Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Seriously, The FBI Devoted Massive Resources To Seize A 91-Year Old Man's Private Collection Of Artifacts?

FBI agents on April 2, 2014, work around a home in Rush County, Ind., to confiscate thousands of artifacts from Native Americans, Russia, China, and other nations from a private collection.
Aerial view of FBI raid on Don Miller's residence (Star Photo/Kelly Wilkinson)
A 91-year old Rush County man's home was the scene of a massive FBI raid where agents seized more than a thousand cultural artifacts Don Miller reportedly collected over the past eight decades according to the Indianapolis Star. Miller has not been charged or arrested for committing any crime. Yet agents will spend months cataloging his cache of artifacts to determine their origins according to Robert Jones, special agent in charge of the Indianapolis office. "The monetary value of the items and relics has not been determined Jones said, but the cultural value is beyond measure. In addition to American Indian objects, the collection includes items from China, Russia, Peru, Haiti, Australia and New Guinea.," he saidWe have politicians and their cronies stealing hundreds of millions of our tax dollars in plain sight, and the only thing our local FBI office has time to do is badger a 91-year old man who apparently devoted his life to collecting cultural artifacts. Is there a law against that?

UPDATE: An observant reader passes along this background information on the fascinating life of Dr. Don Miller the media reports don't mention:
A little background on Don Miller, the "artifact" collector in Waldron. Given recent developments across the pond it would appear that this old guy possessed material of extreme importance to be applied to the NATO war effort that's building up there.  
The gov's pretense to recover artifacts is a ruse. I would wager that 99.999% of the men involved on the ground at this guy's house do not know the real nature of the raid and were told to collect and catalog artifacts while special agents quietly found and took what they were actually looking for. 
Miller was an electrical genius and developed communications hardware for the MIR space station. Had a huge hand in training cosmonauts in how to use it. He was heavily involved in very high tech ham equipment and networks particularly in Russia. 
The old man had a lot of things the state department wanted but illegal artifacts isn't one of them. You can rest assured that Don Miller will not say a word about anything. How would it look for a true American WWII patriot to be outed working with the Russians, even if at the time it was completely legal to do so.
Here's a link mentioning Dr. Miller's work on the MIR Russian space station.

UPDATE II: An anonymous Internet sleuth points out that Dr. Miller had created transponders used by NASA.
Most recently Dr Miller developed the technology to locate any transmitter through triangulation after the beacon has failed. This technology would be very useful say if an airplane went down and was unable to be located . . . 
Looking at the photo of Dr. Miller's home it is very obvious that he installed several 40'-50' antenna towers on his property which is located out in the middle of nowhere. The FBI (or some agency) set up containment/quarantine tents all over his property and there is no identification of any particular government agencies on the vehicles on his property. I was able to locate video showing those towers being removed which would fall under the definition of artifact but weren't mentioned by reporters.
The fact that the the news doesn't mention that this man was very prominent in the development of nuclear weapons, space science, groundbreaking transponder technology, spectral analysis or the sole heir to his famous brothers research on the origins of life is wherein the truth lies.
The Internet sleuth also claims that Dr. Miller is the brother and sole heir of Dr. Stanley Miller, a world renowned chemical physicist. Although Stanley had a brother named Don, he is from a different family unrelated to Rushville's Don Miller. A website discussing Dr. Miller's research was taken down just last month. A 2007 story in the Rushville Republican discusses his role in the development of the first atomic bomb during
World War II.

Former NSA analyst and independent investigative journalist Wayne Madsen adds this pithy comment about the FBI's actions against Miller:
How long before the FBI sells these artifacts on the black market? They have a history of fencing stolen art work. Just across E Street from FBI Headquarters is Weschler's, art auctioneers and appraisers -- there since 1890.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

The law is:

If you got something someone else wants, they'll find a way to steal it. Currently, the easiest way to pull off a big crime is to have the government do it for you.

Anonymous said...

Seriously! What is it going to take for Hoosiers to stand up and kick the politicians butts out of Indiana! My God where is the outrage! Part of the problem is that the media and both parties in Indiana are willing to let this crap continue! And it didn't help that State Employees let Daniels walk over them! Get off your butts and kick some bureaucrat rear end!

Anonymous said...

