for 21 years. but he refused to pay the fine claiming that nevada was a sovereign state and that quote i don t recognize the quite government even as existing. that sounds ridiculous. he was dead serious. when officials with the u.s. burro of land management came to confiscate his cattle, a repo man situation, a standoff broke out. what joined him, elmer stewart rose founder of the oath keepers that called for patriots to get ready for a military combat operation. fearing mass bloodshed. federal agents released the cattle to deescalate the situation. here is rhodes celebrating that victory. it was a posse. those cowboys showed america how it is done. you cow boy up and freaking ride. that s what they did. a lot of credit goes to the militia guys that showed up