Sunday, June 30, 2013

Imagine Dragons Drew Capacity Crowds At Summerfest 2013

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Photo of crowd from YouTube

Thousands of Summerfest attendees added to the overcrowding conditions during the Imagine Dragons performance at the Miller stage. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 30, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, the Summerfest grounds reached overcapacity with overwhelming crowds during the Imagine Dragons gig that drew over 10,000 fans to the stage area. Officials had to stop selling tickets at the gates, then the crowds outside made their way inside Summerfest for free without getting checked, according Facebook users.
Festivalgoers reported the largest drunk crowds in Summerfest history. People had to wait between 1 1/2 to over two hours to buy an admittance ticket into Summerfest. 
Others posted in Facebook, their first hand accounts of having difficulty moving from stage to stage, which some wrote they were stepped on, pushed, elbowed disrespectful drunks. While others pished their way to the front of the stages in order to move from the overcrowed areas.
After closing, the crowd movement was even more chaotic then expected, which people had to push their way out of Summerfest. Most festivalgoers who took a shuttle or bus to Summerfest had to wait between 30-45 minutes for them.
Summerfest 2013 will go down in history for the largest capacity crowds in one day. Officials at Summerfest haven't relased the attendance totals for Saturday yet.
Some festivalgoers also posted their accounts of what happened at Summerfest on the Today's TMJ 4 Facebook page. Sarah Olsen posted, "No one was carding for alcohol. Went at 6 and the miller oasis was already packed. Had to leave. Tons of drunk kids underage, no parental supervision. Kids under 18 shouldn't be let in without an adult. Left around 10pm, crowds outside gates were large and unruly, practically no security checks. I love summerfest but this was insane."
Kat Bubash posted, "Miller was horrific..some punk tried getting in a fight with me because I was "touching" him..ridiculous...ive never seen it that bad."
Lisa Girmschid posted, "Update: my teen is safe at home. Said she didn't have to pay to get in, because while she was standing in line they announced they weren't selling any more tickets. So the crowd just stormed the gates and everyone was allowed in for free. I asked my teen if she would have changed her mind about going if she knew it would be that bad. There was a very long pause before she responded....lol."
Read more →

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Casa Mexico -USA To Open Satelite Office In Milwaukee To Help Mexican Nationals Get Their Official Birth Certificates

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Alfonso Morales

Chicago base Casa Mexico-USA to open a Casa Mexico-USA - Milwaukee, a consulting service at Las Reynas Bakery and Ice Cream in the Milwaukee's south side.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 29, 2013

Milwaukee,  WI - A recent agreement between the Binational Institute of Human Development (BIHD), a nonprofit organization from Chicago who operates Casa Mexico-USA (CMUSA) with three Wisconsin business owners, Roberto Franco, Alejandro Mazatl Franco and Alfonso Morales will soon open an official satellite office to be called Casa Mexico-USA-Milwaukee (CMUSAM), a Milwaukee consulting service operation by July. Morales, spokesman for the Wisconsin busness group confirmed that by this Sunday, June 30, Mexican nationals can visit Las Reynas Bakery and Ice Cream, 1238 S. Cesar Chavez Dr. in Milwaukee where the CMUSAM will begin to operate before the official grand opening on July 20. Mexican nationals can now easily filed through CMUSAM for a request of their official civil registered copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce and death certificates from Mexico, which have been difficult to acquire from the U.S. Other services by CMUSAM will include is a consulting service in assessing which documents are needed to be filed with the consulate to get other legal documents and help small business growth and development.
Morales says, having a consulting service like Chicago's CMUSA in Milwaukee, it will greatly provide the much needed services for filing civil and legal documents request in Mexico.
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Obama Free Gov't Phones Given Away In Milwaukee's South Side

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Photo: HNG/USA

Two more days left to get your Obama free cell phone!

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 29, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - Wisconsin or Milwaukee County residents have several more days to apply for an free government cell phone provided by Accesswireless dot com or also known as the popular Obama free mobile phone. The mobile Accesswireless staff will be at the 700 block of S. Layton Blvd. in the southside of Milwaukee waiting for those who qualify to apply and get one for free. 
The applicant just needs an ID and a Quest card or information needed to determine eligibility. The Obama phones are now easier to get in Milwaukee. 
Hopefully, the NSA doesn't have access to listening and gather calling and texting information about how low income residents in Wisconsin conduct their lives today?
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Thursday, June 27, 2013

U.S. Senate Passed Immigration Bill S. 744 By 68-32 Votes

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Historic federal Senate immigration bill S. 744 moves to U.S. House of Representatives for consideration and debate.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 28, 2013

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, anti-immigrant groups felt a blow and a major set back after the U.S. Senate passed S. 744 immigration bill by a bipartisan vote of 68-32. Fourteen Republicans supported the bill. The immigration bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration and debate.
The immigration bill includes sending $30 billion to the southern border to provide tighter security. The bill is moving forward on schedule for a possible final passage in the House by July 4, according immigrant rights groups. 
Some House Republicans say, the bill is dead on arrival. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said, the House is not going to approve what the Senate passed. The immigration bill must be grounded with real border security and have a majority of GOP support to pass.
Boehner said, "The House is not going to take up and vote on whatever the Senate passes. We're going to do our own bill, through regular order, and it'll be legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people.  For any legislation – including a conference report – to pass the House, it's going to have to be a bill that has the support of a majority of our members.
"Listen, immigration reform has to be grounded in real border security.  That's what the American people believe, and it's a principle that our majority believes in as well.  Chairman McCaul's done a good job passing a border security bill.  Chairman Goodlatte is doing good work over in the Judiciary Committee. 
"And if immigration reform is going to work, it's essential that the American people have the confidence that it's being done correctly. That's how the House will approach this issue," Boehner stated on Thursday. 
President Barack H. Obama stated, "Today, with a strong bipartisan vote, the United States Senate delivered for the American people, bringing us a critical step closer to fixing our broken immigration system once and for all. 
"I thank Majority Leader Reid, Senator Leahy, Senator Schumer, and every member of the 'Gang of Eight' for their leadership, and I commend all Senators who worked across party lines to get this done.
"The bipartisan bill that passed today was a compromise.  By definition, nobody got everything they wanted.  Not Democrats.  Not Republicans.  Not me.  But the Senate bill is consistent with the key principles for commonsense reform that I – and many others – have repeatedly laid out. 
"If enacted, the Senate bill would establish the most aggressive border security plan in our history.  It would offer a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million individuals who are in this country illegally – a pathway that includes passing a background check, learning English, paying taxes and a penalty, and then going to the back of the line behind everyone who's playing by the rules and trying to come here legally.  It would modernize the legal immigration system so that it once again reflects our values as a nation and addresses the urgent needs of our time.  And it would provide a big boost to our recovery, by shrinking our deficits and growing our economy.
"Today, the Senate did its job.  It's now up to the House to do the same. 
"As this process moves forward, I urge everyone who cares about this issue to keep a watchful eye.  Now is the time when opponents will try their hardest to pull this bipartisan effort apart so they can stop commonsense reform from becoming a reality.  We cannot let that happen.  If you're among the clear majority of Americans who support reform – from CEOs to labor leaders, law enforcement to clergy – reach out to your Member of Congress.  Tell them to do the right thing.  Tell them to pass commonsense reform so that our businesses and workers are all playing by the same rules and everyone who's in this country is paying their fair share in taxes.
"We have a unique opportunity to fix our broken system in a way that upholds our traditions as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.  We just need Congress to finish the job," Obama stated.
Read more →

