Feb 6, 2008 7:26 pm US/Eastern
Tax Evaders' Gold, Silver, & Trucks Auctioned Off
NASHUA, N.H. (WBZ) ―
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Ed and Elaine Brown at a news conference on June 18, 2007.
WBZ
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The Browns stayed in their heavily fortified home for nine months after being convicted of tax evasion.
WBZ
The IRS sold off items Wednesday to pay for more than $2 million in income taxes owed by convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown.
The couple is now in jail and the government is finally making them pay by selling off their belongings, including cars, trucks and gold coins.
Poker faced bidders looking for a deal turned up for the auction and bought off items like a motorcycle, trucks, and even an ATV once owned by the infamous tax-evading Browns.
"It was a high-profile case. (I) wanted to come and see what was going on and looking for a deal," said Jay Raso, of North Reading.
The IRS is auctioning off the Browns' belongings to begin paying back their $2.1 million tax bill.
"I have a little piece of history now," said Tyler Nevin, who bought the Browns' Bravada.
The couple was arrested last fall after staying in their heavily secured home in Plainfield, New Hampshire for nine months after being convicted of tax evasion. They claim there's no law requiring them to pay.
"I think it's kind of weird that it was part of that, and it was seized by people who were all over the news for months and months," Nevin added.
"I suspect if I didn't' pay my taxes, they'd take my stuff, too," said Ralph Nevin, of Hudson, N.H. "It's fair."
A riding lawnmower sold for $700.
When asked how he felt about owning the Brown's lawnmower, Raso said, "Thank you. Thanks for not paying your taxes. It's part of the law. It's the process the IRS takes. If you don't pay them they take your property and move on."
The IRS brought in more than $20,000 from Wednesday's auction. The real treasure is up next on the auction block.
On Thursday, bidders can go for a bar of gold worth $34,000, a diamond pin and the Browns' collection of gold and silver coins.
Thursday's auction will take place at the Crown Plaza in Nashua.
Viewing is from 10 a.m. to noon and the bidding starts at 12:15 p.m.
The IRS says there are no plans yet to auction off the Brown's Plainfield home.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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