A recent case came before the court involving Mr. Robert Jackson in a motion to suppress statements made after an arrest. The incident is as follows:
On July 28, 2020, police in Pennsylvania were dispatched to home where there was an unresponsive male found on the property named Joseph Sturgis Jr. Ultimately, Mr. Sturgis died. It was determined that he died of a fentanyl overdose. It was also determined that the drugs (stamped “Dirty Harry”) Mr. Sturgis ingested were sold by Robert Jackson.
Mr. Jackson has subsequently been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Mr. Jackson was arrested and agreed to answer questions at the police department. He was read his Miranda rights. During the course of the interview, Mr. Jackson told officers that he was preserving his rights as an “Moorish American National.” He told officers he did not understand why he had been “kidnapped” and that he wanted to “reserve all my rights” because “I’m only here under threat, duress and coercion.” The police did not know what that meant and asked him to explain.
Mr. Jackson apparently went on to make incriminating statements to the police and is now asking the court to suppress those statements. He reasons that because he claimed to be a Moorish American National, that he was reserving all of his rights and that he believed he was there under threat, distress and coercion, that is tantamount to invoking his Miranda rights.
The court ruled that his statements were made voluntarily and knowingly and were the result of his deliberate choice. There is no evidence that he was coerced by officers into making his statements or answering questions. His claims of Moorish American National citizenship have no validity in court.
The court also notes that any claim made by Mr. Jackson regarding the courts lack of personal jurisdiction over him because of his “Moorish American National status” is regarded as “frivolous.”
Another loss for the sovereign citizen movement.