Morales Returns As Captain To District 2 Station Where He Began As A Rookie

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Milwaukee Police Officer Jesus Gloria and Police District 2 Captain Alfonso Morales

Photo: HNG/HNNUSA

Captain Morales assigned to Milwaukee Police District 2 in the South Side of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 27, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - Last Monday, Alfonso Morales, 42, began his first day as the newly assigned Captian to the Milwaukee Police District 2 Station. Police Chief Edward Flynn officially promoted Morales to Captain on June 23, but his promotion was actually recognized during a police promotion ceremony for all those rank and file that were promoted, including officers on June 21.
In 1993, Morales as a police rookie was first assigned to the Second Police District and served four years. But last Monday after 20 years of service with Milwaukee Police Department, Captain Morales returned as its commander. 
Captain Morales told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he was elated to return to the Milwaukee Police District 2 Station as its commander. He is currently working to reach out to the community in his district along with Officer Jesus Gloria, a decorated Community Liaison and wants to make a difference by working with the young population as well. Captain Morales confirmed that in the month of June about 17 armed robberies and 17 strong arm robberies were reported, which many of those crimes were committed by juveniles. He plans to deter and minimize those statistics and believes that young people can look for alternative and positive things to do,  once given the opportunity. He is ready for that challenge and is confident he will succeed in lowering violent crime statistics with help of the community.
Morales is bilingual and speaks Spanish very well, which he says is an asset in communicating with the predominantly Hispanic population in his district. Morales is one of 10 siblings and his father is originally from the state of Michoacan.
He went to Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School from 1984 to 1988, in that same year he entered Carroll College and later received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal justice and Spanish. While attending high school, he met assist. football and baskeball Coach David Borowiscz who encouraged him to pursue a college degree. Morales credits Borowiscz for his success today and he also wants to encourage other teens to succeed as Borowiscz has done for him.
Captain Morales has an impressive and honorable service record in the department. He was an officer from 1993 to 1999, then was promoted to detective from 1999 to 2003 where he served in the homicide division, then became a Lieutenant in 2003, where served  in several assignments that included the homicide division, internal affairs, training academy and the narcotics bureau.
Captain Morales will also be working with a former detective partner, Lt. Timothy Heier at district 2. Another highly recognized and respected supervisor is Lt. Alexander Ramirez. The Milwaukee Police District 2 Station has been making strives in community and police relations by preventing crime. Now with Captain Morales' leadership and experience, the highly staffing of professional police personnel at district 2 will definately contribute in lowering crime statistics and to provide a good working relations with the community it serves and protects.
With Captain Morales at district 2, there will definitely be no communication gap or misunderstanding between police and the predominantly Spanish speaking community, according to Morales. Morales is eager to be working to lower crime in the area, so local businesses can strive in district 2 and provide the much needed jobs for teens and the community. He is planning to encourage hard working parents in the district to be more aware of what their kids are involve in to prevent future problems.  
Captain Morales replaced Captain Rebecca L. Pixley who is now working for an assist. police chief. Captain Pixley was the first woman to head Milwaukee's Police District 2 Station in the South side. Captain Morales is the second Hispanic to command at district 2. Former Captain Eduardo Negron became the first Hispanic to lead district 2.
In May 2002, Morales was also instrumental in stopping a convicted murder felon from escaping during a trial at the Milwaukee Public Safety Building courtroom. Laron Anthony Ball, 20, was fatally shot by then Det. Morales after Ball attempted to escape from the courtroom moments into his convicted verdict. Ball jump from the box and tried to go through a window, but failed. He then jumped a Milwaukee deputy sheriff and while trying to disarm the deputy, the weapon fired shooting the deputy in the left leg. Ball also had bit another deputy. Det. Morales took out his service weapon and killed Ball.
Morales was hailed as a hero for preventing Ball from getting control of the deputy's weapon to shoot his way out and possibly injurying other people in the courtroom during his dramatic attempted escape. Ball had just been convicted for felony murder and several counts of arm robbery charges, according to court records.
Read more →

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Patriots Cut Hernández From Team After Murder Charge

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Aaron Hernández

Hernández was arrested early Wednesday and charged with the homicide of Odin Lloyd, a Boston Bandits semi-pro football player.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

Attelboro, Mass. - On Wednesday, police arrested Aaron Hernández, a New England Patriots player for the homicide of Odin Lloyd, 27, a semi-pro Boston Bandit football player. Hernández was also charged with five counts of weapons charges, one count for possession of a handgun without a license, two counts for carrying a high capacity firearm and two counts for not having a gun FID permit to own high capacity firearms at home.
Judge Daniel J. O'Shea ordered Hernández held without bail. Hernández is scheduled for a haering on July 24. 
The New Orleans Patriots decided shortly after Hernández was arrested and charged to cut him from the team.
Hernández lives with his fiancee and their 8-month-old baby.
Hernández became the focus of a murder investigation after Lloyd's body was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the back and front chest, according to police. 
Police recovered a video surveillance showing Hernández leaving his home with a gun.
On June 14, the victim and Hernández were seen at a local Boston bar where they argued and then left the place. Hernández and two friends on June 17 around 2:30 a.m. picked up Lloyd at his home and it was the last time Lloyd was seen alive. Lloyd was taken to an industrial park about a mile from where Hernàndez lived. 
Police were able to get a text from Hernández cellphone where he text his sister about being with Lloyd at 3:22 a.m. Then investigators say, workers at the industrial park reported gunshots between 3:23 a.m. to 3:27 a.m. to police. Odin's body was found nearby where the shots were fired. 
Police haven't determined who fired the weapon  or who killed Odin, according to the criminal complaint. 
Odin was dating the sister of Hernández's girlfriend.
Read more →

Four Dead After VxT Facebook Mistakenly Posted La Cucaracha Business Was Associated With Zetas

