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Authorities arrested 26 sovereign citizens affiliated with the group following a year-long multi-agency investigation.

Suspects have been charged with various criminal violations including illegal gambling, manufacturing controlled substances and money laundering at the bogus casinos located in Maxton, Pembroke and Red Springs. During the raid, police seized multiple vehicles, currency, marijuana, firearms, and over 200 illegal gaming machines.

鈥淢ost of the offenders arrested today were considered to be armed and dangerous and many have criminal records,鈥� said Robeson County Sheriff whose agency was involved in the arrests.

The Tuscarora is a federally recognized Native American tribe in New York, but it is not by the federal government or the state of North Carolina. In the past, some sovereign citizen groups, such as the Little Shell Pembina Nation and Washitaw Nation, have impersonated Native American tribes and falsely claim tribal status. They believe such status gives them immunity from government authority as well as the ability to create and enforce their own laws.

According to sources, the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina operated 鈥渢hree illegal casinos, an unlicensed police force and an indoor marijuana grow with multiple outdoor grows.鈥� The group also reportedly made threats to 鈥溾�� against law enforcement.

鈥淭his group openly expressed beliefs that neither the laws of North Carolina nor the United States applied to them, putting law-abiding citizens in danger,鈥� said Terrance Merriweather, Director of the North Carolina鈥檚 Bureau of Investigation 鈥� (ALE).

The casinos reportedly were open 24 hours a day/seven days a week and took in thousands of dollars per week. The gambling facilities were also guarded by heavily armed security personnel who were not only unlicensed, but also drove pickup trucks with blue flashing lights (similar to legitimate emergency vehicles). According to a law enforcement involved in the investigation, the Maxton casino had security personnel armed with assault rifles.

Those arrested include Kendall Locklear (described as the leader of the Tuscarora Nation), Keaton Locklear (the leader鈥檚 son) and Robert Chavis, who was arrested for possessing two stolen guns.

Authorities also arrested the following individuals for felonious operation of illegal slot machines and other illicit gambling charges: Michelle Locklear, 46; Kendrick Locklear, 21; Micheal Locklear, 17; Fredrick Hawkins, 45; Timmy Oxendine, 46; Perry Locklear, 44; Timothy Jacobs, 44; Jeffrey Ingram; Keton Oxendine, 24; Jerry Oxendine, 59; Edith Oxendine, 55; Miranda Jo Dial, no age given; Derena Chavis, 52; Felicia Campbell, 46; Dustin Warriax, 48; Richard Sampson, 44; and Marcus Bullard, 19.

Of particular interest, in 1988, (among those arrested) was involved in an armed takeover of the Lumberton newspaper office to draw attention to what he claimed was government corruption in Robeson County. Jacobs later surrendered and released all of the hostages unharmed. He received a six year prison sentence, but was released early in 1992.

Upon his release, Jacobs reportedly became an 鈥淚ndian activist鈥� who that 鈥渁 piece of land in Greene County [North Carolina], where more than 900 tribal members lived at Fort Nooherooka 鈥� and, were massacred in 1713 鈥� should be returned to the Tuscarora.鈥