What of weapons found in a home in Wannamaker in 2006...unregistered sex offender...Whose son works for Mainstreet Properties...They have quite a collection of artifacts and secrets that never were raided by FBI with calls to them prior...Owner also owned a plane in Venice FL airport...where two terrorists from 9/11 trained...Priorities...

Flogger said...

I look into my crystal ball. I see the 91 year old man finally being paraded around in an Orange Jump Suit, in manacles surrounded by burly Guards. A stern looking Smoking Joe Hogsett providing a laundry list of charges. I suppose the the Organs of State Security will try to get into the act by seizing the man's assets.

Anonymous said...

Anon..942,,Be brave...
There are good men and wicked. The former should be made use of and the latter punished, without attempting to understand why the ones are good and the others wicked."

"There is always something moving, brewing. There are ambitious people everywhere. Wicked people. The only thing to do is to deal with them with courage and decision. One must beware of uncertainty, weakness or conflicting emotions - they lead to defeat"

Anonymous said...

-Just saying: It seems to me the corruption that is prima facie evident in the Frank Straub Regional Operations Center, which appears to go to the highest level of city government is more worthwhile an investigation for the Feds.

Indy Rob said...

In regards to Mr.Miller, the Rush county resident.

Who signed the warrant? What grounds were given?

91 years old, private collection. FBI is not sure if Mr. Miller is allowed to have some things, sounds more like the FBI is not sure that anything is stolen or illegally possessed.

Shouldn’t the burden of proof be on the FBI to show that some things (and only those things) are stolen or illegally possessed before seizing anything at all?

Pete Boggs said...

From the looks of that photo & in the absence of legitimate charges; at a minimum, he may want to charge them rent...

RhondaLeeBaby69 said...

What's with the false outrage on this page? The man already admitted to illegally obtaining many of the items. Is it because he's 91 years old? So he should get a pass because he's knocking on death's door?

Paul K. Ogden said...

Ind Rob is asking the right questions.

Anonymous said...

Serves him right. A person can not claim artifacts as their own, when they should belong to all of us! The Government should be the only one allowed to hold items of cultural significance!

Gary R. Welsh said...

I've not seen any admission of illegally obtaining artifacts. Some of them he may have obtained at a time when there were no laws respecting them. There are plenty of wealthy, influential people who possess artifacts that aren't the subject of FBI raids. They hang on to them as long as they want and then donate them to museums to claim big charitable tax contributions on their tax returns.

Paul K. Ogden said...

Rhonda, where in the article does it say he "already admitted to illegally obtaining many of the items." It's not in the article that at least that I can find.

Anonymous said...

Chances are high that some museum wants something in his collection.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Donald C. Miller was working with the Russian space telecommunication program and is the world's foremost scientist involved with HAM (amatuer radio communications)research and development.

Dr. Miller owned Wyman Research Inc and took HAM very seriously, almost to the point of obsession. He was good at it, very very good!He was the best in the world.

When all your means of communications are instantly shut down what are you people going to to do? Can't use your smart phone. Can't use your computer. Can't use a land line. Can't use anything at all. You are screwed!
A high tech clandestine HAM operator with access to specific satellites or even a space station can communicate anywhere in the world. In war it can be the difference in winning and losing.

Knocking out a country's digital communication system makes a HAM operation network in that country or that country's sphere of influence priceless.

Dr. Miller took HAM communication to the next level into the 21st century and Russia was the primary beneficiary. There was nothing illegal about it at the time. Now, with NATO grouping together for war the matter of Dr. Miller's work became an issue of national security. This was the reason for the raid.

Please do not assist the powers that be by promoting this false notion that Dr. Miller was busted for "ancient artifacts". I personally have seen one local collection that is common knowledge and would it makes anything Dr. Miller has look like flea market junk.
This raid was conducted on a perceived threat to national security. The "artifact" story was fabricated as cover.
I don't deal in conspiracy theory. I deal in facts. The facts here are very apparent to those who still have the rare capacity to reason with them.

Anonymous said...

Aillien technologies

Anonymous said...

America needs to rethink the admiration it gives museums.

Our museums have become a secret corrupt government.

Anonymous said...

this blog is better at connecting people than 6 degrees of kevin bacon!!

Unigov said...

Drivel. This story is everywhere. It wasn't a raid, he asked the FBI to help establish the legality of the items he's collected.