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Days after La Cucaracha business deposit in San Fernando was singled out as a Zeta hangout by Valor por Tamaulipas on Facebook, gunmen went to the business and killed the owner, her dentist son, an employee and a customer.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico - On Wednesday, the administrator of Valor por Tamaulipas (VxT) posted on its Facebook account that Imelda Galván Zárate, the owner of La Cucaracha Deposit Business, her Dentist son Dr. Hugo Gabriel Gonzales Galvan, an employee and a customer were all innocent and were not members or associated with the Zetas as previously alleged on a posted meassage by VxT on June 20. 
A Zeta local leader Goyo Villa Franca used the business to collect quotas, held Zeta meetings and the Zeta's used the business as a hangout because the owner was threatened, forced to look the other way and ignore what was happening, according to VxT.
Last Saturday, La Cucaracha business Deposit was attacked by gunmen after it was exposed by VxT of being a Zeta hangout. The gunmen suspected to be from the Cartel del Golfo (CDG) around 6:30 p.m.went to the business and shot three people including the owner who was killed. Her son was also shot in the attack, including a customer and an employee. They all later died of their injuries. 
VxT had posted on Facebook on June 20 at 9:20 p.m. that a Zeta leader, Z Goyo Villa Franca used La Cucaracha business to hangout, get mail, where people came in to pay extortion quotas and use it as a meeting place for the local Zetas. VxT posted that it was confirmed that La Cucaracha was utilised by Villa Franca after he threaten the owner.
The owner of La Cucaracha was identified as Imelda Galván Zárate, a teacher and her son as Dr. Hugo Gabriel Gonzalez Galván, a local dentist.
The business was owned the Gonzalez Galván family and the former owner was Hugo Sr. who recently passed away and Imelda later took over the business with her son. The family is well respected and has no ties to organized crime, VxT is now posting.
The VxT administrator took responsibility for what occurred at the business after it was posted that La Cucaracha was used as a Zeta hangout and an extortion quota collection business. VxT asked his 240,000 followers, if VxT should continue to expose suspected businesses being operated by organized crime or cartels? 
In this case, four innocent people were killed by gunmen after La Cucaracha business was exposed as a Zeta operation by VxT. But many FB users following VxT who use fictitious names on accounts to protect themselves from retribution by organized crime say, no matter what VxT actually does, innocent people become victims of the cartels and organized crime every day. 
VxT confirmed, that users have a final say whether the FB page continues to expose criminal activities by organized crime.
VxT had previously stopped posting for a week and then came back active, but has become more blunt in exposing businesses, people, social gatherings, crimes, extortions, corruption in all levels of the Mexican government, including Tamaulipas and quinceñeras sponsored by cartels or organized crime.
A few days ago, a video was posted on the Internet by a cartel that depicted a woman being killed for tipping VxT about an incident. On Monday, VxT posted, there was no information of any tip provide by the woman killed after checking and reviewing the VxT inbox. VxT does not recognize or remember the woman killed.
VxT indentified both cities of Tampico as the capital of kidnappings and Victoria for homicides.
Read more →

Husband Pleads Guilty To Killing Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer L. Sebena

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Jennifer Lynn Sebena and Benjamin Sebena

Husband pleaded guilty to murdering his wife, a Wauwatosa Police Officer on Christmas Eve.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Benjamin Sebena, 30, pled guilty to killing his wife, Wauwatosa Police Officer Jennifer Lynn Sebena, 30, on Christmas Eve 2012 under a plea agreement to seek parole within 50 to 60 years of his sentence. His sentencing on the case is set for August.
Benjamin had confessed to killing his wife on Christmas Eve. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
A criminal complaint states that Benjamin had waited for almost two hours between 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Wauwatosa Fire Station One for his wife on December 24. He spotted her squad nearby the station and when Officer Sebena emerged from her break at the fire station, Benjamin got close and pulled out a 9MM Cal. handgun and shot her twice in the back of the head from a distance. Sebena tried to reach for her service weapon, but Benjamin disarmed her and then shot her three times in the face (head) with her .40 Cal. service handgun. Police confirmed, Sebena was shot five times.
Her body was found outside the fire house at Underwood Avenue around 4:28 a.m. by another officer.
Benjamin told police, he shot Sebena in the head because he wanted to make sure that she was dead and wouldn't suffer. He then took her service weapon, including his gun and hid them in the attic of their residence where authorities later recovered them.
Benjamin actually went to the police station asking about his wife because he was worried. On Christmas Day while being questioned by police, he broke down and was detained after stating, "How could I do that to her." He then confessed to police that he killed her.
Officer Sebena who was seeking a divorce from her husband, on December 6, apparently told another officer that she was a victim of domestic violence when her husband took out a handgun during an argument and then put it to her head, according to the criminal complaint. There is no indication that the officer alerted other officers or the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) command about Sebena's abuse by her husband and that she might be in danger. Chief Weber indicated, the domestic abuse was never reported by the officer or Officer Sebena.
Benjamin's outburst resulted from a jealousy rage brought upon his believe that his wife was seeing other men. He admitted of stalking Officer Sebena for days leading to her murder.
The investigation never determine that Officer Sebena was actually cheating on her husband.
Benjamin is a Marine Iraq War Veteran who received a Purple Heart for his injuries during his tour of military service. He served two tours in Iraq and was severely injured.
He met Sebena on MySpace and later married her. Officer Sebena is the first to be killed in the line of duty in the 96 year history of the WPD.
She had served in the WPD for several years and had no children.

Read more →

Dutch Judge Ruled Archives Should Be Returned To The Anne Frank Foundation

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Anne Frank House Muesum

Photo courtesy of Julieta Leon

A Dutch judge decided that the Anne Frank's archive collection kept in a museum in Amsterdam should be returned to the Anne Frank Foundation in Switzerland. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

Amsterdam, Netherlands - On Wednesday, Rueters reported that a Dutch judge ordered the Anne Frank House, an Amsterdam museum to return over 10,000 documents, photos and letters about the plight of Anne Frank (Annelies "Anne" Marie Frank age 15) to the Anne Frank Fond in Switzerland by January 2014, ending a long disputed legal battle about where the archives belong. The Anne Frank Fond loaned the archive collection to the Anne Frank House in a long term agreement allowing the House to register and inventory the documents about Anne Frank's life. 
The judge ruled that the Anne Frank Fonds was the actual owner of the Frank-Elias family documents, which contained hundreds of letters and photos from Elias, a Frank's cousin. The judge decision does not include the famous Anne Frank's diary.
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt Weimer Germany, She was a young Jewish girl that hid along with her family in a small back room hidden crawl space where her father worked in 1942 for two years in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The Nazis were enforcing Hitler's final solution campaign that included the massive relocation of Jewish people to concentration death camps. She lost her German citizenship in 1941.
The Frank family was betrayed and the Nazis discover their hiding place. The Frank's were detained and sent to separate concentration camps. Anne and her sister, Margot were eventually sent to Bergen-Belsen consentration camp where she ultimately died of typhus in March of 1945.
Her father Otto Frank was the only survivor who went back to Amsterdam and discovered that Anne's diary survived the war. He published it "The Diary of a Young Girl" in Dutch in 1947. In 1952, the diary was published in English and later translated to numerous languages. The Anne Frank's diary was the basis of several films and plays.
The diary was given to Anne on her 13th birthday and details her life experiences in written notes from June 12, 1942 to August 1, 1945.
She wrote a personal diary during her plight, which was published by her father detailing her accounts about the suffering she and her family endured under Nazi occupation and the inhumane treatment of Jewish people during World War II.
The legal dispute resulted from the Anne Frank House, an Amsterdam Museum refusing to return the archive collection to the Anne Frank Fonds, a Basel-base foundation created by Otto Frank, her father in Switzerland. The documents detailing the life of Anne Frank included letters, which were loan to the Anne Frank House in 2007 by Buddy Elias, president of the Anne Frank Fonds. The disputed documents have become known as the Frank-Elias family archive historical documents. 
The Anne Frank Muesum in Amsterdam makes an estimated $18 million dollars (14M euros) and attracts over one million visitors a year. The Anne Frank Foundation wants to display the documents in a Frankfurt Jewish Museum. 


