Schiff case spurs rash of threats

David Kihara

Friday, Nov. 25, 2005 | 7:21 a.m.

Supporters of anti-tax advocate Irwin Schiff have allegedly threatened a federal judge who presided over the case and are suspected of damaging Internal Revenue Service vehicles in a campaign of intimidation against officials.

In one instance, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the jurors who found Schiff guilty were posted on the internet.

Schiff's monthlong trial and subsequent conviction last month became a rallying point for anti-tax groups across the country. Trial updates were posted on Web sites such as paynoincometax.com, and articles with headlines such as "The Income Tax Gulag ... 77-year Old Schiff Being Tortured With Chain Shackles, Mistreatment" were published on another Web site, givemeliberty.org.

The Web sites offered information on the trial as well as running commentary on the court officials and federal agents.

"Dishonorable Kent J. Dawson ... the epitome of evil. He belongs in the same place as pedophile priests, who also wear black robes and speak of God. Which God do you worship, Kent?" asked a posting on another Web site, TheFederalMafia.homestead.com.

But some of the comments appear to contain not-so-veiled threats. In one message posted on the anti-tax Web site Triallogsblogspot.com, a person who used the name "LA Woman," wrote: "Judge Dawson is the one that is crucifying Irwin Schiff. If anything happens to him, YOU Kent J. Dawson are personally responsible."

"Remember what you have spoken into the record will come back on you and your loved ones," LA Woman wrote.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for protecting federal judges, would not comment on whether it is providing 24-hour security to the judge.

"When a judge is threatened it becomes a No. 1 priority," said Fidencio Rivera, chief deputy marshal in Las Vegas. "We assess the security needs and provide it accordingly."

Federal officials have become more vigilant against threats to federal judges in recent years.

One of the most high-profile cases in recent months involved U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, whose husband and mother were killed in their home in Chicago in February.

Authorities first believed that a white supremacist, Matthew Hale, ordered the killing because Lefkow was presiding over a trademark case involving Hale's group, the World Church of the Creator. Ten days after the killing, however, authorities said that Bart Ross, a man unrelated to the white supremacist groups, was responsible. Ross, who shot and killed himself, left a note admitting to the killings.

In 2004, the U.S. Marshals Service reviewed about 675 threats or inappropriate communications against federal officials and provided 39 protective details for judges. Two years earlier, it logged 565 inappropriate communications and protected 21 judges, according to the marshals service.

While anger directed at judges is not unusual in high-profile cases, other federal officials and jurors involved in the Schiff trial also were targeted for harassment.

On Oct. 25, the day after the jury found Schiff guilty of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the government, Dawson told the court that the names, addresses and phone numbers of the jurors were found on a Web site, according to a court transcript of the proceedings.

"There has been continuing inflammation of the followers of the philosophies of the defendants which has caused continuing risk to the court ... and now the personnel of the court, and now the jurors," Dawson said, according to the transcript.

Dawson declined to comment for this story.

The IRS also was harassed. On Oct. 19, a federal agent found three vehicles had been vandalized in the parking lot of the headquarters in Las Vegas by someone who had doused acid on the vehicles, according to a Metro Police report.

Chief U.S. District Judge Philip Pro said security is always taken seriously in any case, but noted that people are free to express their views.

"The judges, in most instances, recognize that because they make decisions in difficult and high-profile cases, they will have people who say things that are somewhat provocative (against them)," he said. "There is nothing that prevents someone from posting their views on blogs and Web sites. That is something that everyone has to expect."

Actual threats against judges, however, are quite rare, and violence against them is even more uncommon, he said. In cases of actual intended harm against a judge, he said, the assailants probably would not publicize what they are planning to do.

In the Schiff case, postings on various Web sites continue to be published. While many appear to be rants from people angry at the government and are not directed at anyone in particular, some seem to hint at something more sinister, such as one written by "Anonymous" a few days after Schiff's conviction.

"In my opinion, Judge Kent J. Dawson is a criminal," it said. "We should all organize to try him, even if it means confrontation with the government. Are we ready yet?"

David Kihara can be reached at 259-2330 or at davidk@lasvegassun.com