Anonymous said...

DO a little reading or research . . .

"Cultural Artifacts"...just a term to insight the misinformed. Most of the World's Great Museums, periodically "SELL" excess artifacts in their collections to the highest bidder. Reason: They run out of room and/or want to acquire other items.

Anonymous said...

This man is a genius!!! helped build the atomic bomb. the fbi just wants the ALIEN technology!

Anonymous said...

It was most certainly a raid, prodded on by the museum mafia looking to get a free collection and conducted by the useless FBI Art Crime Team who does the bidding of the museum mafia.

The museum mafia, festooned with phony and narrow college degrees categorically rejects private art and artifact ownership.

Anonymous said...

Don't know about Dr. Miller, aliens or Russians. Anon 10:36 scripts a post of intrigue & is absolutely right about the efficacy of HAM operation.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking more of the responses here with regards to the background of this gentleman...News not reporting his background I note. He gave tours over the years and suddenly he's of interest and cooperating...I suspect like others there is more to the history of Ham Radio and his acquaintances...Same age of Burt SerVaas...If spirits could talk...Great reporting and great responses. Investigate them all in this state with alliances...of evil...

Unigov said...

Gary - I've been reading what I can and based on admittedly 3rd-hand knowledge, agree with your comment "I've not seen any admission of illegally obtaining artifacts".

The guy contacted the FBI to establish the legality of his collection with the feds, who are known to be complete a-holes when it comes to antiquities.

So on one hand this isn't a raid. OTOH, it might as well be, because the feds are taking his stuff and will return what they deem legal.

For the others here - this guy's been collecting native American and foreign artifacts for decades; the laws regarding such items are complex and have changed significantly since the mid-20th century. He contacted the feds, so lighten the **** up.

Anonymous said...

During the 1970's and 80's Dr. Miller's company were employed as consultants with what was then called Naval Avionics on the Indianapolis east side. Naval Avionics latr became The Navel Warfare Center and is now owned by Raytheon. All work there, past and present is classified.

Dr. Miller work at Naval Avionics centered on advanced missle guidance system and SSTV imaging. This work is still carried on by Raytheon today.

The SSTV imaging technology was of the type employed with the advanced HAM system set-up on the old MIR internationl space station and is currently used on the new international space station. The Russian Space Program, with the assistance of Dr. Miller's took SSTV HAM communications into the 21st century. The system has peaceful application but is invaluable for defense applications.

For those of you that find conspiracy theories interesting. It is notable that Dr. Miller's SSTV imaging technology was employed on the Apollo 11 mission. The footage of moon landing you see are were all done using SSTV imaging by Dr. Miller. That original SSTV footage is now missing. The government contends it was somehow "lost". This has given rise to many conspiracy theories that the moon landing was faked. Personally, I am withholding judgement until more facts are known. The important thing for me is that Dr. Miller was involved with the Apollo 11 mission which the media has yet to disclose.

What is know by those researching the story of Dr. Miller is that his collection of artifacts had nothing to do with why this raid took place. It had been common knowledge to his co-workers at Naval Avionics that during the 4 weeks of vacation that Dr. Miller took each year while employed there 3 weeks were used to travel on digs to add items to his collection. Collecting was simply a long time hobby he and his wife enjoyed. Outside of his consuming tedious work for the government government it was the perfect hobby for him just to get away from his work. He had the financial means to travel extensively and with his HAM knowledge made contacts world wide. Dr. Miller also kept meticulous notes on each and every item he collected just as any serious collector would. Nothing he had in collection was illegally obtained given the laws at the time he obtained them.
The important point is that his collection was not the basis for the FBI raid but was simply used as a pretext for the raid.
Incidently, the government had asked for Dr. Miller's cooperation before this raid took place but he refused to do. He then relented and allowed the government on to his property for reasons only Dr. Miller and the government know.

Given the facts that are know now about Dr. Miller's work it is safe to say that whatever Dr. Miller had in possesion was deemed a national security threat.

It is not a coincidence that the governement targeted Dr. Miller at this time given the fact he had worked with the Russian governenment via the international space station. Had US relations with Russia not deteriorated to the point of a possible hot war you can rest assured Dr. Miller would not be in the news today.

More information coming as it develops. It is truly unfortunate that our own governemnt conducts itself in such a manner but that is simply a fact of life in America today.