Película en español "El Diario de Anne Frank"  video

The Diary of a Young Girl (English version)  video
Read more →

Texas SB 5 Abortion Bill Killed By Senator Davis Filibuster And Roaring Texan Crowd

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Senator Wendy R. Davis

State Senator Davis filibuster buster derailed early, but parliamentary procedures and roaring crowd kept Senate from completing a roll call vote before midnight killing the SB abortion bill.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

Dallas, Texas - On late Tuesday, the Senate roll call vote passed midnight to three minutes into Wednesday killing Texas SB 5 abortion bill that prevented abortions after 20 weeks and closed most abortion clinics in the state. The controversial bill drew major protests from crowds outside the Senate chamber on Tuesday. The highlight of the night was the historical one-woman filibuster attempt by Senator Wendy R. Davis (D) who went for 10 hours straight, then in a surpised move the Republican Senate leadership stopped her and alleged that she went off her subject thus ending her time from the 13-hours needed to close the session. Democrats came to Davis defense and agrued she was not given the three required warnings about going off the subject. Davis should be allowed to continue to speak, but both the Democrats and the majority of Republican Senators argued for the next three hours about parliamentary procedures. Then just before midnight, Senator Leticia Van De Putte (D) asked the Senate Republicans, if they were refusing Senator Davis to speak because she was a woman? The crowd outside the Senate chamber broke into an uproar frenzy and the Senators could not hear the roll call prolonging the vote into three minutes past midnight and automatically killing the bill for the session. 
Senator Davis exited the chamber and told the crowd outside that the bill was dead, which caused another outburst of cheering Texans.
SB 5 was considered one of the strictest abortion bills in the nation, but for now it has been killed.
Read more →

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Pitbull Shot Multiple Times And Left For Dead In Cudahy's Lakeshore

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A man walking his dog along lake Michigan in Cudahy's lakeshore finds pitbull shot multiple times and left for dead.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 26, 2013

Cudahy, WI - Police in Cudahy are trying to locate a suspect or suspects who on Saturday morning left a female pitbull tied near the lakeshore with multiple small caliber gunshot wounds. A man walking his dog along the lakeshore in Cudahy noticed the pitbull was tied to some concrete slabs near the water. The dog was bleeding from her chest, front legs and had a cut in her nose.
When police arrived, the pitbull was still alive and wagging her tail at the officers. The dog had between two to three gunshot wounds and was taken by MADACC to a veterinary clinic for treatment where it was later determined the dog was severely wounded and had intensive internal damage to be treated. The dog was euthanized, according to police. 
Police are trying to locate its owner. The pitbull didn't have an dog identification chip as required by Cudahy for pitbulls kept in the city.
Read more →

Monday, June 24, 2013

Legal Decision Expected Where To Keep The Anne Frank Archive Collection

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Anne Frank House Muesum

Photo courtesy of Julieta Leon

A Dutch judge is expected to decide where the Anne Frank archive collection will be kept after a long legal dispute over ownership.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 24, 2013

Amsterdam, Netherlands - A long legal dispute expected to be decided by Wednesday in a Dutch court over where 10,000 documents, photos and letters about the plight of Anne Frank (Annelies "Anne" Marie Frank age 15) should remain in Amsterdam or be returned to Switzerland, according to Reuters citing a Dutch court source. Anne Frank born in Frankfurt Weimer Germany was a young Jewish girl that hid along with her family in a small back room hidden crawl space where her father worked in 1942 for two years in Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The Nazis were enforcing Hitler's final solution campaign that included the massive relocation of Jewish people to concentration death camps. She lost her German citizenship in 1941.
The Frank family was betrayed and the Nazis discover their hiding place. The Frank's were detained and sent to separate concentration camps. Anne and her sister, Margot were eventually sent to Bergen-Belsen consentration camp where she ultimately died of typhus in March of 1945.
Her father Otto Frank was the only survivor who went back to Amsterdam and discovered that Anne's diary survived the war. He published it "The Diary of a Young Girl" in Dutch in 1947, in 1952 was published in English and later translated to numerous languages. The diary was the basis of several films and plays.
The diary was given to Anne on her 13th birthday and details her life experiences in written notes from June 12, 1942 to August 1, 1945.
She wrote a personal diary during her plight, which was published by her father detailing her accounts about the suffering she and her family endured under Nazi occupation and the inhumane treatment of Jewish people during World War II.
The legal dispute resulted from the Anne Frank House, an Amsterdam Museum refusing to return the archive collection to the Anne Frank Fonds, a Basel-base foundation created by Otto Frank, her father in Switzerland. Her father was the only survivor in the Frank's family. The documents detailing the life of Anne Frank include letters from relatives and are being reviewed by a Dutch judge who will determine ownership of some of the documents, which were loan to the Anne Frank House in 2007 by Buddy Elias, president of the Anne Frank Fonds. The disputed documents have become known as the Elias-Frank family archive historical documents. 
The Anne Frank Muesum in Amsterdam makes an estimated $18 million dollars (14M euros) and attracts over one million visitors a year. The Anne Frank Foundation wants to display the documents in a Frankfurt Jewish Museum.


Película en español "El Diario de Anne Frank" video


The Diary of a Young Girl (English version) video
Read more →

Two Dead After Gunmen Attacked Suspected Zeta Extortion Collection Business La Cucaracha

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Days after La Cucaracha business deposit in San Fernando was singled out as a Zeta hangout by Valor por Tamaulipas on Facebook, gunmen went to the business and killed the owner and a client, the owner's son was injured in the shooting.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 24, 2013

