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Revision as of 01:07, 13 January 2008 editSkomorokh (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers59,990 edits +cat, infobox← Previous edit Revision as of 01:18, 13 January 2008 edit undoSkomorokh (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers59,990 edits +refNext edit →
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| charge = Intimidation, fraud.
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'''Jim Bell''' (born 1958) is an ] ] who created the idea of arranging for anonymously-sponsored assassination payments via the Internet, which he called "]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/04/35620 |title=Crypto-Convict Won't Recant |accessdate=2007-11-07 |date=] |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |work=Politics : Law |publisher='']'' }}</ref> '''Jim Bell''' (born 1958) is an ] ] who created the idea of arranging for anonymously-sponsored assassination payments via the Internet, which he called "]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/04/35620 |title=Crypto-Convict Won't Recant |accessdate=2007-11-07 |date=] |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |work=Politics : Law |publisher='']'' }}</ref> Bell attended the ] where he earned a degree in ] and lived in ] until his arrest and imprisonment by the United States federal government.<ref name=painter/>


Bell had been involved in a tax dispute with the ], and came up with the idea of using ] on ] to create a ] game, "predicting" the deaths of IRS agents and other government employees. In effect, the idea would create an incentive for assassination of these agents, creating a "prize" that could be "won" by someone willing to submit an entry "predicting" a given agent's death at a particular time. The person could then kill the agent at about that time, thus winning the pool money. The purpose was to intimidate the IRS agents and others into no longer enforcing tax rulings and tax and other laws. Bell had been involved in a tax dispute with the ], and came up with the idea of using ] on ] to create a ] game, "predicting" the deaths of IRS agents and other government employees. In effect, the idea would create an incentive for assassination of these agents, creating a "prize" that could be "won" by someone willing to submit an entry "predicting" a given agent's death at a particular time. The person could then kill the agent at about that time, thus winning the pool money. The purpose was to intimidate the IRS agents and others into no longer enforcing tax rulings and tax and other laws.


Bell published his idea in a ten-part essay on the alt.anarchism ] newsgroup; most responses were negative.{{cn|date=January 2008}} He was subsequently arrested, charged, tried, and convicted of various offenses including setting off a ] in an IRS office, attempting to intimidate IRS agents, and using false ] numbers in an attempt to hide assets. He was sentenced to eleven months in prison followed by three years of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,40102,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2 |title=IRS Raids Cypherpunk's House |accessdate=2007-11-07 |date=] |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |format=news report |work=Politics : Law |publisher='']'' }}</ref> After release, he was rearrested and sent back to prison for violations of terms of his probation. Bell published his idea in a ten-part essay on the alt.anarchism ] newsgroup; most responses were negative.{{cn|date=January 2008}} He was subsequently arrested, charged, tried, and convicted of various offenses including setting off a ] in an IRS office, attempting to intimidate IRS agents, and using false ] numbers in an attempt to hide assets. He was sentenced to eleven months in prison followed by three years of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,40102,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2 |title=IRS Raids Cypherpunk's House |accessdate=2007-11-07 |date=] |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |format=news report |work=Politics : Law |publisher='']'' }}</ref> After release, he was rearrested and sent back to prison for violations of terms of his probation.

Revision as of 01:18, 13 January 2008

Jim Bell
Criminal chargeHigh treason, obstruction of government officers, intimidation, fraud.
PenaltyEleven months imprisonment

Jim Bell (born 1958) is an American crypto-anarchist who created the idea of arranging for anonymously-sponsored assassination payments via the Internet, which he called "assassination politics". Bell attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a degree in chemistry and lived in Vancouver, Washington until his arrest and imprisonment by the United States federal government.

Bell had been involved in a tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service, and came up with the idea of using digital signatures on electronic mail to create a dead pool game, "predicting" the deaths of IRS agents and other government employees. In effect, the idea would create an incentive for assassination of these agents, creating a "prize" that could be "won" by someone willing to submit an entry "predicting" a given agent's death at a particular time. The person could then kill the agent at about that time, thus winning the pool money. The purpose was to intimidate the IRS agents and others into no longer enforcing tax rulings and tax and other laws.

Bell published his idea in a ten-part essay on the alt.anarchism USENET newsgroup; most responses were negative. He was subsequently arrested, charged, tried, and convicted of various offenses including setting off a stinkbomb in an IRS office, attempting to intimidate IRS agents, and using false social security numbers in an attempt to hide assets. He was sentenced to eleven months in prison followed by three years of probation. After release, he was rearrested and sent back to prison for violations of terms of his probation.

Citations

  1. ^ Painter Jr., John. " IRS says suspect discussed sabotage". The Oregonian, 1997-05-20, Metro Section P-1.
  2. McCullagh, Declan (2000-11-11). "Crypto-Convict Won't Recant". Politics : Law. Wired. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. McCullagh, Declan (2000-11-11). "IRS Raids Cypherpunk's House" (news report). Politics : Law. Wired. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

  • Jim Bell Files - archive of news articles, essays, and other information on Jim Bell and his essays
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