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Sovereign citizens suspects denied bond reduction
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Rockdale County Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation denied a bond reduction for a Stone Mountain couple who are allegedly part of the "sovereign citizens" movement and falsely claimed diplomatic immunity from charges of mortgage fraud and obstruction.

Ivan Willis Taylor, 47, faces charges of false statements and writings and forgery, in addition to his original charge of obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He is being held on a $40,000 bond at the Rockdale County jail.

Princess Donya Taylor, 41, faces charges of residential mortgage fraud felony and failure to appear in connection with a property at 3122 Avondale Drive in Conyers. She is being held on a $20,000 bond at the Rockdale County jail.

Public defender Owen Humphries asked for a reduced bond for the couple, pointing out that Princess Taylor was a mother to small children.

Nation denied the bond reduction request.

Ivan and Princess Taylor were arrested at the Rockdale County courthouse July 27.

A deputy saw Ivan Taylor in the Rockdale County courthouse and knowing there was an outstanding warrant for his failure to appear in court, asked for identification. Taylor gave two forms of ID and claimed that he was "an ambassador from a sovereign state and was immune from arrest," according to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office report. After checking with the FBI, the IDs turned out to be false.

The Taylors are reportedly part of the "sovereign citizens" movement, in which adherents claim they are above the law, government or tax codes and do not recognize local, state or national courts or regulations. The RCSO report described one activity of the movement as placing liens or encumberances on property by filing frivolous paperwork.

The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates about 300,000 people in the United States claim to be part of the movement.

After the Avondale Drive home was foreclosed on by SunTrust in October 2008, Princess Taylor had filed a report with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in November 2008 claiming that she had paid off the house with a "presidential promissory note" and that she had not given anyone permission to sign her name.

SunTrust reportedly rejected the note and filed a suspicious activity report on Taylor.