HENNESSEY
v.
MARCENO
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A pretrial detainee filed a frivolous complaint claiming sovereign citizen and Moorish national status to challenge his detention and seeking $10 billion in precious metals. The court dismissed the complaint as frivolous, reaffirming settled precedent that such claims are jurisdictionally baseless.
The complaint is frivolous and subject to summary dismissal. Regardless of claimed status as a sovereign citizen, flesh-and-blood human being, or Moorish national, an individual is not beyond the jurisdiction of United States courts, and such theories should be summarily rejected.
[1] Claims by self-declared "sovereign citizens," "flesh-and-blood human beings," Moorish nationals, or citizens of the Moroccan Empire that they are beyond the jurisdiction…
[2] Theories asserting that an individual's claimed status of descent, such as "sovereign citizen," "secured-party creditor," or "flesh-and-blood human being," places them be…
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Regardless of an individual's claimed status of descent, be it as a 'sovereign citizen,' a 'secured-party creditor,' or a 'flesh-and-blood human being,' that person is not beyond the jurisdiction of the court. These theories should be summarily rejected, however they are presented.”
Establishes the core holding that sovereign citizen and related claims do not confer immunity from court jurisdiction.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceJohn Henry Hennessey, a pretrial detainee in the Lee County Jail, filed suit against local, state, and federal officials. He asserted claims based on …
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Before the Court is Plaintiff John Henry Hennessey's Complaint (Doc. 1). Hennessey is a pretrial detainee in the Lee County Jail, and he sues local, state, and federal officials for ignoring his claims that he is a “living, flesh and blood man" and a citizen of the Florida Republic and the Moorish Al Moroccan Empire and continuing to detain him despite his claims. He seeks $10 billion in silver and gold bullion.
Hennessey's Complaint is frivolous. Courts have consistently rejected claims that self-declared “sovereign citizens,” “flesh-and-blood human beings,” Moorish nationals, and citizens of the Moroccan Empire are beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. See United States v. Benabe, 654 F. 3d 753, 767 (11th Cir. 2011) (“Regardless of an individual's claimed status of descent, be it as a 'sovereign citizen,' a ‘secured-party creditor,' or a 'flesh-and-blood
human being,' that person is not beyond the jurisdiction of the court. These theories should be summarily rejected, however they are presented.”); Trevino v. Florida, 687 F. App'x 861 (11th Cir. 2017) (claims by so-called “sovereign citizens” and “flesh-and-blood human beings" that they are beyond a court's jurisdiction are frivolous and should be summarily dismissed); Bey v. Cty. of Tampa Code Enforcement, 607 F. App'x 892, 897 (11th Cir. 2015) (city could enforce its code against self-declared Moorish National). Summary dismissal of Hennessey's complaint is appropriate.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
Plaintiff John Henry Hennessey's Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED as frivolous. The Clerk is directed to terminate any pending motions and deadlines, enter judgment, close this case.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on March 19, 2025.
Sheri Polster Rappell SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SA: FTMP-1 Copies: All Parties of Record