Guest commentary by Vernice Avant

Throughout my entire career, first as a public school employee, then senior care facility employee and most recently as Panola County supervisor, I have worked tirelessly for nearly 45 years on behalf of many of our most vulnerable citizens – the children, elderly and poor.

As an American citizen, born in Como, I have abided by the laws of Panola County, the State of Mississippi and the United States of America, I pay taxes like everybody else and enjoy the same rights and privileges that everyone else enjoys. A woman of modest means, I have nothing to hide, but would like to set the record straight.

A few months ago, I was approached by an individual I have known for a period of years who now claimed to be a member of a non-violent, sovereign citizen group. The individual described the group’s purpose as asset protection – securing personal assets from people or companies that may make false claims against you.

After several conversations, I was led to believe that a “sovereign citizen filing” – of actual court documents, totaling roughly 75 pages of single-spaced text – was all that was needed to establish that I was a person of free will and gain the protections promised by the group. In fact, this group – the Sovereign Citizen Movement – has no authority and scams innocent people out of their hard-earned money: in my case, nearly $2,000.

After discussing this with my family, I decided the right thing to do was to share all the information I had with the hope of sparing others the pain I have been caused. In the days since, I have taken steps to render those filings with the Panola County Chancery Clerk null and void. In addition to seeking legal counsel to correct the filings I made, I  have also alerted the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office of my knowledge of this scam. It is my sincere hope that others will not be taken advantage of by misguided individuals peddling promises on which they cannot deliver.

There are legitimate ways to protect assets such as trusts and limited liability corporations. If you are approached by anyone promising you “big savings” or “unlimited protection of your assets,” please contact an attorney or the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.