San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico - On Saturday, La Cucaracha business deposit was attacked by gunmen after it was exposed by Valor por Tamaulipas (VxT) on Thursday of being a Zeta hangout. The gunmen suspected to be from the Cartel del Golfo (CDG) around 6:30 p.m.went to the business and shot three people including the owner who was killed. Her son was also shot in the attack and a client later died. Two of the gunmen were also killed, according to VxT.
VxT had posted on Facebook on Thursday at 9:20 p.m. that a Zeta leader, Z Goyo Villa Franca used La Cucaracha business to hangout, get mail, where people came in to pay extortion quotas and use it as a meeting place for the local Zetas. VxT posted that it was confirmed that La Cucaracha was utilised by Villa Franca after he threaten the owner.
The owner of La Cucaracha was identified by Lizeth Garcia, a FB user as Imelda Galván Zárate, a teacher and her son Hugo, a dentist. Hugo is expected to survive. 
Garcia wrote that the business was owned the Gonzalez Galván family and the former owner was Hugo Sr. who recently passed away and Imelda later took over the business with her son. The family is well respected and has no ties to organized crime, according to Lizeth.
Another FB user, Vigilante de Lejos Pausini wrote that Lizeth is a fake name user and had used several fake FB accounts to threaten VxT and another user. Lizeth actually used the same photo in the profile of both accounts and was considered to be the same user, Pausini wrote. Lizeth vowed to decapitate another user, according to Pausini. Lizeth hasn't denied Pausini's allegations.
The VxT administrator is taking responsibility for what occurred at the business after it was posted that La Cucaracha was as a Zeta hangout and an extortion quota collection business. VxT is now asking his 240,000 followers, if VxT should continue to expose suspected businesses being operated by organized crime or cartels? 
In this case, several innocent people were killed by gunmen after La Cucaracha business was exposed as a Zeta operation, according to VxT. But many FB users following VxT use fictitious names on accounts to protect themselves from retribution by organized crime. They say, no matter what VxT actually does, innocent people become victims of the cartels and organized crime every day. VxT confirmed, that users have a final say whether the FB page continues to expose criminal activities by organized crime.
VxT had stopped posting for a week and then came back active, but has become more blunt in exposing businesses, people, social gatherings, crimes, extortions, corruption in all levels of the Mexican government, including Tamaulipas and quinceñeras sponsored by cartels or organized crime.
A few days ago, a video was posted on the Internet by a cartel that depicted a woman being killed for tipping VxT about an incident. On Monday, VxT posted, there was no information of any tip provide by the woman killed after checking and reviewing the VxT inbox. VxT does not recognize or remember the woman killed.
VxT indentified both cities of Tampico as the capital of kidnappings and Victoria for homicides.
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Garcia Denied Candidacy For National LULAC President At 84th Annual Convention

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Margaret "Margie" Moran, Domingo Garcia and Darryl Morin

Photos: FB

Moran was easily re-elected as the National President of LULAC after main opponent, Domingo Garcia was ousted from elections in the Las Vegas 84th Annual National LULAC Convention. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 24, 2013

Las Vegas, Nevada - On Saturday,  Margaret Moran of San Antonio, TX was re-elected as the National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Darryl Morin of Milwaukee,  WI was elected as LULAC's National Vice President for the Midwest at the 84th Annual National Convention in Neveda. Moran has been a LULAC member for 33 years and served in various positions throughout her membership. She has served as LULAC National Parliamentarian, National Vice President for Women, Texas State Director, Texas Deputy State Director, San Antonio District XV Director, District XV Treasurer and President of Council #4421.
Moran was first elected in 2010 and is the third woman elected as National President since the organization was created in 1929. The first woman president was Belen Robles and the second to hold the position was Rosa Rosales. LULAC is the oldest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, according to the LULAC's website.
Morin a self proclaimed Republican is president and CEO of Advanced Wireless, Inc. in Franklin. In 2008, the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) organization after his name was nominated, Morin was selected as Hispanic Man of Year.
Morin in Wisconsin has served LULAC as Council President, Deputy State Director, State Director and at the national level as Convention Co-Chair and as Advisor to various National Presidents, according to Morin's dot org. 
An unprecedented election was held by members of LULAC before the actual presidential election on Saturday. An estimated 2,000 LULAC members attended the event. The first election process drew controversy and a decision by less than 2/3 voting membership was made to disqualify Moran's main opponent Domingo Garcia from Dallas, TX. Garcia needed at least 2/3 of the membership vote to challenge and stay in the presidential elections.
Apparently, Garcia did not serve as a full member for three consecutive years as required to run for president, according to LULAC's legal advisory board decision. 
LULAC in March filed a lawsuit in Dallas in an attempt to keep Garcia, a former Texas State Representative and Dallas mayor pro tem from seeking LULAC's presidency. LULAC claimed, Garcia didn't pay his LULAC Council 102's membership dues in 2012. Garcia, who has a lifetime membership claims, Council 102 attempted to pay the dues in September and December, but LULAC applied it to their dues for 2013.
Garcia filed a counter lawsuit in April claiming the LULAC Board rewrote rules to technically prevent him from running for president and that the 2012 dues "payment was manipulated by incumbents and applied to 2013," according to Garcia's Facebook posting of Dallas News dot com article about the lawsuits.
In May, a Dallas County judge denied Garcia a temporary or permanent injunction to keep LULAC from keeping him off the ballot for president. The judge cited that the organization had a Board to resolve their own issues, membership was voluntary and members were expected to follow set rules.
At least 100 of Garcia's young supporters from the Phoenix, Arizona area and Texas were stripped from their right to cast a vote at the convention, even though they were in good standing with LULAC. Because their candidate Garcia was disqualified. With Garcia ousted, Moran easily won re-election. 
Garcia and other LULAC members at the convention alleged dirty politics and Moran's supporters of suppressing the membership vote from those who have paid their dues. 

Domingo Garcia's lawsuit filed in Dallas at link: http://bit.ly/11XMTxH
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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sonido Condor Launched Flyer Campaign To Locate Stolen Truck And Thieves

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D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez

(Click on flyer image to enlarge, print and post.)

Vásquez to post hundreds of flyers throughout the California area where the Sonido Condor's truck with music equipment was stolen. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 23, 2013

Commerce, CA - On Saturday, D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez,  53, from Sonido Condor announced through a YouTube video that he will circulate and post flyers throughout California about his stolen truck loaded with sound equipment in an attempt to locate it. A reward is being offered by Vásquez for information leading to the arrest and conviction of several suspects in connection with the stolen truck.
The Sonido Condor's truck had just arrived in California from Mexico loaded with the entire sound, light and D.J. equipment to be used during the U.S. multistate touring nightclub and dance hall gigs. 
Vásquez described the truck as an 18 foot long White Ford E450 truck van with California plates 68487G1. It also has the word "Marathon" in front of the upper cabin.
Several suspects driving a Green SUV Toyota Runner went into a parking lot and stole the parked Sonido Condor's truck on Tuesday morning next to a Ramada Hotel, which the theft was caught on several video surveillance cameras in the area.
Video from the day before also caught images of a similar Toyota SUV scoping the place around 5:15 p.m., according to Vásquez. 
Police continue to look for the suspects and the stolen truck.
Vásquez says, most likely by Monday the license plates of the Toyota will be made available through image enhancement. 
Hundreds of the Sonido Condor fans and other sonido groups in the area launched a campaign through Facebook and other social networks around multiple cities and suburbs where the truck was stolen in an effort to locate it.
Vásquez couldn't confirm, if a truck spotted in a Los Angeles neighborhood was his missing truck. But according to a tip, police had surrounded the area where a white truck was parked and no-one was allowed to get close to the scene. Los Angeles police hasn't released any information about the incident. 


D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez sends out message to fans about his Sonido Condor truck at link: http://is.gd/oQuTlV


Sonido Condor released the following list of items stolen in Commerce, CA along with truck, total worth in the thousands of dollars.

