Sarasota Crooked Lawyers

“Power Tends To Corrupt, And Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” Lord Acton

randy — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:48:11 +0000

California Statesman: A We Are 1776 Column

By Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks, California)

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”- Lord Acton

There are few cases that show the truth in this proverb as clearly as when Child Protective Services (CPS) tears a baby from his loving mother’s arms without a warrant and refuses to explain why. That is w

hat happened to one Sacramento couple late last month.

It all started with Anna & Alex Nikolayev’s 5 month-old son, Sammy, who was born with a serious heart condition.

After a nurse at one hospital tried to give young Sammy medicine that a doctor later explained should not have been administered, Anna became nervous about the quality of Sammy’s care. She expressed her desire to receive a second opinion from another doctor. When the ER refused to discharge Sammy, Anna left with her child and immediately took him to another hospital. Subsequently, the CPS was alerted.

At the second location, she was able to have him evaluated and discharged. A doctor-signed note was presented to the authorities explaining that Sammy was in very capable hands. At that point, the CPS’ involvement should have ended. It did not.

In what would be a nightmare for any loving parent, the CPS showed up the next day with four police officers to take Sammy. Thanks to Anna’s quick thinking, there is a home video* of this abusive government action.

When asked to explain their actions, CPS stated that they did not have to.

The idea that in 2013 we have a government agency operating in complete secrecy and tearing families apart is unacceptable. That is why I have requested an audit to determine how widespread these abuses are, what can be done, and what recourse exists for innocent parents.

We have a duty to uphold the rights granted us by our Creator and guaranteed in the Constitution. We should not live in fear of a government agency knocking on our door and taking away the most precious thing we have – our children.

If you have a story about CPS that you believe will shed light on an abusive practice or will be compelling before the committee when they hear the audit request, please send a brief description to Assemblymember.Donnelly@assembly.ca.gov.

We Are 1776 needs your help to make its work possible. If you would like to help us to continue our pro-freedom policy work, please consider donating here: http://giv.lt/18gIMm1.
http://weare1776.org/3926/opinion-editorials/california-statesman-cps-kidnapping-baby-sammy-perfect-example-of-power-corrupting/

Foster Care Traumas To U.S. Senate Committee

randy — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:05:48 +0000

Cleveland Native Antwone Fisher Describes Foster Care Traumas To U.S. Senate Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The childhood suffering that Glenville native Antwone Fisher endured under Ohio’s foster care system has already been the subject of a book and Hollywood film. On Tuesday, it was the subject of a U.S. Senate hearing on ways to reform the child welfare system.

Fisher’s father was murdered before he was born and his mother was in prison at the time of his birth. He spent 12 years living with a foster family who abused him physically, sexually and verbally before he was sent to a reform school in Western Pennsylvania.

“I don’t think that a child should have to spend his entire childhood in foster care just because the birth parents can’t get themselves together,” Fisher, 53, told the committee. “Children should be offered the opportunity to be adopted early in life no matter how ashamed or horrified the birth parents might feel.”

A few months before he turned 18, a social worker deposited Fisher outside a homeless shelter in downtown Cleveland with $60 in his pocket and no job prospects, telling him he was “emancipated.” That situation exposed Fisher to ruthless predators who tried to recruit him for criminal enterprises. He said making rules for himself, such as avoiding drugs and not staying out late, kept him out of trouble while living on the streets.

“I feel that the reason a great number of former foster children eventually land in prisons is because the children are not (told) that they will have to plan for their adult lives ahead of time or told how to avoid unscrupulous situations,” Fisher said.

After several months of homelessness, Fisher joined the U.S. Navy, which helped him turn his life around. He later worked as a movie studio security guard in Los Angeles, where he met a producer who decided to make a film about his life. His autobiography, Finding Fish, was published in 2001, and the movie Antwone Fisher came out the next year. He now works as an author, movie director and film producer.

Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said he sought the views of Fisher and other witnesses because the committee is examining whether to extend grant programs that reward states for increasing adoption rates and that help children in foster care reconnect with their own families.

