FBI Raids 91-Year-Old Man's Artifact Collection

informationliberation.com ^ | 3 April, 2014 | NA

[marktwain]

100 agents make a man prove that he obtained his collection properly.

WALDRON, IN — Around 100 FBI agents swarmed an elderly man’s house in rural Indiana.  The Federal government has set up a command post with trucks and military-style tents.  The feds showed up to sort through his lifetime collection of world artifacts that he had gathered over the course of his 91 years.   The agents claim they want to make sure he “acquired the items properly” — effectively making him prove his innocence — even though the man has not been accused of breaking any laws.

Don Miller, 91, has led a remarkable life filled with world travels and research.  He never had any children, and instead spent his years devoted to science, history, and travel.   He has visited over 200 countries, and began collecting cultural artifacts nearly 8 decades ago.

Over time he has built an impressive collection comprised of thousands of relics. He has objects from China, Haiti, Australia, Russia, New Guinea, Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Greece, Peru, Russia, among other countries. His North American artifacts include objects from the native tribes that once populated the continent.

Mr. Miller has been proud to show off his collection to folks.  The locals liken his collection to a museum.  He’d give people permission to invite friends along to tour his house.

His passion has never been a secret.  Unfortunately, his openness brought him the unwanted attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Dozens of federal agents set up camp around his house, in a monumental effort to determine if Mr. Miller had ever broken a law, statute, or treaty.  Several mobile command centers were brought in along with archeologists, anthropologists, and a legion of bureaucrats.  The staging of the FBI at the Miller home has been ongoing this week and will last an unknown duration.  The use of taxpayer resources to incriminate the old man is truly immense.

When neighbor Andi Essex heard the FBI was raiding Miller’s home, she grew upset.  “Why? Why? Leave him alone! He's done so much for people,” she said according to WISH-TV.

A plumber who once toured Miller’s house recalled the collection:  “It was pretty neat stuff. I was really interested in looking at all of it… He had a head with an arrowhead stuck in it, like a skull and all kinds of Indian artifacts from arrowheads to hatchets to peace pipes to just anything.”

The FBI experts who were brought in to snoop through Miller’s home were stunned.  “I’m frankly overwhelmed I’ve never seen a collection like this in my entire life,” said Dr. Larry Zimmerman.

“The exact number of artifacts in the collection is unknown at this time but it’s believed to be in the thousands,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones. “The monetary value of the entire collection and of its individual pieces is yet to be determined however the cultural value of these artifacts is immeasurable.”

Miller’s fascinating life included working for the U.S. Army during World War 2, and being part of the secret team of researchers that test-fired the world’s first atomic bomb. As the Rushville Republican reported, after the 1945 armistice, being surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the country with “no more war to fight,” Miller set up his own makeshift college within the Army.  He graded papers for famed physicist Enrico Fermi.

But that was decades ago.  Mr. Miller, now a kindly old gentleman, was described as being “very cooperative.”  But he insists “absolutely” that he acquired everything legally.

The FBI’s implication, however, is that Mr. Miller is a lawbreaker, and they are preying on his trust and cooperation until they can actually produce evidence in order to prove it.

[Spirochete]

It’s a federal fishing expedition. They’re looking for a pretext to seize (steal) the collection, probably on a technicality.

[Flyn_Bryan]

So who called the FBI on this guy? I can’t imagine he contacted them and invited them over.

More here folks.

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/04/seriously-fbi-devoted-massive-resources.html

[Flyn_Bryan]

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2014/04/seriously-fbi-devoted-massive-resources.html

Most recently Dr Miller developed the technology to locate any transmitter through triangulation after the beacon has failed. This technology would be very useful say if an airplane went down and was unable to be located . . .

Looking at the photo of Dr. Miller’s home it is very obvious that he installed several 40’-50’ antenna towers on his property which is located out in the middle of nowhere. The FBI (or some agency) set up containment/quarantine tents all over his property and there is no identification of any particular government agencies on the vehicles on his property. I was able to locate video showing those towers being removed which would fall under the definition of artifact but weren’t mentioned by reporters.

