FOR RELEASE
CONTACT:
U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
District of New Hampshire

ASSOCIATES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TAX EVASION FELONS INDICTED BY GRAND JURY AND ARRESTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES

Concord, New Hampshire - Today, teams of state, county, local and federal law enforcement officials, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested four individuals on charges stemming from their association with convicted felons Edward and Elaine Brown of Plainfield, New Hampshire. The indictments were issued by a federal grand jury in Concord, New Hampshire, and made public today. The four arrests were made in different locales and were conducted without incident.

Cirino "Reno" Gonzales, 30, of Alice, Texas; Daniel Riley, 40, of Albany, New York; Jason Gerhard, 22, of Brookhaven, New York, and Robert Wolffe, 50, of Randolph, Vermont, are now in U.S. Marshals custody, and face charges that range from Accessory After the Fact (aiding and abetting) to Possession and Use of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The indictments allege that each of these men has helped obstruct justice in the Brown case. Officials believe that at certain times, the men participated in various efforts to assist the Browns in avoiding justice at their rural home in western New Hampshire; and conspired to impede federal agents.

U.S. Marshals conducted all four arrests in a manner consistent with this continuing operation since the Brown s sentencing five months ago. "We are acting with an abiding concern for the safety of surrounding communities, neighbors, and law enforcement officers," said U.S. Marshal for New Hampshire, Stephen Monier.

The arrest of Gonzales occurred in Alice, Texas; Riley was arrested in Cohoes, New York; Gerhard was arrested at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; and Wolffe was arrested in Hartford, Vermont.

The Marshals Service made clear that it is a crime to aid and abet convicted felons who are avoiding justice. "In this case, these men are alleged to have helped the Browns in their ongoing refusal to surrender to authorities," said Marshal Monier. "The Browns have engaged in a course of conduct that has led to further criminal investigations into their activity. Anyone who aids the Browns is subject to investigation, arrest, and prosecution for serious felonies, which carry very heavy prison sentences."

"This was a tax case," Monier added, "but over the last seven months, the Browns have allegedly: obstructed justice and encouraged others to assist them. Ed Brown has threatened to kill law enforcement officers and other governmental officials. So, our message to the Browns is clear: do the right thing, call us, and surrender peacefully."

The U.S. Marshals and their law enforcement partners have taken purposeful and methodical steps to convince the Browns to surrender. In June, utility access and deliveries to their property were cut off.

"The Marshals will continue to assist local authorities by exercising the authority to control access to the property. We will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure these efforts are conducted in a safe manner, and with minimal intrusion to the Plainfield community," said Marshal Monier.