Boston Area News

PLAINFIELD, N.H. (WBZ) ― Federal authorities indicated Thursday they would not raid the home of two convicted tax evaders but did serve a warrant to seize property they own in a neighboring town.

The warrant was served in Lebanon and authorities had no contact with Ed and Elaine Brown at their fortified hilltop compound in rural Plainfield, U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier said.

Neighbors had reported heavily armed police and at least one armored vehicle near the 110-acre property Thursday morning. Reporters were kept away from the scene and a plane carrying an Associated Press photographer was ordered out of the airspace.

"We are here ... to serve that warrant," Monier said in a statement to calm speculation that a raid was imminent.

Marshals have negotiated daily with the Browns since January and will continue doing so, Monier said.

"As we have said from the beginning, we will continue to communicate with Ed and Elaine Brown to convince them to surrender peacefully."

Authorities did detain a supporter staying with the couple as he walked their dog Thursday morning.

The home has a watchtower, concrete walls and the ability to run on wind and solar power. Ed Brown, who has at least one gun, has said he has stockpiled food and supplies and would resist arrest.

Authorities clearly were prepared for the worst Thursday. Vehicles leaving a checkpoint early in the afternoon included an armored Massachusetts SWAT vehicle, an explosive disposal unit, a communications truck and a New Hampshire state police cruiser driven by someone with camouflage face paint.

Two planes flew overhead and the occupants of two passenger vans hid their faces as they drove past.

The Browns insist federal income tax laws are invalid. They were convicted in January of scheming to hide $1.9 million of income between 1996 and 2003. They also were convicted of using $215,890 in postal money orders to pay for their residence and for Elaine Brown's dental office in neighboring Lebanon, the property seized Thursday. The money orders were broken into increments just below the tax-reporting threshold.

U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentenced them each to 5 1/4 years in prison. They skipped the April sentencing hearings.

The couple has described the court as a "fiction" unworthy of their attention and returned government mail unopened.

The Browns answered a telephone call from The Associated Press about 9 a.m. Thursday by saying: "This is the Lord's House. This is Sister Elaine and Brother Edward."

Ed Brown said nothing was out of the ordinary at the house, then hung up. But he told a different story earlier to a supporter, who recorded it and posted some of it online.

"One of our visitors went out for a walk at about 7:45 ... with my dog, and about an hour later, about 8:45, the dog come ripping down the driveway, and I've waited now for another half hour and -- no visitor," Brown said.

He also said the power had gone out twice overnight and an airplane had flown over the house, where he said he was holed up with numerous supporters.

"It could be a test to see our response time, our reaction," he said.

Calls made later Thursday were answered by a recording saying the line was not in service.

Supporters have visited and stayed with the Browns during and after their trial.

The Marshals Service said the dog-walker, whose name was not immediately released, was being questioned but had not been charged. But Monier made it clear that anyone helping the Browns avoid authorities could be charged.

"Anyone aiding and abetting in their obstruction of justice is subject to arrest," he said.

Ed Brown spoke to WBZ back in January from his home.

"Somebody in America has to start standing up against this oppression from the government. Their people want to come down here and take my country? They're going to do it the hard way. I advise them to go away," he said.

"We're not going to go there," Monier said at the time. "This is a tax case; it's not a violent crime. We're continuing our discussions with Mr. Brown."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)