The fact that the the news doesn’t mention that this man was very prominent in the development of nuclear weapons, space science, groundbreaking transponder technology, spectral analysis or the sole heir to his famous brothers research on the origins of life is wherein the truth lies.

[Flyn_Bryan]

You have to wonder if the gentleman may have contacted a local University to try and find out how do donate all that stuff and in return someone called the FBI based upon suspicion some of the collection was either stolen or illegal.

[Axenolith]

In that case, where’s the warrant and what does it state???

[Georgia Girl 2]

“Both parties have contributed mightily to suppression of individual liberty”

You have touched on the key to the problem. Both parties have betrayed the American public in order to secure their own place at the table.

It took a lot of republican votes to pass the following:

1. The Patriot Act
2. The NDAA
3. The National Service Act
4. The Food Safety Act

All of the above were giant govt power grabs. Added together they have effectively done an end run around the constitution and nullified most of our freedoms.

The only thing standing between total us and total submission to the govt are guns. If they had our guns we would be totally screwed. They plan to take them so mentally prepare yourself as to what you will do about it.

[njslim]

My uncle had a farm in western NJ - would find Indian artifacts, mostly arrowheads when plowed up field.

Gave some to me

Guess I’m guilty........

[Star Traveler]

Sounds like “lawyer time” ...

[Psalm 144]

I agree with you on all points. I lost MANY friends when when I criticized the “Patriot Act” as it was wending its way into our system. Ditto calling the “Department of Homeland Security” the Department of Domestic Surveillance and Control.

[rightly_dividing]

100 FBI agents on a fishing trip on our dime.

[MeganC]

Every citizen commits three felonies a day

On Fridays I always try to commit at least six felonies along with at least one grievous act of treason against the Obama Administration.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I agree with you on all points. I lost MANY friends when when I criticized the “Patriot Act” as it was wending its way into our system. Ditto calling the “Department of Homeland Security” the Department of Domestic Surveillance and Control."

I haven't seen any evidence that this case has anything to do with the Patriot Act. This is not about national security, but rather the myriad of laws and treaties governing the sale, purchase, and possession of cultural artifacts.

[Psalm 144]

It has to do with trends toward tyranny, Poindexter. Is there no hall somewhere that needs monitoring?

[I want the USA back]

Sure. They refuse to prosecute real criminals, and to get the arrest numbers up they go after normal people.
Way to go fascists! Kill any old deaf men with TV remotes lately?

[TXnMA]

"Guess I’m guilty........"

Not in Texas. Anything found on family property belongs to the family.

Period.

[WayneS]

The Rushville Republican was a newspaper.

[Steve_Seattle]

"It has to do with trends toward tyranny, Poindexter. Is there no hall somewhere that needs monitoring?"

On the two or three threads pertaining to this story, I've posted at least five or six comments criticizing the raid, so please don't call me Poindexter. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." - James 1:26.

[Psalm 144]

Bridle yourself sugar, and we wouldn’t be here.

[SunkenCiv]

• FBI seizes artifacts from Indiana collector, age 91, who says they’re legal
• FBI investigating Rush County home for artifact collection
• FBI seizes trove of cultural artifacts at 91-year-old Indiana man's home
• Thousands Of Artifacts Seized At 91-Year-Old Indiana Man's Home

[marktwain]

Here is an AP story that seems to collaborate what this story says. Coming from AP, that is saying a lot.

Note that they do not say that this brilliant old guy knowingly violated any laws, but that

“The laws regarding the removal or collection of cultural artifacts are extremely complex. State, federal and international laws are involved, Patty Gerstenblith, a professor of law at DePaul University in Chicago. Much depends on whether objects are considered stolen or were imported with a license, and international treaties dating back as far as 1987 come into play. The United States has various agreements with 15 countries that prohibit importation of items that were illegally acquired, she said, and some nations such as Egypt forbid the export of any cultural objects that were dug from the ground.”

If they are too complex to understand, they should be null and void as being vague.

This absolutely seems to be a case of anarcho-tyranny:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managerial_state