This is true. The Feds put the nevada line east of his place and the other feds coming from the west put it west of his place. Pete's place was, and is at now, where Cactus Kates was, you know where that was. Anyway Pete found himself in unclaimed U.S. teritory. So, Pete claimed it for himself.
One thing or another, including all the things he did, he had a still. During Probition, sold booze to the people driving by on route 93. Sheriff showed up, asked him if he knew there was a probition on selling booze. Pete said, Yes, but this area was not in the USofA.
Since the two survey teams from the Federal Government had cetified the area that Whiskey Petes called home was not in Nevada nor in California therefore it wasn't in the USofA, therefore this area HAD NO PROBITION against BOOZE.
After that, Pete was left alone, out there in the desert, with his snakes, heat, gasoline station, and still.