Episode 3: From Log Homes to Lockup: The Unbelievable Tale of Martin Birk

Today’s episode reveals the unbelievable tale of Martin Birk, a Colorado businessman who went from log home salesperson to tax protester, and ultimately was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Birk started off as an honest businessman, filing his taxes each year, and running a thriving log homes business. When he took a business class at a local college, he got the wrong idea from something said by one of his professors about making sure tax laws apply to your specific income. He interpreted this as an indictment of the entire U.S. tax system and started to get involved with some really shady tax protester organizations like We The People. 

 

Talking Points: 

• How Birk went from businessman to tax defier
• Form 31.75 and Birk’s reactions to being subsequently ignored by the IRS
• Tax Protester Organizations like We The People and the dangerous messages they spread
• Birk’s threatening letters to the IRS in retaliation to them pulling $16,000 from his account and the subsequent SFR enacted by the IRS 
• The initial charges and sentencing that causes Birk to flee Colorado for Florida with a car full of illegally obtained weapons
• Evidence photos of the small militia Birk acquired
• The Doctrine of Fugitive Disentitlement and how it revoked his chance for appeal
• Birk’s ultimate sentence of 15 years in prison and how it more than doubled his initial sentence

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm