Tim DeChristopher, Land Auction Prankster, Charged With Felonies

Los Angeles Times:

Salt Lake City -- A college student was charged with two federal felonies Wednesday for what he contends were acts of civil disobedience -- making false bids to run up auction prices on oil and gas parcels on public land near Utah's national parks.

At the Dec. 19 lease sale, Tim DeChristopher grabbed a bidder's paddle, drove up prices and won 22,000 acres of land for $1.79 million, an amount he later said he didn't have the means or intention to pay.

He isn't affiliated with any major environmental group but has said that he infiltrated the auction as a protest. He made no apologies Wednesday for obstructing the lease of land in Utah's red-rock country.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[LiberalBuzz]

This guy deserves the Medal of Freedom a thousand times more than the three traitors Bush gave it to. We need more civil disobedience like this. Protect the lands from the money grubbing thieves who would turn it all into open mining pits, man-made disasters or condos if given half a chance.

Sometimes genuine civil disobedience is just that...to protest wrong moves by a crooked government like the one Bush had under him.

[utahfan]

Talk is cheap - I just donated $50 to the Tim DeChristopher Legal Defense Fund, but I feel that I didn't give enough. This was over at www.bidder70.org. Tim is another reason to like Utah, aside from the amazing scenery.

[newshawk14]

I hope the AG dismisses charges against him, and president Obama acknowledges what he
did, as a heroic act against the criminality of the Bush-Cheney regime.

[eus]

If he increased the amount that oil companies paid, didnt he make money for the government?

[SamKnause]

Tim DeChristopher is a hero. If he spends one second in jail it is one second to long. If only he were a banker, or worked on Wall Street, or in our government, he wouldn't have to worry about it because they are all above the law. It appears the only people who are allowed to break the laws are the people who write them, and the people who bribed them to write the laws they wanted. No one needs to be drilling on these lands, period. Haven't the oil companies and coal companies destroyed enough of our country? You are a hero Tim. I hope Robert Redford can come to your aide and assist you in this matter.

[kareemachan]

Definitely. I was delighted and relieved when I read what he had done. He deserves our thanks for this.

[RTIII]

So... When bidding, you're saying you're willing to pay X for item Y. OK, so then, when in the article it states:

""We are angry," said Daniel Gunnell, managing partner of Twilight Resources of Orem, Utah, who said he lost parcels when Salazar rescinded them and paid extra for other parcels when DeChristopher ran up bids."

...isn't this Grunnell just saying he's upset at having to pay something closer to fair value to the American Citizen, owner's of the land, for the lease? Boy, _that's_ a winning argument. (NOT!)

...And isn't he also saying he's upset at the issue becoming better publicized such that errant leases were exposed as inappropriate - and thereby rescinded? So, he's saying he WANTS to take inappropriate leases - and _then_ he wants to feel sorry for him and his company and take his side?! Gee, _that's_ a winning argument, too! (NOT!)
.
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[niko73]

There are a few interesting things to think about here. Tim met his obligation to provide a $45,000 down payment on the leases he bought. However, I’m fairly certain he did not come up with the whole $17 million. I guess that’s where the fraud charge comes in. I would argue that Tim’s actions were legal all the way up to the point where he didn’t come up with the money.

It's my opinion that not just oil and gas companies can bid on leases. Here’s what the BLM web site says about lessee qualifications:

"Federal oil and gas leases may be obtained and held by any adult citizen of the United States. No lease may be acquired by a minor, but a lease may be issued to a legal guardian or trustee on behalf of a minor. Associations of citizens and corporations organized under the laws of the United States or of any State also qualify."

Tim meets those requirements. Now, someone could say, “yes, but Tim didn’t have the capital at the time of the lease sale; that’s fraud.” Well, oil and gas companies don’t have the capital that early either. That’s why they ask for a small down payment, to allow the companies time to come up with the millions.

So, why don’t conservation groups try to raise money to actually pay for leases? Let’s test the system and see if that’s legal.

[Laura Mendoza]

I'm sending him some money NOW.
This guy is a hero

Tolman is, if course, big gasp: a Bush appointee.

[AngieMom57]

Provide a link, an 800# anything...I'm with U!

[kareemachan]

Yes!

[PatA]

BooHoo for the company who swears they lost $600k due to this act of civil disobedience. Let the first oil or coal company who doesn't live in a glass house throw the first stone.

[motodude]

Its wrong to prosecute Stevens and bankers but its okay to go after this guy. Still the US of hypocrites.

[Marshallmac]

I think U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman is insane. The auction was illegal and later rescinded. Why doesn't Tolman bring charges against the oil and gas companies as well as DeChristopher? Anyhow, here's my rant on the subject: http://www.marshallthompson.org/wordpress/?p=392

[whiteconch]

Yes, Marshallmac,...you are right! This auction was a result of one of Bush's last slimy 11TH HOUR Attempts to throw land and bonus buys out to his Oil Croneys right before he dissapears out of office!!...
and it was done at the last minute so hopefully it would slide by the rest of us so we could be essentially SCRE WED, as the American Public AGAIN ,out of PRISTINE HERITAGE LANDS that our Forefather faught long and hard to save for us!!!!.
Nobody should be allowed to drill on these or most lands anymore for frickin oil that only exists for only 1 PERCENT of a possible supply. DUH.

[clifflyon]

Please join www.bidder70.org and show your support for Tim's brave act.

[whiteconch]

Tim would pay for the land if he had the money. He's trying to save the Utah Red Rock Lands so folks from the East and West Coast can ride their mountain bikes out there for miles in untouched sacred lands! Help him out.

[bannorhill]

A 27 year old economics student. His college career is really moving along.

I guess he did not take Law and Economics yet.

[AngieMom57]

Talk about frivolous law, I hope the judge wastes the prosecution!

[bannorhill]

Frivolous? If that law did not exist EVERY government bid could be wrecked by a few idiots like DeChristopher. Everyone would have to be re advertised and rebid many times at great expense to every taxpayer, but in today's government cost is not a consideration.

[research]

Too bad he's not a Banker.

[niko73]

Although I admire Tim for his act of civil disobedience, the feds made the only call they could make here. Unless they want to see every future lease sale crammed full of impostors, I don’t see any other option the feds have here except to change him. The oil and gas lease sale process needs to be protected. I hope he gets off with a light punishment, though. I agree with other posters that a fine would be appropriate. Get a good lawyer and good luck Tim.