SHARP COUNTY, Ark. — Two people with reportedly false documents claiming someone else's private property in Sharp County is theirs, effectively squatting for months, have been taken into custody after an investigation involving Arkansas State Police.
On January 25, Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said the two individuals, who refused to identify themselves to police, were taken into custody without incident. He said detectives believe they know their identities but are choosing not to release names until the investigation is complete.
The investigation into the alleged squatters began in August 2023, when the sheriff's office opened the investigation after a Sharp County property owner reported that two individuals moved an RV and an enclosed trailer onto their property. Russell said deputies made contact with the individuals on "multiple occasions" serving eviction notices and warnings to leave the property.
That's when officials say the two identified themselves as a part of a sovereign citizen group known as the Moorish National Republic.
What is a sovereign citizen?
A sovereign citizen is someone who claims to be part of a sovereign nation and therefore not accountable to follow federal, state, and local laws. Sovereign citizens believe U.S. laws and regulations, such as taxation, are illegitimate and attempt to live without any accountability to U.S. law. For example, several sovereign citizen groups create their "own" driver's licenses, vehicle tags, and birth certificates.
In the Scott County investigation, the individuals had fake license plates connected to the Moorish National Republic, a popular group that anti-government people claim to be a part of.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, among many Moorish sovereigns, there's a belief that a fictitious 1787 treaty between the United States and Morocco grants them immunity from U.S. law.
The "immunity" is used by sovereign citizens to refuse to pay taxes, have car insurance, register their vehicles, and defraud banks.
Sharp County detectives learned during their investigation that the Moorish group has been known to "defend their ground" through violence, and have been linked to other violent offenses against law enforcement, Sheriff Russell said in the press release.
Where the investigation stands
A search warrant was executed with the help of Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game and Fish, the Newton County Sheriff's Office, and the Jonesboro Police Department on the property where the sovereign citizens were allegedly squatting.
The property is located on Highway 56 outside of Evening Shade.
When deputies made contact with the individuals, they provided fake documents "claiming the ground as sovereign property" and told authorities they couldn't be forced to leave.
Sheriff Russell said that between August 2023 when their squatting was first reported by the property owners of the land and when the warrant was executed in late January 2024, the sovereign citizens had "built a permanent structure, dug a septic line, installed solar panels and began storing large amounts of water."
After authorities gained access to the newly-made property built by the sovereign citizens, they reportedly found several documents claiming they were a part of the Moorish National Republic and were living "off the grid," Russell said.
One of the two individuals reportedly identified himself as Saleem Yosiyah YisaraEl. The other person hasn't identified themselves, but detectives believe they know their identities.
According to officials, multiple vehicles were found on the property with fictitious license plates all linked to the Moorish group.
Evidence of cybercrimes was also found on the property, the sheriff said. "Several discoveries were made which show evidence of crimes involving transactions across the United States appearing to be scams through the Postal Service and the Internet."
The Sharp County Sheriff's Office is in communication with the FBI concerning the alleged fraudulent documentation and cybercrime evidence.
"As I have promised, it is my goal as the Sharp County Sheriff to stop any crime being committed. In this case, domestic terrorism was prevented by the Sheriff's Office and the other assisting agencies." Russell said.
The investigation is still ongoing. Stay with 5NEWS for the latest on this developing story.
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