The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has arrested ten people believed to be responsible for fraudulent lien filings in East Tennessee against people of government or local officials.
TBI officials and District Attorney Glenn Funk made the announcement Thursday during a press conference.
The individuals allegedly made multiple Uniform Commercial Code liens against dozens of individuals across the state encumbering their property.
The lien amounts ranged from $4 million - $12 million. The victims were said to have been targeted because of their occupations. The victims police officer, elected and appointed officials, city and county mayors, sheriffs and members of the judiciary.
The ten people listed below were arrested and charged in the case.
- Austin Gary Cooper, 68, Clinton – 10 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 10 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- Lee Harold Cromwell, 67, Oak Ridge – 14 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 14 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- Victor Douglas Bunch, 72, Powell – 17 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 17 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- Christopher Alan Hauser, 51, Del Rio – 21 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 21 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- Ronald James Lyons, 52, Newport - 30 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 30 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- James Michael Usinger, 64, Greeneville - 22 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 22 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $150,000.
- John Jeffrey Williams, 50, Powell – 3 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 3 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $25,000.
- George Edward Williams, 76, Powell – 3 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 3 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $25,000.
- Kenneth Ray Foust, 73, Clinton - 3 counts Draw a Lien without a Legal Basis, 3 counts Forgery $250,000 or more. Bond $25,000. (Currently in custody in the Anderson County Jail).
The simultaneous arrests were made in several East Tennessee counties including Anderson, Cocke, Greene, Knox, Hamblen, Greene, and Jefferson.
The men were believed to be associated with "Sovereign Citizen" movement.
Newschannel 5 Investigates was the first local news outlet to report on sovereigns - a movement that rejects federal, state, and local government authority.
According to TBI officials, Sovereign Citizens often use liens, saying they're viewed as the best way to target someone because they go after their assets.
While most get arrested for tax evasion, fraud, and other financial crimes, a father and son duo were responsible for the violent crime of shooting at an officer in West Memphis.
In 2012, another group of sovereigns ambushed officers in Louisiana, killing two deputies.