“Foster care should be our last resort, not our first resort,” former Franklin County Children’s Services Director Eric Fenner told the committee. Fenner now serves as Managing Director of Casey Family Programs in Westerville, Ohio.

Other witnesses described how easy it has become to find the relatives of endangered children, and urged that such searches become standard practice. Kevin Campbell, who heads the Center for Finding Family and Youth Connectedness in Lakewood, Washington, said it took him 10 minutes to find 62 of Fisher’s relatives before Tuesday’s hearing.

There is an undermining of trust between government and citizens when the government has custody of a child and relatives are not notified,” Campbell said.

Fisher used a Cleveland phone book to track down family members after he left the Navy. He found that an uncle had lived two streets away from him when he was growing up in Glenville and he that attended elementary school with his cousins without knowing they were related. He said he didn’t try to find relatives sooner because several of his foster siblings were rejected by their birth families.

Fisher told U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Avon, that he probably would have ended up living with an aunt in Chicago if social service agencies had tried to track down his relatives instead of putting him in foster care.

“I have really come to a place of forgiveness for everything, even my foster parents,” Fisher said. “I just think the best way to go is to have the life, whatever life I have left, to make the best life that I can. And you really have to forgive.”

Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch congratulated Fisher on making so much of his life despite his early setbacks, and jokingly urged him to change the “wicked ways” of the film industry.

“Keep doing the great work you’re doing,” said Hatch.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/04/cleveland_native_antwone_fishe.html

Background Checks More Government Intrusion

randy — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:49:35 +0000

http://www.bradenton.com/2013/04/24/4495377/background-checks-more-government.html#disqus_thread

Regarding the defeat of the Manchin-Toomey amendment on background checks:

Policies with the best intentions based on current affairs do not work for “we the people” in the long run in reference to our Constitution and the intent of our forefathers.

Why do U.S. citizens have to do more work for a government that can’t get anything done anyway? If I want to sell my firearm to my neighbor or a private citizen, the government wants me to do a background check for the government. No!

Want to send a message about gun laws? Crimes committed with guns?

If you kill someone during a crime with a gun, death within seven days.

If a rape or malicious wounding is committed with the use of a firearm, death within seven days.

You want tougher gun laws, then institute tougher, swifter penalties for the criminals. More government intrusion is not the answer.

Why stop there while we are at it? If I want to sell my used car, I guess I should do a background check on the buyer for DUI’s, driving without insurance and other tickets, for the safety of others. Thirty-one percent of all traffic deaths were under the influence. Firearm homicides 3.7 per 100,000.

The government has burdened the American people enough with laws that don’t work and are useless against criminals — who will get around them, they always have and always will regardless of the government’s best intentions.

Just how would this stop a convicted felon from selling his firearm to another convicted felon? It won’t, because it’s done everyday.

The government should clean its own house before intruding into ours. Fast and Furious is a prime example on background checks. Just ask the family of the murdered US Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. When will government intrusion into our daily lives stop?

Glen Gibellina

Bradenton Florida

http://www.bradenton.com/2013/04/24/4495377/background-checks-more-government.html#disqus_thread

The Coverup with Stu Pepper

randy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:19:52 +0000

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

My movie, The Coverup, will be airing again Sunday, March 31 at 6 AM Eastern time on Lifetime Movie Network. For those who would like to purchase a copy, you may do so by using the following link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-cover-up/id448994242

I made the movie in the hopes that the police officers responsible for the death of Kevin Thacker and the ensuing cover-up by the police and the FBI, would result in a grand jury indictment. However, Nicholas Klinefeldt, the assistant United States attorney general for the Southern District of Iowa; Tom Miller, the Atty. Gen. of Iowa; and Jennifer Miller, the county attorney for Marshall County, Iowa, have to date lacked the courage and professionalism to do what is right and convene a grand jury. When you see the movie you will understand why these police officers need to be indicted and pay for their crimes.

