Couple Holed Up In House After Tax-Evasion Convictions
PLAINFIELD, N.H. -- Federal authorities indicated Thursday they were not raiding the Plainfield property of tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown. The U.S. Marshal's Service said a supporter of the fugitives was detained near the Browns' home this morning and that they served a federal warrant to seize Elaine Brown's dental office in Lebanon. U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said that the supporter came across federal agents near the end of the lengthy driveway that leads to the Brown's home. "He discovered we were there, and we needed to take action to detain him," Monier said Monier said his office will continue to communicate with the Browns to try to convince them to surrender peacefully. The Browns have said they will not surrender. Monier also said that as part of the investigation of the Browns, they encountered a Brown supporter near the property Thursday morning and detained him. Monier has said anyone aiding the Browns is subject to arrest. Neighbors reported heavily armed police and at least one armored vehicle headed toward the Brown property this morning. In a blog interview, Ed Brown said he also has gotten calls about the police activity, and that he heard low-flying aircraft during the night. Brown also said a friend who took their dog out for a walk this morning did not return, though the dog did. The Browns have been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for tax evasion. They skipped their sentencing hearings.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed