is moving into foreclosed homes based on its belief that banks can't own property. Exact numbers are not known, but an FBI spokesman says the number of sovereign citizens taking over homes by fraudulent means has grown by dozens in recent weeks.
An influx of bank seizures of properties in the Atlanta area has provided ample opportunities for the group, and others like it. Sovereign citizens, the FBI spokesman said, believe they are above federal law, and thus don't have to obey it. As a result, they believe they don't have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments or law enforcement, the man said.
A number of these sovereign citizens have begun filing fraudulent paperwork at banks and at courthouses. It's interesting to note that the homes that sovereign citizens chose to occupy are often high-dollar homes, often in the million-dollar range, the FBI agent said. We find (it) very hypocritical that they seek out these nice homes in nice neighborhoods to occupy.
Just last week, sheriff's deputies in an Atlanta suburb evicted a couple who had allegedly filed fraudulent papers claiming ownership of the house. The couple had been living in the foreclosed home for months, authorities said. The man was cooperative through the eviction process, but had previously made threats to shoot trespassers, so deputies used a SWAT team to execute the eviction.