Very truly yours,

Atty Stu Pepper

Ticket-fixing was so routine that employees saw political favors as “part of their job.”

randy — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:43:22 +0000

Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges Indicted for Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 31, 2013

Eastern District of Pennsylvania (215) 861-8200

PHILADELPHIA—An indictment and three separate informations, unsealed today, charge nine elected judges along with three other individuals in a fraud conspiracy that involved a frequent and pervasive “ticket-fixing” at the Philadelphia Traffic Court. The defendants participated in a widespread culture of giving breaks on traffic citations to friends, family, the politically connected, and business associates. The defendants include:

The 77-count indictment was announced by United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and Acting Special Agent in Charge John Brosnan.

According to the indictment, Philadelphia ward leaders, local politicians, and associates of the Democratic City Committee regularly contacted defendants seeking preferential treatment on specific tickets. Additionally, defendants were regularly contacted by family, friends, and associates seeking a “break” on tickets. These defendants accepted these requests and either gave the preferential treatment directly or communicated the request to another judge to whom the case was assigned.

Tickets were “fixed” by either being dismissed, finding the ticket holder “not guilty,” or finding the ticket holder guilty of a lesser offense. In many cases, the ticket holder did not even appear in traffic court, yet his/her ticket was “fixed.” As a result, these ticketholders paid lesser or no fines and costs and evaded the assessment of “points” on their driver’s records. This widespread “ticket-fixing” defrauded both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia of funds and allowed potentially unsafe drivers to remain on the roads.

The defendants allegedly used their personal assistants and courtroom staff to communicate requests to “fix tickets” to other judges. The indictment further alleges that the conspiracy also involved a cover-up that consisted of shredding paperwork, speaking in code, and trusting only certain individuals to carry out the fraud scheme.

Three judges—defendants Lowry, Mulgrew, and Tynes—are each charged with committing perjury before the federal grand jury. One judge—defendant Singletary—and defendant Hird are charged with lying to the FBI when they were approached and asked questions about ticket fixing at traffic court.

Defendant Henry P. Alfano regularly gave defendant Fortunato N. Perri, Sr. free auto repairs, free towing, free videos, and free seafood in exchange for fixing tickets. According to the indictment, Alfano would give Perri traffic citation numbers, the names of offenders, or the actual citations to arrange fixing the ticket. Perri conveyed the information to William Hird.

Hird, in turn, conveyed the request to the assigned judge. Court-authorized, intercepted telephone conversations reveal that Perri prioritized assisting Alfano and Alfano made sure to take care of Perri. Perri told Alfano, “When you call, I move, brother, believe me. I move everybody.” After multiple free repairs on his cars and family members’ cars, Perri allegedly told Alfano their relationship was “becoming like a one-way street. I like a two-way street.” To which Alfano responded, “If I need something, you’re going to do it.”

Defendant Hird, it is alleged, was extremely loyal to Perri given that Perri helped Hird move up the ladder to a high-level administrator at traffic court. Recorded conversations demonstrate that Hird acceded to Perri’s requests to fix certain tickets. Given Hird’s position at traffic court and access to the judges, Hird was allegedly able to facilitate requests for ticket fixing not only for Perri, but also for various Philadelphia ward leaders.

Defendant Michael J. Sullivan, in addition to requests from ward leaders, also assisted friends and customers of his bar, the Fireside Tavern. According to the indictment, Sullivan directed associates who wanted their tickets fixed to leave them at his tavern where they were placed in a box behind the bar. Defendant Sullivan would assure his associates that the ticket would be fixed. In one recorded call, Sullivan told a ticket holder, “I know you’re broke” and “It don’t matter which judge would be hearing the case, because you’re good,” meaning the fix was conveyed.

