Sovereign Citizen Tries ALL CAPS NAME Trick to Dodge $70k Embezzlement Charge — Judge Shuts Him Down

[00:00:00]I have tried to >> No, yes, stand in front of the thing.

[00:00:02]So, what is your name?

[00:00:04]>> Brian Joseph Musgrove.

[00:00:06]>> Okay, are you an attorney? What's your P number?

[00:00:08]>> I'm not an attorney.

[00:00:09]>> So, then you can't represent Brian Musgrove. So, you are a defendant, correct?

[00:00:14]>> executor on that on that estate.

[00:00:17]>> Okay, so none of that is valid or legal.

[00:00:19]So, you have an attorney?

[00:00:22]>> He's not doing nothing for me.

[00:00:24]>> Okay, that wasn't my question. Do you have an attorney, yes or no?

[00:00:28]>> I have Yeah, he was supposed to represent me, but >> So, you have Michael Dagher Margosian.

[00:00:33]Okay, so he's your attorney.

[00:00:36]Okay, so go have a seat when Mr. Dagher Margosian gets here, I'll call your case, okay? Mr. Musgrove, do you want to come up to the podium, please? This is in the matter of the people of the state of Michigan versus Brian Joseph Musgrove, file number 23-21461F8.

[00:00:55]Isaac Smead appearing on behalf of the people, and I have Michael Dagher Margosian appearing on behalf of Mr. Musgrove. Um, Mr. Yeah, Mike, oh, there he is. So, um, Mr. Dagher Margosian, this is a date and time set for pre-trial in this matter.

[00:01:13]Mr. Musgrove said that he was appearing on his own behalf. I did verify he is not an attorney, and you are still the attorney of record. So, um, Mr. Dagher Margosian, how do you wish to proceed?

[00:01:27]>> Well, your honor, right. I am aware that Mr. Musgrove uh, wants to present information to the court. I'm happy to be standby counsel if he wants to represent himself. [clears throat] Obviously, this court would have to go through the colloquy of that, but, um, obviously, it's Mr. Musgrove's uh, legal right to at at least ask the court to do that. So, I'm I'm here to observe at this point.

[00:01:56]>> All right. So, Mr. Musgrove, when you were at the bench be- or up at the podium before, you you said that you were appearing on behalf of yourself. So, Mr. Musgrove, are you asking to no longer have counsel represent you?

[00:02:12]>> Um well, I I have Well, the what what I'm understanding is that the courts is a private for-profit >> Mr. Musgrove, I know where you're going with this, and none of that is valid.

[00:02:27]>> It >> None of that is law.

[00:02:28]>> I'm not y'all caps name. Of course, you can >> None of that is valid. None of that is law. You are standing in my courtroom. I have jurisdiction over you.

[00:02:38]So, >> I I tried to file paperwork with the clerk's office ahead of time so that you would have time to review it, and they denied me.

[00:02:47]>> I know what you're talking about. None of that is valid under the law of the state of Michigan or the Constitution of the United States of America.

[00:02:56]>> What do you mean it is?

[00:02:57]>> No.

[00:02:58]>> The Supreme Court says it is.

[00:03:00]>> What does it say it is?

[00:03:01]>> The Supreme Court says that if you we were at the age of 18, we were supposed to take claim our minor status.

[00:03:09]>> Nope, not valid.

[00:03:11]>> Okay.

[00:03:13]>> So, here's what I would say to you. Mr. Dagerman is an is like most of our public defenders exceptional attorneys and very well versed in the law and very experienced.

[00:03:25]He gives legal advice. You may not like the legal advice, but it's usually good advice. I've never had anyone from the public defender's office not wholeheartedly try to represent their clients.

[00:03:37]So, what you are talking about is not valid, and it is not going to get you out of this case. You're not going to be able to say all those things. It's not valid.

[00:03:49]>> Everyone in this involved in this court case is has a financial interest in the case. That's what it >> I don't have a financial interest in your case, guy. I get paid by the state of Michigan whether you plead, whether it gets dismissed. I don't make any money off of you.

