Members of 3% militia group say leader took money meant for arrested Idahoans

Idaho Statesman – by  John Sowell

Thirty-six members of 3% of Idaho, many in leadership positions, announced their resignations Tuesday evening after they said $2,901 in donations earmarked for four Idaho men accused in the 2014 Bundy Ranch standoff in Nevada were improperly spent.

They claim Brandon Curtiss, the group’s president, spent the money on unauthorized car accessories, car washes, camping at an Idaho state park, iTunes music downloads, gasoline and food at restaurants, among other charges.  

“We were recently given access to the PayPal and the bank account statements and discovered a lot of money had been donated and our families never received anything from Brandon with the exception of the occasional $50,” said Chelsea Hamel, the daughter of Challis resident Scott Drexler, one of the four Idaho men awaiting trial next year in Nevada.

She said her dad and the other three men only received a total of $429 from 3% of Idaho following a benefit effort this summer.

The resignations came in a letter that accused Curtiss of using the donated money for his own use.

“It is with heavy hearts that we, the undersigned, do solemnly testify to you that we believe that substantial portions of these gifts have been grievously misused within the Idaho III% organization,” the letter reads. “We do not put forth this accusation lightly, or without due diligence and proper deliberation.”

Curtiss, in an email to the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday night, said he would issue a “full statement” concerning the allegations on Wednesday. Later Tuesday evening, another person wrote to say that further inquiries for Curtiss should go through that person, who would not identify himself or herself.

An anonymous complaint was filed Monday with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

“I can neither confirm nor deny whether we are taking any action on the complaint,” said Brian Kane, assistant chief deputy attorney general.

The 3% of Idaho this week appears to be pursuing damage control. Brooke Agresta, Curtiss’ girlfriend and a regional 3% of Idaho leader, posted a warning on her Facebook page this weekend saying the group planned to take legal action against anyone possessing or distributing the bank and PayPal statements. She claimed improper possession of a bank statement amounted to grand theft, though nothing in the relevant Idaho statute appears to state that.

Curtiss heads the Idaho branch of the 3%, a militia movement that says it’s devoted to “freedom, liberty and the Constitution.” One member, who did not wish to be identified, said there were about 1,000 members statewide before the resignations began.

Concert raised money for four Idaho prisoners

On July 9, 3% of Idaho members in south-central Idaho held a benefit concert at Rock Creek Park in Twin Falls. The event raised $2,475, with attendees told that 100 percent of the amount collected would be turned over to Drexler, Todd Engel of Boundary County and Eric Parker and Steve Stewart of Hailey.

The four men are charged with conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, use of a firearm, obstruction and other counts during the standoff with federal agents at the Bunkerville, Nev., ranch of Cliven Bundy.

Parker, a former vice president of 3% of Idaho, Drexler and Engel were among the members who resigned on Tuesday.

The money was deposited in 3% of Idaho’s bank account at Mountain West Bank — controlled by Curtiss — on July 25, according to bank statements obtained by the Idaho Statesman.

An additional $426 for the prisoners was raised by 3% of Idaho members in other parts of the state. Equal deposits of $213 were made on Aug. 22 and Sept. 6, according to the bank statements.

Deposit follows six weeks of account in the red

At the time of the July 25 deposit, the account was overdrawn by $567. The bank subtracted that amount to bring the account back into the black.

The account had been overdrawn continuously from June 8 to July 25. Records show the group was docked $670 in overdraft fees between Jan. 1 and July 25, including a $5 daily charge when the account was in the red.

“What bothers everyone the most is seeing how much money was spent in such a reckless manner, when it was supposed to go to our political prisoners. These four families are fighting a battle against the government and have now been betrayed,” said a former member who asked not to be identified.

She said she was recently involuntarily removed from the organization, after she began questioning spending by Curtiss. She said other members were warned they would be removed from the group if they attended a meeting held Thursday in Filer where the spending improprieties were discussed. More than half of that area’s 100 members resigned before or during that meeting, another member said. The Statesman could not independently confirm that figure.

Questionable expenses include truck modifications, camping

The group’s PayPal account was in Curtiss’ name. PayPal records show Curtiss paid $295 on Aug. 7 to Rollin Smoke Diesel, an Indiana company that supplies aftermarket parts that allow pickups with diesel engines to produce thick clouds of black smoke in what has become a fad in some areas. The next day, the company credited $13 back to the account.

On Aug. 8, the account was billed $30 from Mister Car Wash in Nampa. Other payments that month for which the business purpose wasn’t clear include $37.50 to Adele’s Storage in Clarkston, Wash.; $30 to Spyfly.com, an online company that provides criminal records, personal financial information and contact information for people; $18.55 to a Taco Bell in Ontario, Ore.; and $71.59 to a Maverik store in Fruitland, where Curtiss resides.

That same month, the Mountain West Bank statement shows a $98.44 charge for an Idaho Parks and Recreation camping reservation and a $5 iTunes music download. There were also $292 in gasoline and food charges in Winnemucca, Nev., and Roseville and Sacramento, Calif., on Aug. 3 and 4, along with an Aug. 3 Walmart purchase in Sacramento.

By Sept. 13, the bank account showed a balance of $12.58. Six days later, the account was closed. It’s unclear whether 3% of Idaho has another existing bank account or what financial resources it still has.

For months, a page at the group’s website solicited donations and said they were tax-deductible. The 3% of Idaho asked for donations to cover the group’s expenses and for money to go to the four Idaho prisoners. The page was removed in the past few days.

In order for donors to deduct charitable donations on their tax returns, a nonprofit organization must receive certification as a 501(3)(c) organization. 3% of Idaho does not appear on the Internal Revenue Service’s list of certified groups and the IRS has not received an application from the group, a spokesman said.

A taxpayer who files for an improper deduction risks having the deduction rejected and having to pay additional tax and a possible penalty.

Last week, the group on its Facebook page provided links to individual fundraising accountsoperated by the families of the four Idaho prisoners.

Comments at Malheur Refuge brought scrutiny

Curtiss previously operated two property management companies based in Meridian, Curtiss Property Management and Liberty Property Management. He drew attention to his businesses in an interview with an Oregonian reporter during a visit to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January, while it was seized by armed protestors. Three weeks later, he filed for bankruptcy — his third filing since 2001.

Curtiss left a trail of unpaid bills and was sued by the owners of properties he managed for failing to turn over rent money he collected from apartment residents. He owes a Portland couple, Aaron and Leslie Boyce, $68,549 from a judgment issued after Curtiss failed to turn over rents and deposits owed on a rental he managed for them.

Last week, a bankruptcy court judge ordered Curtiss to pay $22,350 plus $2,000 in attorney fees to Martinique Properties. The company, owned by state Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, had contracted with Curtiss Property Management and claimed Curtiss failed to turn over money owed from rentals.

The order by Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Terry Myers cannot be discharged through bankruptcy.

In June, Curtiss filed registration documents for a new business with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office. According to its Facebook page, Sons of Liberty Recovery apprehends fugitives.

Curtiss was fined $7,200 this summer after Curtiss failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance for his employees. The suit was brought by the Idaho Industrial Commission, which claimed the workers hadn’t been covered since Oct. 1.

The Idaho State Police has an ongoing investigation into claims that Curtiss owed at least 17 clients money.