U.S. marshal cuts phone, power, Internet service at N.H. compound of fugitive tax evaders

PLAINFIELD, N.H. (AP) Ed and Elaine Brown are convicted tax evaders who have refused to report to prison. They've been holed up for months inside their fortified compound in New Hampshire, which has generators powered by the sun and wind.

So it's not clear what impact the government's latest move will have. Federal authorities have cut their electricity, phone and Internet service.

The Browns, who insist federal income tax laws are invalid, were sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison in April. Authorities surrounded their property last week and cut the utilities this week.

Ed Brown has predicted that authorities will try to take him and his wife by force, but officials say they will try to wait the couple out.

One U-S Marshal says he hopes a summer without air conditioning or a winter without heat will convince them to give up.

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