Filing: New evidence for Browns
Less than an hour after a federal jury found Ed and Elaine Brown guilty of conspiracy, weapons possession and obstruction of justice, a man claiming to be a security contractor involved in their case called Ed Brown’s lawyer and said he had information that could help the defense, court documents say.
That man, who told Michael Iacapino that his name was David Quinn and that he worked for a company called the Forseti Group, said his company’s employees had helped arrest the Browns – and that details about their capture offered at trial were not accurate.
Prosecutors in the case say investigators never hired Quinn or the Forseti Group, but the Browns’ lawyers have relied on Quinn’s phone call to ask the judge for an investigation of the potential new evidence and have called for a new trial if it is legitimate.
“The information provided by Quinn is material and relevant and could have been used at trial,” Iacapino wrote in his motion.
Earlier this month, the Browns were found guilty of a combined 11 felonies for their conduct during a nearly nine month standoff with federal officials at their castle-like home in Plainfield. Testimony at trial described stashes of homemade bombs and sniper rifles in the house, where the Browns had publicly vowed that any confrontation with law enforcement would result in violence. They face mandatory minimum sentences of 30 years in prison.
The Browns were arrested in October 2007 by a team of undercover marshals disguised as supporters. Those marshals were introduced to the couple by a confidential informant, the group’s commander told jurors at trial.
According to court filings, Quinn told lawyers for both Browns that his company was hired by the U.S. Marshals Service in June 2007 and asked to help arrange for the Browns’ capture. Quinn said the company ordered a psychological evaluation of Ed Brown. According to Iacapino’s filing, that assessment determined that Ed Brown was mentally ill.
Quinn also disputed the details of the Browns’ arrest described by a deputy U.S. marshal who testified during the trial. W.S. Robertson told jurors that his team was introduced to the Browns by a confidential informant, but said that he and his men were the ones who restrained, disarmed and handcuffed the Browns. Iacapino’s motion says that Quinn alleges that the informant was the one who “disarmed and seized” Ed Brown.
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