Click on image to enlarge
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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Kelly To Star In Major Wesley Mission Campaign Of Hope Ads

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Emmanuel Kelly

Photos: FB

Major campaign of Hope to air in August featuring Wesley Mission Victoria Ambassador of Hope Emmanuel Kelly, an aspiring Australian song writer and former X Factor contestant whose rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" captivated millions of fans around the world.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 22, 2013

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Last month, Emmanuel Kelly, 19, of Melbourne announced on his Emmanuel Kelly Official Facebook page and Twitter accounts that a major campaign of Hope sponsored by the Wesley Mission Victoria (WMV) will officially be launched on August 4. Kelly, who is the official Ambassador of Hope spent several days in mid May filming the ad campaign for WMV.
According to WMV's website, the organization is commitment to social justice. WMV cares about people who experience loneliness, disadvantage, vulnerability, isolation and disability. Through a range of programs and services, we respond to people's diverse needs and empower them to lead full lives as equal members of our community. WMV also helps to address the structures in our society that contribute to disadvantage through our policy, research and advocacy work.
Kelly is the famous former Australian X Factor participant who on August 2011 during an audition did a rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" song that captivated the judges, audience and millions of people around the world. His YouTube video performance and song of the rendition went viral. Today, the YouTube video had 14.4 million viewers, which continues to spread today on the Internet and social media. His audition song even won phrase by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono. She tweeted, "Thank you, Emmanuel. You sang beautifully!  Thank you. John would have been proud of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love, Yoko."
He was later cut from the X Factor in September 2011 and didn't make it to the top 24 contestants. Despite his cut from the X Factor for not doing well in the physical aspect of the show, Kelly has gained more than 14 million fans and most likely has doubled since then, with added fans from Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.
Kelly wants to become a respected song writer and singer, according to his FB, but he has surpassed his dream even though, he is modest about his success and fan base. Kelly wrote on FB, "I am an aspiring singer song writer, and my dream is to become a professional commercial artist, it is my dream to become one of the most respected and admired singer song writer."
Kelly and his brother, Ahmad as babies were found in a shoebox by nuns in Baghdad Park in Iraq. Both brothers suffer limb deficiencies due to chemical warfare. Kelly suffers from Scoliosis in his hips, which only surgery could reverse damage or he would have to use a wheelchair in the future.
Kelly and his brother don't know their real birth date, since no birth certificate or passport were included along with them.
They were rescued from an orphanage by Moira Kelly from the Children First Foundation who became their legal guardian and mother, since childhood.
Last month, Moira Kelly created the Global Gardens of Peace organization and is working to build a garden in the war torn Gaza Strip with a playground and green scenery by planting plants and trees from Australia that can adapt to the dry climate in Israel. Today, no birds can be found in the Gaza, but the new garden is expected to bring serenity and a sense of peace to children and their families in the area. Moira also hopes that the garden can attract birds to the Gaza.

Emmanuel Kelly song video at link: http://is.gd/Fh5cNe

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Former U.S. Border Patrol Villarreal Brothers Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Human Smuggling

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Raul Villarreal and Fidel Villarreal

Photo: PGR

The Villarreal brothers made between $700K to $1M for smuggling hundreds of illegal Mexican nationals and Brazilians into the U.S.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 22, 2013

San Diego, CA - On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John Houston sentenced former U.S. Border Patrol agents, Raúl Villarreal,  42, to 35 years in prison and was fined $250K and Fidel Villarreal,  44, to 30 years in prison, both of San Diego. They were convicted in 2012 for operating a lucrative human smuggling ring that brought hundreds of Mexicans and Brazilians illegally into the United States using official agency vehicles.
The federal prosecutor estimated at least 1,000 of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Brazil were smuggled into the U.S. In groups of ten at a cost of $10,000 for each group. Judge Houston lower the smuggling number to 500.
Both brothers made between $700K to $1M in the smuggling operation and taking bribes. 
The investigation began in May 2005 when a woman tipped authorities that the Villarreal brothers charged her $12,000 to get her across border patrol check points in the U.S. The Villarreal discovered they were being investigated and quit their jobs in June 2006 and fled to Tijuana their birth place. In March 2009, they were extradited along with two othersl suspects from Tijuana, Mexico.
They were charged with human smuggling, witness tempering and bribery.
Two other suspects were also convicted in the case. Armando Garcia, 44, of Tijuana, Mexico, who acted as a foot guide for the ring, was found guilty by a jury on multiple felony counts of conspiracy to smuggle aliens, money laundering and receiving bribes. Claudia Gonzalez, 35, of Tijuana, pleaded guilty in December 2009 to conspiracy to smuggle aliens for financial gain, bribery and money laundering. Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
According to court documents, ICE special agents conducted extensive surveillance of the defendants' smuggling operations, using surveillance aircraft, GPS devices and video cameras mounted on poles along the California-Mexico border. The video showed Fidel Villarreal picking up groups of illegal aliens with his official Border Patrol vehicle and transporting them to designated staging locations to await their transportation into the interior.

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Friday, June 21, 2013

Feds Charged Whistleblower Snowden In Secret Indictment

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Edward J. Snowden

Whistleblower of the century seeking asylum in Iceland.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 21, 2013

Alexandria, Verginia - On Friday, a federal three-count criminal complaint filed in a U.S. District Court on June 14 against a former National Security Agency (NSA) contract employee from Booz Allen Hamilton was unsealed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) filed the complaint against whistleblower Edward J. Snowden charging him with theft of government documents, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an authorized person.
If convicted, Snowden is facing 10 years in prison for each count. The feds filed a "provisional arrest warrant" with the Hong Kong police requesting for the immediate arrest of Snowden, who is believed staying in Hong Kong. No word, if the Hong Kong police will honor the U.S. government's warrant request.
Last month, Snowden leaked to The Guardian and the Washington Post damaging information that the NSA and the British governments were collected phone and internet data for at least seven years from Americans in the country and abroad. Snowden also provided information that the British government tapped, gathered internet information and phone details of calls made by diplomats while attending a summit. That information was shared with the NSA and data gathered by the NSA from Americans was also shared with the British intelligence agency.
Snowden recently released documents confirming the NSA had been also collecting e-mails and information from phone users and reading such data, which the NSA and President Barack H. Obama have denied of doing so.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange confirmed that Snowden lawyers have contacted him and have asked to helped Snowden get asylum in Iceland.
Five other former whistleblowers that had worked for the NSA have confirmed that the information leaked by Snowden was true. Snowden has become a hero for some Americans and to others, especially former Vice President Dick Chenny (R) a traitor. 
The U.S. Congress has not provided legislation to protect whistleblowers from prosecution, if they reveal or expose illegal activities by the NSA or other branches of the federal government. When the NSA states, they can't provide any information because of national security, it is most likely the activity engaged by the NSA is an illegal act.
The NSA has an oversight, which is a secret court that has given broad powers to the NSA in the guise of national security.
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Rodriguez Villava To Join Mexico's Department of Treasury

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Juan Carlos Rodriguez Villava and José Antonio Peral

Rodriguez Villava leaving ProMexico Chicago to join Mexico's Department of Treasury. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 21, 2013

