Squatters have claimed land in Arkansas, claiming they are part of a group of sovereign citizens known to have engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement.
In a news release, Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said the investigation into the squatters began in August 2023.
Authorities said they were alerted to a couple who moved into a mobile home and a “gated property” owned by someone else.
The couple allegedly built a permanent structure, dug a septic line, installed solar panels and began storing large amounts of water.
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Anyone who has seen the mobile home of Chris Foiles or Stedman, pictured, in the past four weeks is asked to contact the Idaho Falls Police Department. About four weeks ago, Foiles repainted the stripe next to the vehicle blue. (Bozeman Police Department)
Sheriff Russell said authorities confronted the couple about their illegal occupancy and served them with several eviction notices.
Despite threatening the couple with eviction notices, the couple refused to leave their mobile home.
The two individuals said they were members of a sovereign citizen group known as the Moorish National Republic.
Police said the two provided authorities with a false legal document claiming the land was sovereign property and said they could not be forced to leave.
A news release from the Sharp County Sheriff's Office detailed the squatting incident in Arkansas. (Sharp County Sheriff's Office)
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, residents of the Moorish National Republic have come into conflict with federal and state authorities over their refusal to obey government laws and regulations.
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On Thursday, January 25, a large group of law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the squatters and arrested the two individuals without incident.
Authorities said the couple initially refused to identify themselves, but the suspect identified himself as Saleem Yosiyah YisraEl.
Police say both attacks occurred in broad daylight. (iStock)
Authorities said they found several vehicles on the property with “fictitious license plates.”
Along with the illegal vehicles, authorities found evidence of illegal scams the couple ran from the RV.
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The scam involved the Postal Service and several thousand dollars in Iraqi currency, police said.
Authorities concluded that the FBI is investigating alleged fraudulent documentation and cybercrimes.
