Louis Farrakhan ordered to court

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BY JOE CARLSON
jcarlson@nwitimes.com
219.662.5339 | Wednesday, December 26, 2007 | (28 comment(s))

HAMMOND | Minister Louis Farrakhan, the spiritual leader of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam, has been ordered to appear in Hammond federal court next month to explain why weekly cash stipends given to his 48-year-old son are not considered income.

It's an issue because the son, Nasir Farrakhan, was ordered by a federal jury in Hammond last year to pay a Gary couple $350,000 in punitive damages for crashing his father's Hummer into their car in 2003 on the Indiana Toll Road and then fleeing the scene.

Nasir Farrakhan has said he can't pay the debt because he has no income, has never been employed and has no checking account or savings.

He argues the $1,400 in cash he receives from his father each month is legally considered "charity," even though Nasir Farrakhan has acted as head of the minister's 20-man security force for many years over the past several decades.

Attorneys for the Gary couple, Charles and Gladys Peterson, now are going after minister Farrakhan and the Nation itself for the money, arguing that Nasir Farrakhan is receiving income that can be garnished.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Magistrate Andrew Rodovich ordered Louis Farrakhan and a financial representative of the Nation of Islam to appear in court in Hammond on Jan. 24 to answer why they should not have to pay the judgment against Nasir Farrakhan.

"We will continue to pursue this through every avenue possible to ensure the Petersons are paid every penny they are owed," attorney Michael Back said Friday.

An attorney for the Nation of Islam did not return a request for comment. No one from the organization has ever publicly commented to The Times on the jury verdict.

The Petersons were paid $100,000 in actual medical damages by an insurance company. But insurers do not have to cover punitive damages.

Back has said the issue of whether Nasir Farrakhan's payments are charity or income could prove critical to the Nation of Islam because evidence indicates that other Nation workers are paid in the same arrangement.

If the money is deemed income, that could mean federal income taxes are owed by Nasir Farrakhan and the other workers.

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Goofus Bird wrote on Jun 24, 2009 3:18 PM:

" I hope the judge throws the book at him "

Ricky Muhammad wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:24 AM:

" Leave the Minister alone.The Devil should be very careful in the handling of the Hon.Elijah Muhammads' minister, Louis Farrakhan. Remember, we, the members of the Nation of Islam awaits "When the word is given.... The Devil in America is playing with fire.Remember, he was able to callup over one million men to action. "

Dee wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:14 AM:

" Somewhere people are missing the point. Louis Farrakhan commited no crime. If his son did, so be it, his son should be held responsible. Since when do you call a grown man's father into to court for the son's crime. Something just doesn't sound quite right with what I'm reading. I guess next, it will be open to summoning any relative, congregation member, neighbor or whomever to explain why you as an adult are/are not responsible for your actions. "

Jimmy G wrote on Dec 30, 2007 9:28 AM:

" Farrakhans are control freaks,put them all in jail and give them bean-pies every day. haa-haa. "

Emmanuel S wrote on Dec 29, 2007 9:30 PM:

" Ya'll sound like fools defending the most corrupt tax system on the face of the earth. Farrakhan exploits people???

That's a joke, compared to the 100's of millions of us exploited through taxes!! "

Resident wrote on Dec 29, 2007 1:48 PM:

" These so called preachers are just out for the money. Non profit....what a bunch of bunk. Farrakhan and Benny Hinn, etc are all getting rich and not paying any taxes.
Who is supporting his 9 kids? Not him, probably the taxpayers. If this how Farrakhan has raised his kids, what a role model he is. "

bill wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:23 AM:

" These guys are acting like elected public SERVANTS!

