The squatters claim to be part of a sovereign civil society known for staking title to land in Arkansas and engaging in violent confrontations with law enforcement.
Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said in a press release that the investigation into the squatters began in August 2023.
Authorities said they received a call about a couple who had moved into an RV and an “enclosed property” owned by someone else.
The pair are said to have started building permanent structures, digging septic tanks, installing solar panels and storing large quantities of water.
Sheriff Russell said law enforcement confronted the couple about the illegal occupation and served them multiple eviction notices.
Despite threatening them with eviction notices, they refused to leave their RV setup.
The two said they were members of a sovereign civil society known as the Moorish National Republic.
Police said the two provided law enforcement with false legal documents claiming the land was sovereign property and said they could not be forced to leave.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, people in the Moorish National Republic have clashed with federal and state authorities over their refusal to abide by laws and government regulations.
On Thursday, January 25th, a large group of law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on the squatters and successfully arrested two individuals.
Authorities said the two initially refused to identify themselves, but the male suspect identified himself as Saleem Yosiah Israel.
Authorities said they found multiple vehicles with “fictitious license plates” on the property.
Along with the illegal vehicle, authorities also found evidence of the two men’s illegal fraud in the RV.
Police said the scam involved the post office and thousands of dollars in Iraqi currency.
Authorities concluded that the FBI was investigating the case for possible fraudulent documents and cybercrime.