[00:04:05]We have budgets. The court system is not a profit generating revenue. We are here to represent people so that people who are charged with crimes are protected, people who are victims of crimes are protected, and that's why we have all of these >> for there to be a crime, there has to be a victim. There is There is no >> Well, there is a victim in this case.

[00:04:24]>> The The would be the company and the >> You are charged.

[00:04:28]>> I can't face something like that.

[00:04:30]>> Just hold on. So, your crime that you are charged with, which you are innocent as of this time, let me grab the right file, is failure Oh, this is an a Let me see.

[00:04:43]This is an embezzlement charge. So, you are charged in count one with embezzlement, 50,000 or more but less than 100,000. That being an agent, servant, or employee of Hardwoods of Michigan Industries did convert to your own use without the consent of your employer or principal industrial tools and equipment in the amount of 68,938.40 or money or equipment. And that's a 15-year felony. So, if you are found guilty by a jury, you can go to prison for up to 15 years. You're charged in count two with using a computer to commit a crime to facilitate the charging count one. That carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. And the way the statute is set up, I can actually stack those possibly.

[00:05:28]So, you potentially could be looking at up to 25 years in prison. So, the victim that's alleged in this would be that business.

[00:05:37]>> Right, and I can't face that accuser because that business can't get on the stand for me to ask questions. And a third party >> But their representative can. Yes, they can. Yes, they can.

[00:05:46]Yes, they can.

[00:05:47]>> [clears throat] >> So, I have 189,000 of student loan debt that was forgiven to be a lawyer. You do not. And Mr. Daggermar goes in, Mr. Isaac Sneed, all of the attorneys here went to law school to know the law, and their job is to advise you of the law.

[00:06:02]So, yes, they can. Yes, you can be charged.

[00:06:05]>> everything, all the laws and statutes that you guys go by corporations.

[00:06:10]They're for a fake >> Still a crime. Still a crime.

[00:06:13]>> [clears throat] >> But, I'm not a living person, and I'm a living person.

[00:06:16]>> Yep, and that's why you're standing in front of me. If you were dead, the case would be dismissed.

[00:06:20]>> Yeah, the the all caps name is dead.

[00:06:23]>> That means nothing. That's not valid.

[00:06:25]It's not legal.

[00:06:27]So, do you want to represent yourself, or do you want to have an attorney to represent you?

[00:06:37]>> I I need some time to think.

[00:06:39]>> Okay. So, I'm going to set this for another pre-trial on March 20th at 8:30 in the morning, and Miss Adams, put out a written notice of hearing for Mr. Musgrove.

[00:06:50]>> At the very beginning of this hearing, Brian Musgrove attempts to introduce himself in a way that immediately raises concerns. Instead of simply identifying himself as the defendant, he claims that he is appearing on behalf of Brian Musgrove. The judge quickly notices the unusual wording and asks a simple question. Is he an attorney? When Musgrove admits that he is not, the judge makes it clear that he cannot legally represent another person in court. As the hearing continues, Musgrove begins presenting arguments commonly associated with sovereign citizen ideology. He references concepts such as the all caps version of his name, questions the court's authority, and suggests that legal distinctions exist between himself and the person named in the case. The judge, who has clearly encountered these arguments before, wastes no time addressing them.

[00:07:41]He repeatedly explains that these claims have no legal validity under Michigan law or the United States Constitution.

[00:07:48]The conversation then shifts to the seriousness of the charges. The judge reminds Musgrove that this is not a debate about internet legal theories. It is a criminal case involving allegations of embezzlement and computer-related offenses. According to the charges, Musgrove is accused of misappropriating nearly $69,000 worth of property or funds from his employer. If convicted, he could face significant prison time. Despite the judge's explanations, Musgrove continues to challenge the legitimacy of the legal system, even suggesting that everyone involved in the case has a financial interest in the outcome. The judge firmly rejects that claim, explaining that the court's role is not to generate profit, but to ensure justice and protect the rights of everyone involved.

[00:08:34]What makes this hearing particularly interesting is the contrast between confidence and reality. Musgrove enters the courtroom believing that these arguments may change the course of his case, but the judge consistently brings the discussion back.