Ruby Rige Incodent

Randy Weavers first run in with law enforcement came in 1985, when he allegedly made threats against President Reagan and the Idaho governor John Evens. The Secrete Service was put in charge of the investigations of the alleged threats and interviewed Weaver. Though the interviews would not prove Weaver had nothing to do with the threats, it did uncover some information that would end up being useful in the future. It revealed that Weaver had ties with Frank Kumnick a member of the white supremacist group the "Aryan Nations" and also with Richard Butler a local Aryan Nation church leader. This information was documented and the Weaver investigation was closed, but this would not be the end of Weavers involvement with the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) believed the Aryan Nations were to blame for the 1986 bombings in Coer d' Alene Idaho. To gather information on the Aryan Nations illegal activities, the BATF called upon Kenneth Fadely a confidential informant to go under cover and pose as a weapons dealer for motorcycle gangs. Once Fadely became established with the Aryan Nations, he was able to move up to associate with high level members. Frank Kumnick introduced Fadely to Weaver at an Aryan Nations congress and over the next few years they would grow into business partners. The two met again at the 1989 world Aryan congress, where Fadely told Weaver his "gun business was busy". Weaver in return invited Fadely back to his house. Weaver never mentioned anything about selling Fadely firearms, but he did mention he was trying to start a group called the Zionist Organized Government and the group would include Kumnick and Chuck Holworth. Holworth was convicted on a previous explosive violation and started another group called the Aryan Nations Spliter group of Montana. The BATF already had a continuing investigation on the group and the BATF saw Weaver as an introduction point to Holsworth.

On September 8, 1989, at the BATF's request, Fadely telephoned Weaver and arranged to meet him on October 11. At the meeting Weaver asked Fadely [how his business was going. Fadely replied that he was extremely busy and that he has sold all his product. Weaver explained that he would like to assist Fadely and that he was ready to go to work for him. Fadely then told Weaver he had a source with whom he dealt guns with. Weaver than asked what the most popular items were, and Fadely described the "street weapons" he thought he could sell including shotguns. In response, Weaver said that he could supply four to five shotguns per week. Fadely recalled Weaver said "just tell me what you want and what size and I'll supply what you want. Fadely met Weaver again on October 24, 1989. This time Fadely was wearing a tape recorder and an electronic transmitter. At this meeting Weaver gave Fadely two shotguns. One with a 13 inch barrel and the other with a 12 Ñ* inch barrel.Fadely paid Weaver $300 for the weapons and told Weaver he would be in touch for more. After that meeting, Byerly, with the BATF instructed Fadely to end all contact with Weaver. On May 21, 1990, BATF agents Byerly and Gunderson went to the Weaver property and showed Weaver a picture of the two sawed off shotguns he had sold Fadely and told him they had a tape recording of the transaction. Byerly explained to Weaver that the USAO knew of the illegal weapons sale and that Weaver could help himself by providing information to the BATF about the illegal activities of the Aryan Nations members. He told Weaver that the U.S. attorney would dismiss his case if he would help them out. Byerly gave Weaver his telephone number and told him they would be waiting for Weaver to contact them. Weaver in return said he would never be a snitch. The federal grand jury indicted Weaver for manufacturing and possessing an unregistered firearm. The BATF knew Weaver would not surrender with out a fight so they started to send surrender terms on October 9,1991 with Alan Jeppeson, a family friend of the Weavers. In a letter back to the BATF he replied [The government lied to me-why should I believe anything its servants have to say... this situation was set up by a lying government informant whom your lawless courts will honor. Your lawless one world beast courts are doomed. I have appealed to yahweh's court of supreme justice. We will stay here separated from you and your lawless evil in obedience to Yahshua the Messiah.] Alan Jeppeson relayed the message that Randy Weaver did not want to be tried in Idaho because of the prejudice against those who were for the separation of the white race. He also included that Weaver would possibly surrender if the trial was in a different place and if Jeppeson could stay with him until the verdict. The Marshals Service took in to consideration the information and began to prepare