It has been over four months since Ammon Bundy went on the run. He was only able to do do this because he had a lot of people enabling/helping evade and offering shelter. Would that help have been available if these people were subject to Asset Forfeiture for the crime of aiding and abetting?
Now to be clear Bundy is still at large but apparently he has been “geolocated”.
“Online Sleuth Geolocates Fugitive Far-right Militant Ammon Bundy in Southeast Utah” by CORIOLANUS
The story was published early this morning but is still trending here on DK so no link supplied.
When I first read the story I was like, Excellent! Go get that A-Hole! Then I started wondering if this was a case of “Let sleeping dogs lie”. Consider what he has gotten away with so far. From above mentioned story:
“in 2014 the Bundy family led an armed standoff against Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officers
In 2016 Ammon Bundy led the armed takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, resulting in the death of one rancher and 27 indictments.
In 2020 Ammon Bundy was convicted of trespassing and sentenced to community service after storming the Idaho State Capitol
in July 2023 an Idaho jury found Ammon Bundy and several associates liable for $52.5 million in punitive damages. Bundy refused to appear in court, leading to contempt charges and an arrest warrant issued in November 2023.”
Apart from the 52.5 million in punitive damages ( what is the likelihood of that being paid in full) he has basically avoided any accountability. I guess I wonder why law enforcement would put their lives at risk when at the end of the day he will get a slap on the wrist, maybe a small fine and a stage, spotlight and bull horn. That being said please go arrest the A-hole!
Let me get back to how and why I think Asset Forfeiture would have value in this and other fleeing felon situations. I am very aware that AF has been used for no other reason than to bolster some small town police budget or getting a nice car for some unscrupulous police chief’s son’s 16th birthday or graduation present. A discussion for another day or thread.
From Wikipedia:
“Asset forfeiture or asset seizure is a form of confiscation of assets by the authorities. In the United States, it is a type of criminal-justice financial obligation. It typically applies to the alleged proceeds or instruments of crime. This applies, but is not limited, to terrorist activities, drug-related crimes, and other criminal and even civil offenses. Some jurisdictions specifically use the term "confiscation" instead of forfeiture. The alleged purpose of asset forfeiture is to disrupt criminal activity by confiscating assets that potentially could have been beneficial to the individual or organization.”
and…
“Aiding and abetting is a legal doctrine related to the guilt of someone who aids or abets (encourages, incites) another person in the commission of a crime (or in another's suicide). It exists in a number of different countries and generally allows a court to pronounce someone guilty for aiding and abetting in a crime even if he or she is not the principal offender. The words aiding, abetting and accessory are closely used but have differences. While aiding means providing support or assistance to someone, abetting means encouraging someone else to commit a crime. Accessory is someone who in fact assists "commission of a crime committed primarily by someone else".[1] However, some jurisdictions have merged being an accessory before the fact with aiding and abetting.”[2]
So with the above two paragraphs in mind, how willing would you be to sneaking Ammon out of town in your $90,000 tweaked out pick-up with a picture of Biden hogtied in the back. How about giving him shelter in your home, trailer or in this case ranch if you knew you could lose it to AF?
Dimes to dollars if Asset Forfeiture could/would be applied in such cases the ranch owner mentioned in the above mentioned story by CORIOLANUS would be shitting his pants right now.
From what I understand from the many stories I’ve read about AF, they do not have to charge or prove a crime has taken place, only suspect you of one. It is then up to you and your wallet to get your stuff back.
All in all I believe by chocking off the likelihood of getting assistance from well meaning friends or family would significantly limit a fleeing felons options and time on the lam.
A second option I considered was making said fleeing felon and anyone offering assistance or shelter in anyway, responsible for any and all expenses incurred in tracking and apprehending said felon. I’m talking about everything from the paperclips to all wages, travel expenses etc. of anyone involved, hell let’s throw in the mini-bar charges as well.
Who would risk financial ruin and bankruptcy in such a case?
Quick question regarding crime’n and bankruptcy.
If you are put in financial distress because of fines from being found guilty of a crime or a judgement from say a civil defamation lawsuit, (thinking of you Rudy and Donnie) should you be able to use chapter 11 to protect your ass-ets?