Feds Warn Explosives, Booby Traps Could Be Hidden In NH Compound Up For Auction

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

CONORD, N.H. (AP) — Federal officials preparing to sell the New Hampshire compound of a tax-evading couple convicted of amassing an arsenal of weapons can’t guarantee that explosives and other booby traps aren’t hidden on the 103-acre spread.

In fact, they will openly warn bidders that land mines might be planted throughout Ed and Elaine Brown’s bucolic property in the small town of Plainfield. And they say prospective buyers won’t be allowed on the grounds until they submit a winning bid that frees the government of liability for dismemberment or death.

“It’s going to be a very interesting sale,” said Chief U.S. Deputy Marshal Brenda Mikelson, who’s in charge of the auction.

The Browns, who do not recognize the federal government’s authority to tax its citizens, were in a nine-month standoff with authorities in 2007 after they were sentenced to five years in prison for tax evasion. U.S. marshals posing as supporters arrested them peacefully.

Read more: http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2013/07/20/feds-warn-explosives-booby-traps-could-be-hidden-in-nh-compound-up-for-auction/

[Robb]

1. Brings new meaning to "buyer beware."

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. hmmm...might keep the religion converters from bothering me.

And give them entrance to heaven at same time.
I'd say it's a win-win.
( Sheldon made me say that.... )

[Lucky Luciano]

8. Haha!! nt

[wordpix]

6. also to "property sold 'as is' "

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. This piece is interesting:

From the link

Also being auctioned is Elaine Brown’s dental office in West Lebanon in the heart of the retail hub of New Hampshire’s Upper Valley region.

That commercial property has its own set of complications involving the disposal of patient records to protect their privacy, but it isn’t considered potentially dangerous.

By federal court order, the properties must be sold as is. Minimum bid for the Plainfield compound is $250,000, while the Lebanon office must sell for at least $507,500.

So it has to be sold as-is, but contains private medical records that have to be correctly disposed of under HIPAA.

Be interested to see how that is managed.

[Mopar151]

4. No big sweat for NH investors - Compared to the Superfund site a few miles away, this is easy !

Compared to the Superfund site a few miles away, this is easy pickings

Berwick Barrels / BS Leasing is a real horror - A steel drum salvage / trucking company that buried anything that cost money to get rid of.

By contrast, The Brown's former properties are neat and well-kept, in premium sections of a strong real estate market. They had IRS issues, and were generally regarded as nuts - but they paid their local vendors (like my friend the "yard man&quot well, in ca$h.

Demo & salvage contractors hereabouts are used to old mills, forgotten underground tanks, old wells, and a generally gothic realm of hazards. Not to mention private arsenals, horrible old insecticides (lead arsenate? seen it....) and gararge ammo factories.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. No need to rototill the garden next spring

[dembotoz]

7. this would make a great show on hgtv--flip this house--kitchen demolition done with real explosives

or that dance contest show done in a minefield?

or you could make survivor interesting to watch again....

[Kennah]

9. Would this violate federal law to hand over potentially unregulated, unlicensed explosives?

http://www.atf.gov/explosives/how-to/explosive-storage-requirements.html

There's lots more on the ATF homepage.