FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
May 27, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
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AG ANNOUNCES CONVICTIONS IN COVINGTON COUNTY FOR
FILING FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICIALS
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange today announced the
sentencing of two men for filing false documents in Covington County against four Coffee
County public officials. William Peter Witwicki, 70, of Coffee County, and Travis Lee
Lambert, 64, of Covington County, each were sentenced yesterday to 10 years for all four
counts, to run concurrently. A probation hearing is set for July 30.
Witwicki and Lambert were convicted by a jury on March 17 following a two-day trial.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division presented evidence showing that the men
filed fraudulent liens against two circuit judges, a sheriff, and a circuit clerk. The fraudulent
documents directed these public officials to pay Witwicki $89.2 million in silver coins. Expert
testimony was presented that linked characteristics of the fraudulent documents with the
sovereign citizens movement, which advocates using certain phrases to declare their
sovereignty and that no state court has jurisdiction over them.
“These actions of these men were an attempt to intimidate and defraud public officials
and to interfere with their carrying out their sworn duties,” said Attorney General Strange.
“These are serious crimes that warrant a stern penalty. The State of Alabama will not allow
so-called ‘sovereign citizens’ to impede our lawful government.”
Witwicki has been held at the Covington County Jail since the conviction, and
Lambert remains free on bond pending the outcome of the probation hearing.
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing these cases to a
successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Ternisha Miles Jones
and John Hensley of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division; Paul Hodos,
Intelligence Analyst, Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigations; and
Special Agents of the Attorney General’s Investigations Division.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
