Minuteman founder ousted, accused of stealing $400K

AliceInWonderland · March 22nd, 2007, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Minuteman Founder Ousted, Accused Of Stealing $400K
Gilchrist Sues To Regain Control Of Group He Started

POSTED: 7:59 am PDT March 22, 2007
UPDATED: 8:50 am PDT March 22, 2007

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A judge urged the ousted founder of the Minuteman Project to resolve his power struggle with the anti-illegal immigration group's board of directors out of court, but he indicated he would issue a ruling if necessary.

Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist sued the group's board of directors for control of the organization after he was fired and accused of embezzling $400,000 in donations, an allegation he denies.

He was in court Wednesday seeking to regain control of the project.

Judge Randell L. Wilkinson suggested that Gilchrist work out his disagreements with board members through mutually trusted intermediaries.

If that wasn't possible, the judge indicated he would rule on whether control should be returned to Gilchrist until a trial can be held on whether the board was justified in removing him.

Gilchrist called the differences "irreconcilable." He said he could not be an ally of people who have filed complaints against him with the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service.

The three directors he is suing said they tried unsuccessfully to get Gilchrist to address their concerns in December.

"I pleaded with him," said one director, Barbara Coe, founder of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform.

They said they were still open to discussions.

Gilchrist, of Aliso Viejo, began making national headlines in April 2005, when he and other activists upset at what they perceived as a lack of action on the part of Congress began patrolling the Mexican border in Arizona using cars, trucks, private planes and night-vision goggles.

The effort drew criticism, including from President Bush, who called participants "vigilantes."

The Minuteman Project struck a nerve, however. It has about 200 spin-off groups around the U.S.

Police Raid Minuteman Leader's Home After Vandalism On Migrant Camp

Detectives from the San Diego Police Department searched the home of another one of the minuteman founders on Wednesday.

Officials said the search warrant served at Minuteman founder Jeff Schwilk's Oceanside home was "granted as part of the investigation into the migrant camp vandalism that occurred on Jan. 27, 2007."

Images: Minutemen Leaders' Confrontation Caught On Tape

Officers also searched the home of Julie Adams, a locally based illegal-immigrant activist.

Police said on Wednesday that they have made no arrests yet in connection to the case.

In February, detectives raided the home of the group's former spokeswoman and chief videographer, Christie Czajkowski. Police seized her computers, cameras and footage that were recorded of migrant camps, day laborers, marches and rallies.

In an exclusive interview, Czajkowski told NBC San Diego, "It's a blessing in disguise, because it's going to (dis)prove all these false allegations."

A witness to the vandalism at a local migrant camp in January told police he recognized one of the six people involved.

In the past, Minutemen have shown up at other migrant camps to document conditions there.

Schwilk told NBC San Diego in February "there's nothing there on Czajkowski's video that implicates the Minutemen." He later sent out an e-mail telling Minutemen supporters that he knows nothing about the attack.

Police are urging anybody with information about the case to call 858-538-8000 or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-TIPS. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest in connection with the case.

Copyright 2007 by NBC4.tv. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

source: Minuteman Founder Ousted, Accused Of Stealing $400K - News