Defendant Willie Singletary and Thomasine Tynes allegedly“fixed tickets on behalf of defendant Robert Moy, who owned Number One Translations, a business located in Philadelphia. Moy, it is alleged, would guarantee paying customers favorable results on their traffic court citations based on his relationship with both Singletary and Tynes. According to the indictment, Moy even advertised in a local newspaper that he “tackles the traffic ticket and guarantees no points or fewer points.” Ticket holders took their citations to defendant Moy, paid Moy hundreds of dollars in cash, were instructed not to appear in traffic court, and ultimately were found not guilty by either Tynes or Singletary.

In addition to the conspiracy charging a longstanding and widespread practice of fixing tickets, the indictment specifically lists 50 separate citations as being fixed. These tickets involved driving at unsafe speeds, driving an unregistered vehicle, texting while driving, operating an ATV on the highway, running a red light, making a prohibited U-turn, careless driving, not using a child safety restraint, and towing a vehicle without a towing agreement, among others. Yet these ticket holders unjustly incurred no penalties for their vehicle code violations.

“Our judicial system requires that the finder of fact determine guilt or innocence impartially,” said Memeger. “Ignoring this basic rule of justice, the judges in this case allegedly routinely fixed traffic tickets by giving preferential treatment to people with whom they were politically and socially connected. In addition to depriving the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of funds rightfully owed by traffic violators, their allegedly corrupt conduct also undermined the confidence that law abiding citizens have in the Philadelphia Court System. Those who seek to game the system by refusing to follow the rules need to be held accountable by the rule of law they swore to uphold.”

“The citizens of Philadelphia expect and deserve public officials who perform their duties free of deceit, favoritism, bias, self-enrichment, concealment, and conflict of interest,” said Brosnan. “Everyone is entitled to the same treatment in traffic court, regardless of their personal relationships, regardless of political considerations, and regardless of the personal preferences of court officials.”

The moneys that would have been received from adjudicated citations would have been equally divided between the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and used to fund, for example, the city of Philadelphia’s general fund; the Philadelphia Parking Authority; the First Judicial District’s procurement department; the funds lost to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania would have paid for Emergency Medical Services training; MCARE, which helps compensate people injured by medical malpractice; and the Access to Justice Fund, which provides money for legal aid for low income people and victims of domestic violence.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise Wolf and Anthony Wzorek.

Corruption Risk Report: Florida Ethics Laws 2 Executive Summary

randy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:23:28 +0000

Florida led the U.S. in federal public corruption convictions from 2000 – 2010, according to U.S.Department of Justice data. Corruption was a top ten factor Forbes magazine pointed to in 2012 when it named three Florida cities to its list of America’s Most Miserable Cities: #1 Miami, #4 West Palm Beach and #7 Fort Lauderdale. Florida also received a failing grade for ethics enforcement agencies on the Florida Corruption Risk Report Card released in 2012 by State Integrity Investigation.Florida faces a corruption crisis that threatens the state’s reputation, its economy and its ability to attract new jobs and capital. While implementing the ethics reform solutions presented in this report may not decrease the number of corruption convictions in Florida, it would certainly help the state move towards an A grade on the Corruption Risk Report Card and begin to improve the state’s reputation at a time when there is significant competition for jobs.

Read the full report here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/96321016/Corruption-Risk-Report-Florida-Ethics-Laws

Florida Department of Children and Families Has Failed

randy — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:49:25 +0000

Angela Guinn:

