Sovereign Citizen Guru And ‘Rabbi’ Arrested After Standoff With AZ Police
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A sovereign citizen leader and purported Rabbi was arrested after a standoff with police in Arizona, after he failed to appear in court to face charges for a $1.3 million money laundering scheme.
According to a press release from the FBI, Shawn Rice had barricaded himself in a residence in Seligman, Arizona on Thursday with his wife and two children, and refused to come out. After several hours of negotiating with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Rice eventually did come out and was arrested without incident.
Rice had previously been indicted in March 2009 for conspiracy to commit money laundering and 30 counts of money laundering. Federal officials said the most recent arrest was over his failure to appear in court in connection with those charges, the The Daily Courier reports.
“After his arrest and initial appearance on these charges, Rice was released pending further court proceedings,” said Special Agent Patrick S. Turner. “Rice subsequently failed to appear at four separate court proceedings.”
Rice is also facing a weapons charge.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Rice is what’s called a “guru,” the closest thing the sovereign citizen movement has to a leader. He also purports to be a lawyer and a Rabbi.