‘Sovereign citizens’ sentenced for stealing $2 million from IRS

Five people claiming to be sovereign citizens found guilty of stealing millions from the federal government were sentenced to a collective 37 years in federal court in Columbia on Thursday.

Jefford Henry, Jeffrey Henry, Linda Marie Henry, Makeshia Glover and Bobby McGuire were sentenced for conspiracy to commit wire, mail and bank fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles’ office.

U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Jefford Henry to 108 months, Jeffrey Henry to 121 months, Linda Marie Henry to 87 months, Glover to 87 months and McGuire to 46 months.

During the trial, evidence showed those convicted were members of the sovereign citizens group the Moorish Nation.

The five stole about $2 million from the IRS and attempted to steal more than $12 million by submitting fraudulent tax returns, the release stated. The group then shared the proceeds by purchasing vehicles and property.

The five claimed their beliefs allowed them to steal from the IRS, an idea the jury rejected.

The release stated the defendants filed “frivolous and nonsensical demands” with the court and were taken into custody immediately following sentencing.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 11:46 AM.