How dare they,,,Off with their heads! "

Escape wrote on Dec 29, 2007 7:43 AM:

" Maybe it's time for Nasir to flee to the Great Mother Ship Louis Farrakhan tells his followers about. I understand it is just waiting in orbit to take Lou's followers to paradise. Go Nasir, Go now and take your dad with you. "

Lori Duke wrote on Dec 29, 2007 6:53 AM:

" If Islam sucks, then don't forget, Judism sucks also. "

Billy Wankel wrote on Dec 26, 2007 7:22 PM:

" Who names their kid Nasal? Nasal Ferrikan? "

hey wrote on Dec 26, 2007 6:22 PM:

" When are we going to get the tax laws changed to include these STORE FRONT REVERENDS....... "

Not Important... wrote on Dec 26, 2007 5:30 PM:

" People following him and giving to him is the reason he is even heard of. If people would wise up and find a real leader to follow, this loser would hopefully disappear!! Stop looking for heros people, there are none. Read the bible and live by the 10 commandments and you will know who the real leader is... "

did you say... wrote on Dec 26, 2007 5:28 PM:

" the "town" of hammond? sorry...thats a FEDERAL court going after him....just where he belongs because he crossed state lines. dont give hammond so much credit!

at any rate....this guy is running a scam for sure. he and his father and any other "church" leaders ALL belong in prison! fraud, tax evasion, theft....it wont be too hard to come up with a long list of crimes committed by these creeps! "

DT wrote on Dec 26, 2007 4:59 PM:

" Can you say FARR-A-CON ! "

Mother of 2 sons wrote on Dec 26, 2007 2:30 PM:

" Louis Farrahkan and his "Nation of Islam" are breeding future generations of IDIOTS. Nasir Farrahkan...you are the biggest one, please stay out of Indiana. "

GIBO wrote on Dec 26, 2007 2:28 PM:

" That whole nation is a FRAUD "

what.... wrote on Dec 26, 2007 1:49 PM:

" i see how a "chairty/religious" organization spends its money....on Hummers. real nice. typical of most these so call "ministers and reverends" just a way to avoid taxes. "

Lee wrote on Dec 26, 2007 12:46 PM:

" What an embarassment Nasir Farrakhan is to the Nation of Islam. He should be ashamed to say that he represents them. Be a man and own up to your responsibilities! Pathetic. I am doing my best to raise my daughter to be a decent person and I certainly don't need people like this setting an example for her or any of our black youth. Maybe someone in the organization will strongly encourage him to "man up" and pay his dues. "

Margaret wrote on Dec 26, 2007 12:45 PM:

" What a racket they have going . Islam sucks. "

vererin wrote on Dec 26, 2007 12:27 PM:

" What do they mean Nasir is not employed!! He is head of security for his father, I call that employed. What a crock these religious play inorder not to pay taxes!! "

Hmmmmm? wrote on Dec 26, 2007 11:27 AM:

" Was there a typo in the article? Shouldn’t the story be about the Pair-of-cons? "

Bill W. wrote on Dec 26, 2007 10:25 AM:

" Can you say fraud? What a bunch of losers. "

DT wrote on Dec 26, 2007 9:58 AM:

" why do we keep letting these people get away with their FAKE churches? OOHHHH! I forgot we don"t want to offend anyone! What a joke. "

Southside Johnny wrote on Dec 26, 2007 9:44 AM:

" I'm at a loss here. I understand the tax loophole they're trying to play here, but what does it matter if the money "charity" or income? Isn't money money and shouldn't it go towards the damages no matter what its source? "

mary wrote on Dec 26, 2007 9:40 AM:

" Farrakhan is nothing but a loud mouthed control freak who has bilked his "followers" out of millions of dollars. He preys on the very people that he claims to be helping..the poor. His son should be sitting in jail, like anyone else would be, for not doing what he was ordered to do in a court of law. Kuddo's to the town of Hammond for going after him. Enough of all these so-called preachers getting away with their greedy and sinful behavior. "

Brian S wrote on Dec 26, 2007 9:12 AM:

" I think it's about time that churches got audited, especially the store front churches. I recently found that in alot of these "independent" churches the only ones that have a say in how the collection is spent is the pastor and his wife. What a joke, investigate them all then make them pay their fair share of property taxes. Even the pastors homes come off the tax rolls, I wish i could afford to live in the areas these pastors do. "

m wrote on Dec 26, 2007 8:57 AM:

" If he acted as the head of security and received $1400 monthly plus the use of a company car, the one he used while high on drugs to crash into the Petersons, that's a paying job. Taxes are owed as well as punitive damages. If Farrakhan doesn't show for his court date he should be jailed for contempt. The Farrakhans live a lavish lifestyle while exploiting/scamming poor people. "

jeff wrote on Dec 26, 2007 8:11 AM:

" and folks look up to these Farrakhans, what a joke... "

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