So I have to start by saying the Florida Department of Children and Families Has Failed many people through the years…. While they were still HRS they Failed me I was not removed from my home while I was being Sexually abused by my step father while there had been proof that something had happened nothing was done this man also got off on a technicality and served no time in Jail. Many years later the system is still a failure losing kids in the system, placing kids where they should not be placed and even breaking protocol. Why do I say this well, Starting March 31, 2009 My children were removed from my care for two months prior i had been fighting with DCF for Medicaid I was receiving unemployment 600 a month but yet myself, and my two kids that were with me (Jason and heather) were making too much to qualify for Medicaid….I begged because I knew my mental state was fading I knew I was in depression and needed help but couldn’t get that help unless i had Medicaid. A week before March 31, 2009 my ex husband brought my daughter Katlin to me and said he couldn’t handle her so I said fine i would take her… I didn’t seem to have any problems out of her while she was with me. except realizing a child with adhd needs to come home do homework and then play. The day she had a half day of school I figured she could do her homework at 4 when she usually did it so i let her go outside to play. well honestly the homework didn’t get done and i sent a note to the teacher and to my amazement the teacher understood and let her make it up. March 31, 2009 DCF showed up with two sheriffs’ officers and took the kids I did explain to the worker that I knew I was depressed and that yes i had issues and i needed help they had already contacted Katlins dad to come get her. When asked if they could contact my mother or other family members for Jason and Heather They said they already had a place they were going to. It is my understanding of the law before the court hearing with in 24 to 48 hours that they are to try to place with family and they did not. we went to court the next morning and the judge told DCF they had 24 hours to get me in for an evaluation this being court ordered I had to work on it myself at 4pm the next day I made myself the appointment and took the court papers with me. Diagnosis PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety.

I was told if I needed help with apts etc to contact the worker and they would help, when I did ask for help it was not provided except on occasion. this went on for several months saying I was not complying with the case and I was trying but I needed help they wanted me to work which I was doing but did not want to provide visits after work hours so i would have to take days off. That is a catch 22 basically you don’t work you don’t get your kids back you don’t follow visits you don’t get your kids back you lose your job because you talk off work too much you don’t get your kids back you lose your transportation cause you cant afford gas or your car payment cause you take off and lose your job… well you get what i am saying. This went on through July… July 17, my mother came over to let me know I had to be in court for another case involving my Daughter Katlin and William at their Fathers house. They were removed from his care as were his other two children. Katlin had bruises on the scalp two black-eyes and her ear was black and blue.
and another bruise found on her back, just under the shoulder blade…. I went to court talked to the caseworker and she showed me the pictures of Katlin it was horrifying I could not believe what i was seeing and the fact that her father allowed this to happen. Not only was that but her father allowing William 8 at the time to medicate himself. William was placed in a foster home without Katlin. She was in another foster home, in another county. Brandy (Dustins wife/ the step mother of my children/ and my cousin) was arrested for child abuse of Katlin. She was Charged and eventually plead guilty, Third degree Felony Child Abuse.
About a month after the children were removed I got a call saying that I needed to go to the centers to meet William that he had tried to commit suicide. When I got to the centers I met William who was happy to see me. I gave him a hug he looked at the clock on the wall and turned and said “Mommy I have to take this now” as he pulled an orange pill out of his pocket, there was no bottle no prescription on him in anyway… I asked William what it was and he said it was his rispridone….

I know that that drug is usually used for bipolar there for is a felony if there is no script with it and an 8 yr old is carrying this pill in his pocket. Not to mention his foster mom allowed this to happen she gave it to him so he could take it when he needed to and the worker that came with William didn’t know he had it in his pocket. I did tell William that he could not take it because the doctor had to look at him first and ok it. Which the doctor did not ok. William admitted he had tied a rope around his neck two days prior. This devastated me that it happened two days before and was not reported until this day he was at the centers, The foster mom is an EMT therefore she knows better than most that it should have been reported right then. I told my concerns to DCF and they told me they would look into it they did not remove him from this care… they told her “don’t do it again”…other incidents happened failure to give meds several days in a row and still nothing was done. eventually William was placed, back in the care of his father and Brandy was frequently over to see Dustin, Williams father… once again William was removed from Dustin and then placed with Barbra, brandy’s mother whom brandy was living with I questioned this action because brandy was in the home and I was told that he is not in Brandy’s care…but a couple months later he was placed in Brandy’s care I questioned this also because before a child can be placed in someone’s care they have to have a background check and a violent history is a denial in this case she was allowed to take my son and she was on probation for third degree felony child abuse on his sister Katlin. Once again he was placed back with his father, Until October of last year. William was once again removed I was notified that William was removed and had to appear in court by phone since i am now in Michigan. Williams father was admitted to the Centers and I didn’t know what for … My mother called me that evening and let William talk to me I asked no questions regarding his father but William said “you know mom, dad is in the centers cause he was going to kill himself because he failed a polygraph test” polygraph coming out of Williams mouth did not surprise me…because in first grade he went to school and asked his teacher if she knew what MRSA stood for the teacher asked him what it stood for and he said Methacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Areaus big words for a first grader but always asked to look at my medical dictionary and asked questions I held nothing back if he wanted to learn.

