FBI: Man with ties to extremist movement threatened to kill bank employees

NEW YORK -- The FBI arrested a Queens man with ties to anti-government extremism Tuesday night for allegedly threatening to kill employees at a Pennsylvania bank, law enforcement sources said.
 
Law enforcement sources say Michael Chung faxed a threatening letter to a Sovereign Bank branch in Pottsville. In the letter, he cited the Second Amendment and threatened to kill employees of the bank, law enforcement sources said.


The letter read, in part, "The 2nd Amendment to the National Constitution authorizes the use of deadly force to protect my interests as a national citizen.  I believe I have a basis to act in that manner."

Chung, 52, had a loan with the bank that may have been preventing him from selling his Bayside home, law enforcement sources said. There may be a lien on his house.

See the original report on NBCNewYork.com

A law enforcement official says Chung has a shotgun registered in his name. It's not clear if the weapon has been recovered. 

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A law enforcement official said Chung is part of the "sovereign citizen" movement, a loose grouping of people who don't believe in following government authority and paying taxes. The FBI has long considered sovereign citizens a domestic terror threat and monitors the movement. 

Chung was scheduled to be arraigned later Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn. It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney. 

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Discuss this post

Mr. Chung,

Look up idiot in the dictionary. If your photo is not there as a prime example, offer your mug shot for them to use.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Wed Aug 8, 2012 3:45 PM EDT

For banks is very legal to steal, you can prevent this just by reading the small print AT THE TIME OF SIGNING ANY THING, this poor guy made a mistake, because the bank will not stop at nothing, they have the resources, the lawyers and the crooks of the prosecutors, TO BE POOR IS A FELONY, OR NOT?

    Reply#2 - Wed Aug 8, 2012 6:30 PM EDT

    Never in my life, did I ever think I'd see the day when people were arrested for SAYING something! It is action that matters, and sometimes WORDS are just blowing off steam. Not everyone has had their psyches @!$%#ed up by military psyops professionals!

      Reply#3 - Thu Aug 9, 2012 3:08 AM EDT

      Roberta K. Starkey

      Blowing off steam is one thing. Something said in the "heat of the moment" while it might be looked into, usually amounts to nothing.

      When you do something like he did, especially when you're an individual that already has announced you don't believe in the "authority" of the government and make threats, especially when they cross state lines is considered a terroristic threat.

      Big brother IS watching. Sometimes they over react, sometimes they don't.

      What would your post have been if his threat was ignored and he actually carried it out?

      • 1 vote
      #3.1 - Thu Aug 9, 2012 7:39 AM EDT
      Reply

      If you have an alternate philosophy, the FBI considers you a terrorist? Boy am I glad I travel with the rest of the sheep.

        Reply#4 - Thu Aug 9, 2012 11:57 AM EDT
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