Please, do not keep discussing Dr. Miller's artifact collection as the basis for the raid because it is not only a false narrative but detracts from discussing the factual reality of why Dr. Miller became such a security risk.


Anonymous said...

Unigov,
Dr. Miller did not contact anyone involved with the government regarding his collecion at anytime. Not one news source anywhere has even taken a statement from Dr. Miller since the raid. Perhaps the FBI mave statements but Dr. Miller has not.
Collectors who maintain collections on such a scale as Dr. Miller did are very knowledgable with existing and new legislation in their areas of interest. Carmel plastic surgeon Dr. Wally Zoller has a priceless collection of pre-Columbian artifacts in a museum under his office and you can take it to the bank that Dr. Zoller is as knowledgable of the law as Dr. Miller. Given that both Zoller and Miller are high-net worth collectors it is very likely they have done business together but that is not for me to say.

If you remember correctly, when the FBI sent their mobile units raid Tim Durham's offices those trucks were clearly marked FBI. Not one government vehicle at Dr. Miller's house is marked in any fashion. The two mobile command units devoid of any identity markings.
Again, this is not about artifacts. In time, we may or may not know the nature of what is taking place. However, the facts regarding Dr. Miller's background are what they are and are not thir hand accounts.

Eric Morris said...

Unigov, he did not initiate the contact so maybe you should lighten up as well.

"FBI Special Agent Drew Northern would not say what prompted the probe, saying it is an ongoing investigation. He did say that agents had been in contact with Miller for several months, but that Miller had not initiated the contact."

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/04/03/focus-fbi-probe-indiana-man-mystery/7257473/

Anonymous said...

Hey folks admit it or not! the SS. is in full control of our Country.

Please show me your papers!

'droid said...

Interesting story. Interesting assortment of blogger opinions as well.
The most obvious and most ignored point
of interest here is the complete lack of anything concrete and reliable ...a light at the end of the tunnel is missing along with a shred of direction towards that end and closure.
The most defined and commendable part of that video is that's some prime real estate there, pard. you bet. The comments of the bloggers are most interesting part of this. Very intelligent views and experience with little information to post about beyond speculation and conjecture. Creative license. Impressive from my view which is the exchange of ideas, safe self confessions for a glimpse of the real person behind the text. Compelling.My only conflicting comment is the description of the old man as a genius who helped develop the atom bomb. LOL! Yeah, and Hitler was a misunderstood kindly sociopath that took the heat just because a paltry 6 million human beings of a targeted culture mistook gassing cells and ovens for Subway Sandwich Outlets. He was a conspirator (conceptually) in the eventual mass murder of millions of innocent human beings trapped in a situation their leaders never allowed them a voice in..AND at a time their country was already headed towards surrender once all their fanatic sect had purged themselves from the bad choice event. He was elbow deep involved in a perfect opportunity to test this new regrettable technology on countless human subjects without risk of accountability. Even to this day fellow bloggers have whitewashed it down to a historic accomplishment of notable remembrance. sad.. and as always,.,interesting., my reward for participation here.
'droid

Anonymous said...

12:12 you stated..."The comments of the bloggers are most interesting part of this. Very intelligent views and experience with little information to post about beyond speculation and conjecture. Creative license. Impressive from my view which is the exchange of ideas, safe self confessions for a glimpse of the real person behind the text. Compelling." Appreciate your input...

Anonymous said...

I have known Don for years and trust him. He is a very good man. Something smells here and it isn't Don.
Anonymous because I do not trust our Government to do the right thing. They lost my trust when they twist laws to fit it's goals. Anyone can be made guilty of anything. They have the power and our money to make it happen.

Anonymous said...

If he is not under arrest , then he should be allowed to speak to the press,friends or counsel ,on his front yard.
He is being held under illegal duress. I would hope that reporters would ask for "Transparency"

This is man is under persecution, he needs out help . Pull back the Curtain!

Anonymous said...

This government is OUT OF CONTROL.

Anonymous said...

Formula for complete corruption: Attend American government schools, learn that authority is to be respected and obeyed, learn that the FBI is all powerful (indoctrination), do not learn the law, do not learn that psychopaths join the FBI for 'power' issues. Voila!..you are now ready to be an American citizen and live as both a slave and a consumer..PERIOD!