Chicago, Illinois - On Friday, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Villava, the ProMexico Deputy Trade and Investment Commissioner of Mexico for the Mid-West announced that he is leaving ProMexico Chicago on June 30 to join Mexico's Department of Treasury (Secretaria de Hacienda). ProMexico Chicago Trade Commission of Mexico develops and supports business leads between Mexico and the Mid-West by supporting companies deciding to expand or develop operations in to Mexico, according to its government industry relations profile.
Rodriguez Villava stated, "These past 2 years have been very significant and intense for the commercial relationship between the Midwest and Mexico, and specifically, this Trade Commission has participated in the completion of projects worth more than $950 Million USD with a portfolio that keeps growing.
"Agreements between authorities, trade missions, investment seminars,  amongst many other initiatives have marked this period and I am certain that they will continue to grow stronger, with one particular set of purposes: more efficiency, more jobs, more profitability, and ultimately, more Midwest of the US in Mexico and more Mexico in the Midwest."
A new Trade Commissioner has been appointed to lead ProMexico Chicago. José Antonio Peral was recently appointed Trade Commissioner and will head the ProMexico Chicago team, according to Rodriguez Villava. Peral was a former Trade Commissioner in Korea and recently the Trade Commissioner for Toronto.
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Fourteen 7-Eleven Stores Seized By Feds For Exploiting Illegals, False Documents And Stealing Wages

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Feds expanded their investigation by executing search and seizure warrants and inspecting at least 30 other 7-Eleven franchise stores, which has become the largest criminal immigration forfeiture for the Department of Homeland Security's history.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 21, 2013

Long Island, New York - On Thursday, after Monday's federal immigration raid that seized fourteen 7-Eleven franchise stores for exploiting illegal immigrants, Darren Rebelez, the 7-Eleven's CEO and executive vice president sent out a mass letter to all franchises that field consultants and market managers will be conducting I-9 work status compliance checks on site. Rebelez wrote in a letter to all franchises that, "This letter is to remind you of the required I-9 compliance steps and to outline some of the consequences for failure to comply. These requirements are mandatory for all franchisees. Failure to comply will result in serious consequences, including the possible termination of your franchise agreement." 
For noncompliance, Rebelez wrote that those franchises with incomplete or incorrect I-9 forms could be fined by the feds between $110 to $1,100 per form. 
On Monday,  Loretta E. Lynch, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York announced in a news release that eight men and one woman from Long Island, New York, were charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, stealing identities, and concealing and harboring illegal immigrants employed at 7-Eleven, Inc. (7-Eleven) franchise stores located throughout Long Island and Virginia. The suspects were identified as Farrukh Baig , 57,  a Naturalized United States Citizen from Head of Harbor, New York; Bushra Baig, 49, a Naturalized United States from Head of Harbor, New York; Malik Yoisaf, 51, a Naturalized United States from South Setauket, New York; Zahid Baig, 52, a Naturalized United States from Chesapeake, Virginia; Shannawaz Baig, 62, a Naturalized United States from Virginia Beach, Virginia; Tariq Rana, 34, from Pakistan residing in Chesapeake, Virginia; Ramon Nanas, 49, from the Republic of the Philippines residing in Great River, New York; Azhar Zia, 49, a Naturalized United States from Great River, New York; and Ummar Uppal, 48, from Pakistan residing in Islip Terrace, New York.
Lynch says, that through this scheme, the defendants, who owned, managed and controlled fourteen 7-Eleven franchise stores during the course of the conspiracies, allegedly hired dozens of illegal immigrants, equipped them with more than 20 identities stolen from United States citizens, housed them at residences owned by the defendants, and stole substantial portions of their wages.
The illegal employees were forced to work up to 100 hours and were paid a fraction of their wages earned.
If convicted, the defendants will face 20 years' imprisonment on wire fraud conspiracy and alien harboring charges, as well as multiple counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory, consecutive two-year term of incarceration. In addition, all property used to facilitate the harboring of illegal immigrants, together with all proceeds of the wire fraud conspiracy and alien harboring charges, are subject to forfeiture. The defendants were in court for an  arraignment on Monday at the United States Courthouses in Central Islip, New York and Norfolk, Virginia.
The indictments, arrests and seizures are the result of one of the largest criminal immigrant employment investigations ever conducted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.  As set forth in court filings, the government has moved to forfeit the franchise rights to ten 7-Eleven stores in New York and four 7-Eleven stores in Virginia.  In the indictments, the government has also moved to forfeit five houses in New York worth over $1.3 million.  According to the Department of Homeland Security, the case constitutes the largest criminal immigration forfeiture in its history.  In addition, federal agents fanned out across the country to execute multiple search and seizure warrants and inspect approximately 30 7-Eleven franchise stores.
The actions taken are the initial results of an ongoing investigation into the employment and exploitation of illegal immigrants at 7-Eleven franchise stores nationwide.
According to court filings, from 2000 until the present, the defendants collectively and systematically employed more than 50 illegal immigrants at fourteen 7-Eleven franchise stores in Long Island and Virginia.  Rather than transmitting the true identification information of the illegal immigrant employees to 7-Eleven headquarters for processing, the defendants allegedly used more than 20 stolen identities, submitting stolen names and Social Security numbers of United States citizens to conceal the presence of illegal immigrants on the 7-Eleven franchise store payrolls.  7-Eleven headquarters processed the payroll and sent the employees' wages to the defendants for distribution.  The defendants then allegedly stole significant portions of the illegal immigrants' wages, rather than paying the workers in full.  The defendants also required the illegal immigrant to live in residences owned by the defendants and to pay rent in cash to the defendants. 
As alleged in court documents, the victims of the identity theft hail from seven states, range in age from 8 to 78 years old, and include a child, three dead people and a Coast Guard cadet.  In addition, the defendants, together with others, caused the 7-Eleven payroll service to transmit this false information, including the stolen identity information, to United States regulatory agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration.
During the scheme, the defendants allegedly generated over $182 million in proceeds from the 7-Eleven franchise stores.  Profits from those stores were shared by the defendants and 7-Eleven. 

Read more →

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Three From Wisconsin Among 23 Indicted In Illinois For Drug Trafficking

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Chicago police and DEA agents arrested 21 of 23 suspects for heroin and cocaine distribution in three states.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 20, 2013

Chicago, Illinois - On Thursday, Chicago police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed 11 search warrants targeting nine homes and two vehicles resulting in 21 of 23 suspects arrested in connection for heroin and cocaine distribution that expanded to Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, U.S. Attorney Gary S. Shapiro from the Northern District of Illinois announced. The indictments filed on Wednesday included a 10-count criminal complaint charging 23 suspects with possession with intent to distribute or distribution of narcotics in three states.
The joint investigation began back in September 2012 and federal agents between November 2012 to April 2013 seized three pounds of heroin and nine pounds of cocaine. A half pound of heroin was sold to federal collaborators and an undercover DEA agent.
Also crack cocaine and ecstasy was confiscated by feds, according to the indictment. 
Three of the suspects are from Wisconsin, Vonzaye Davis, 42, Cory Griffin, 32, both from Milwaukee and Brandon Elsing, 29, of Madison.
Two suspects are from Indiana, Misheela Belcher, 24, and Michael Starnes, 35.
Eighteen suspects are from Illinois, Michael Coleman, 31, Nicolas Franco, 28, Neftali Freytes, 28, aka, "Lucky", Jameson Hamlin, 39, Malcolm Harris, 28, Richard Hicks, 52, aka, "Unc", Charles James, 35, aka, "Chuck", Corey Minnifield, 31, Francisco Mireles, 33, aka, "Pops", Eric Paskon, 32, aka, "E", Angel Perez, 27, "Hellboy, HB, or Fatboy", Eduardo Rivera, 35, Jimmy Serrano,  24, Anwer Shahbaz, 32, aka, "BZ or Baz", Ladell Smith, 27, Daniel Vasquez, 30, Antonio Whiting, 27, and Michael Whiting, 31.
The criminal complaint alleged that Serrano supplied heroin to Michael Whiting who operated as a wholesale heroin supplier along with his brother, Antonio Whiting, James, Coleman and Minnifield. Michael then sold heroin his customers, including Davis and Hicks.
Authorities confiscated a .40 Caliber Glock handgun, a bulletproof vest, and $20,000 cash in a vehicle that Smith was driving. Another weapon, drugs and $10,000 in cash was found in a home that Michael Whiting was using as a stash house.
Eighteen suspects are facing from 5 to 40 years in prison and up to  $5 million in fines. Five susects, Mireles, Perez, Shahbaz and Vasquez are facing 10 years to life with fines up to $10 million. Davis is facing up to 20 years and up to $2 million in fines, if convicted.
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Several Suspects Sought For Stealing Sonido Condor's Truck Full Of DJ Music Equipment

