Deadbeat Rancher Cliven Bundy Indicted By Federal Grand Jury, Faces Life In Prison

A federal grand jury in Nevada has indicted deadbeat rancher Cliven Bundy on charges including conspiracy, assaulting a federal officer, and obstruction of justice in connection with a 2014 standoff on federal land located near his Nevada ranch. Bundy was denied bail because a judge determined he was a flight risk.

U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden remarked on the indictment:

“Persons who use force and violence against federal law enforcement officers who are enforcing court orders, and nearly causing catastrophic loss of life or injury to others, will be brought to justice.”

Just last week, Bundy was also charged with six felony counts as a result of the 2014 showdown against federal land managers on the range where his cattle grazed and fed.

The federal Bureau of Land Management and local authorities backed down in 2014, ceased the roundup of Bundy’s cattle, and also returned about 300 head in an attempt to avoid any violence.

Federal officials also maintain that Bundy still owes over $1 million in unpaid grazing fees for using federal lands to feed his cattle.

The indictment states:

“The defendants recruited, organized, and led hundreds of other followers in using armed force against law enforcement officers in order to thwart the seizure and removal of Cliven Bundy’s cattle from federal public lands. Bundy had trespassed on the public lands for over 20 years, refusing to obtain the legally-required permits or pay the required fees to keep and graze his cattle on the land.”

The other defendants named in the indictment are Ryan Payne and Peter Santilli, who allegedly participated in the 2014 standoff.

If convicted, Bundy could be sentenced to life in prison.

This article was originally published by the same author at LiberalAmerica.org.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *