3 Linked to Threats Found Guilty of Weapons Violations
Three tax protesters who belonged to a group linked to pamphlets that threatened federal agents were convicted Thursday on 18 counts of weapons violations and conspiracy.
Among exhibits entered during the 1 1/2 weeks of testimony were several machine guns, grenades and derringers disguised to look like wallets.
The weapons were confiscated from the defendants, their homes and vehicles after agents obtained search warrants based on the threats made in the pamphlets and statements attributed to the men.
Convicted of Conspiracy
Wilhelm Schmitt, 55, of Bemidji; Roger Luther, 46, of Nevis, and Ernest Foust, 57, of Laporte, in northern Minnesota, were convicted of weapons charges and conspiring to injure an Internal Revenue Service agent with a bomb.
In addition, Schmitt was convicted of assault on an officer during his arrest.
No date was set for sentencing.
All three defendants acted as their own attorneys.
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