Former Fugitive Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice

TAMPA—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday yesterday sentenced Larry M. Myers (63, Arkansas) to 78 months in federal prison for conspiracy, mailing threatening communications, and obstruction of justice.

On February 14, 2012, a federal jury found Myers guilty of conspiracy to mail threatening communications, to intimidate and impede jurors and judicial personnel in the discharge of their lawful responsibilities, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to use threats and intimidation to prevent officers of the United States from carrying out the duties of their offices, mailing threatening communications with the intent to extort a thing of value, and obstruction of justice.

According to evidence introduced at trial, Myers was the president of an organization known as the Pinellas Patriots. He claimed that he was not a citizen of the United States but a so-called sovereign citizen who was not subject to U.S. statutory laws. Myers participated in a sham “Common Law Court” in a number of capacities, including as a “judge” and a “militia enforcement officer.” Between March 1994 and March 1996, Myers participated in a conspiracy with others, to obstruct justice by conveying threatening communications to state and federal judges, petit and grand jurors, and others in order to obtain federal rulings in criminal cases, dismissals of indictments, and release from incarceration for individuals who had been lawfully convicted.

Following Myers’ indictment, in March 1996, he became a fugitive and remained at large until his arrest in August 2011.

This case was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris and Robert Monk.