William was placed in foster care where Jason and Heather were for a little over a year I was being jerked around they said they were going to send him up here to live with me and i was already for it and then they said they were going to send to his father again and then his father was found guilty of sexual battery therefore William could not be returned to Dustin. Just before the last hearing the case worker Yolanda called me and told me they were thinking of placing William back with Brandy. I told her absolutely not and explained that she had been charged in the abuse of Williams sister which she already knew since this is the same worker throughout the case with the exception of the first month which was a male worker of whom i had dated in the past and it was a conflict of interest and we both asked for there to be another worker as it was a conflict of interest but did not explain to what extent it was. Yolanda told me that William was not the victim in the case and that she would be able to care for him. When asked why they were now not considering me for placement I was told that it is because i lost my job… I am not going to lie I was very heated over that and told her that there are people everyday that don’t have jobs and care for their kids just fine. I am keeping up with my bills. Yolanda also told me that the court would call me in two days cause that was our hearing. To my surprise Marion county courts did not call, when they had called every time before that. The decision was to send him to live with Brandy. William went to live with Brandy on the 28th of December 2012. I have been told by a source that wishes me not to give her name but is a family member that Brandy has had Dustin over to see the kids several times. This source is in Florida and said she knows for a fact that this has happened. I am tired of getting nowhere when I ask the news, newspapers, and other sources for help. Reporting this to the Head of DCF in Florida in Tallahassee I was basically given a lie to shut me up. This lie was that the worker had been fired when my mother showed up in court well the worker was still there…. So if the head haunchos in Tallahassee are covering things up too where do i go for help now….Washington? Where Do I start? Here? I am writing this not only to expose Florida’s DCF system and Marion county court system but also for help and answers. DCF in Florida looks at it as though I don’t care for my kids, The thing is I do I care for them enough to say yes I screwed up and I was a mess, I also care for them to try to find out answers to questions no matter how long it takes hoping to change laws.

That system can not honestly say they know what people feel like, their psychological evals are not realistic by no means having your children taken from you and experiencing it twice in less than a year who would not feel angry and upset not to mention calling them on their screw-up’s and nothing being done about it where a normal parent would have the child removed from their care a foster parent is slapped on the hand and told not to do it again….yeah I think I have that right to be angry with out being told that i have anger issues because lets face it anyone enduring that much hurt and loss would be normal to be angry, sad and depressed. So if anyone out there can help with information on where i can go to get help…. I dont know if i could sue the state but am so willing to do what i can to change something with that system.

Angela Guinn:

Two of the five worst-run cities in America are in South Florida.

randy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:34:39 +0000

Miami and Hialeah ranked in the top five in the list, compiled by 24/7 Wall St. and reported in the South Florida Business Journal. The list looks at the local economies, fiscal management and quality of life measures for the 100 largest cities in the U.S.

Miami ranked the second-worst-run city in America. The city has one of the lowest median household incomes at under $29,000 and experienced a 43.5 percent plunge in median home value between 2007 and 2011, according to 24/7 Wall St.

At No. 5 was Hialeah, having also experienced a 44 percent decline in home prices. In addition, the city has the third-lowest median household income at $27,208 and about 40 percent of residents have no health insurance, 24/7 Wall St. reported.

What will you give up?

randy — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:50:05 +0000

Be ever Vigilant in the Protection of your Rights.

randy — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:31:27 +0000