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D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez

Stolen equipment won't effect Sonido Condor's scheduled performances in the U.S. or Mexico, D.J. Aguilar Vásquez confirmed. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 20, 2013

Commerce, CA - Police in City of Commerce are looking for several suspects that stole a truck full of sound and video equipment from the popular Super Sonido Condor from the Ramada Hotel parking lot around 8:24 a.m. on Tuesday. The suspects were captured on several video surveillance cameras from the hotel, a nearby Danny's Restaurant and a street camera from the city.
The suspects had another vehicle as well and they were heading to Freeway 5, according to D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez. Vásquez, 53, is offering a reward for any information about the identity of the suspects and there whereabouts, including his equipment. 
D.J. Vásquez from Sonido Condor says, the truck had arrived from Mexico with his sound, lights and video equipment. But, the suspects had stole his truck. Vásquez described the truck as an 18 foot long White Ford E450 vantruck with California plates 68487G1. It also has the word "Maratthon" in front of the upper cabin.
Vásquez appealed to other D.J.'s in the area to keep a lookout for his truck. He also posted on Facebook that any contract performances that have been confirmed, "he will honor." The Sonido Condor is known to pack the house where ever he performs.
The stolen equipment won't effect his scheduled performances in New York, Kentucky, Alabama and California, including Mexico, according to Vásquez.

A suspect is driving the white truck away and another suspect driving an SUV is following. Images from video surveillance camera released by D.J. Arnulfo Aguilar Vásquez shows the 18 foot long white Sonido Condor truck Ford E450 being stolen.


Sonido Condor released the following list of items stolen in Commerce, CA along with truck, total worth in the thousands of dollars.

Click on image to enlarge
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Dolce & Gabbana Sentenced To 20 Months In Jail For Tax Evasion

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Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

Italian fashion duo evaded to pay a total of $543 million euros in taxes and were found guilty in two separate cases.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 20, 2013

Milan, Italy - A Milan court sentenced both Domenico Dolce, 54, and Stefano Gabbana, 50, to 20 months in jail for tax evasion totaling $200 million euros ($268 million dollars). The court also fined them $500,000 euros ($670,000 dollars) and ordered them to pay it to the Italian tax agency.
Four other Dolce & Gabbana associates including Alfonso Dolce (Domenico's brother) and Luciano Patelli, a consultant are also facing prison terms.
Prosecutors say, Dolce and Cabbana, the fashion duo created a company outside Italy named Gado from their surnames in Luxembourg between 2004-05 for the purpose to avoid paying taxes. They failed to claim it as one of their business ventures and assets for tax purposes.
The defendant's attorneys say, that they will appeal their client's sentences. Their sentences were suspended until they exhaust their appeals, according to court records.
In March, they were also found guilty of evading to pay taxes and were ordered to pay $343.3 million euros ($439.70 million dollars) in restitution. They were facing five years in prison, but that case has been also appealed.
Both Dolce and Cabbana, founded their multi-million fashion designing company in 1985. Today, they have 250 shops and their products, clothing, footwear, handbags, sunglasses and watches are distributed in 40 countries. Dolce and Gabbana employs about 3,000 workers.
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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

WI Majority GOP Assembly Budget Passed Without A Single Democrat Amendment

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Rep. Peter Barca

Democrats decided not to introduce any of their 200 amendments because Republican Assembly leaders advised them they wouldn't pass any.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 19, 2013

Madison, WI - On Wednesday, the state GOP Assembly control legislators were stunt after Minority Leader Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) spoked for more than a half hour to the Assembly members about the budget's failure to help the working middle class. Barca said, that Democrats would not introduced any of their 200 amendments to the Republican control budget. Barca had talked about the damage the budget would do to the middle working class, education, Badgercare and that the GOP budget was geared to benefit the wealthy.
Democrats said that they will take their fight and amendments to the public. The state Senate will begin the budget debate on Thursday morning.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) stated, that the new "budget cuts taxes, invests in education and reforms government...freezes tuition and fees for the UW System...after the System stockplied tuition dollars for future expenses. "
The Wisconsin State Assembly Bill (AB 40) 2013-2015 Biennial budget passed by a margin of 55-42, with 3 GOP members voting no with Democrats. 
The $68 billion two year budget plan includes:

● $1 billion in tax cuts for the wealthy,
● funds nearly $300 million for public schools and expands statewide school choice,
● rejects federal medicaid expansion funding,
● cuts BadgerCare funding and covers 84,700 fewer people at an extra cost of $120 million, 
● UW System tuition won't be increased,
● will allow Bail Bondsmen,
● eliminates Milwaukee city employees residency requirements,
● allows for State Crime Lab in Milwaukee to relocate,
● retroactively eliminates lead paint poisoning lawsuits effecting 171 cases of children, 
● and stops funding for Milwaukee Police Department SpotShotter program, which pinpoints gunfire at neighborhoods.

State of Wisconsin Assembly vote results on AB 40 (Click on image to enlarge).
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Milwaukee D.A. Released Alleged Potawatomi Shooting Suspect

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Photos courtesy of De Von Dent

The 27-year-old suspect who allegedly shot his girlfriend early last Sunday inside the Potawatomi Bingo Casino has been released from custody.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 19, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, the 27-year-old suspect who allegedly shot his 23-year-old girlfriend in the left leg during an altercation inside the Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal Street has been released from custody, according to both Fox 6 News and  CBS 58 News. No further details have been released by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office (DA).
The suspect allegedly shot his girlfriend on June 16, around 1:30 a.m. after her brother tried to defuse an argument between them. Several people inside the casino struggled with the suspect and took control of his weapon after he fired multiple shots. 
The suspect apparently has a felony record and can't carry a conceal weapon, according to court records. The DA says, the case is still open and pending.
No charges have been filed against the 27-year-old suspect.
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Three Suspects Charged With Forced Labor Of Cognitive Disable Woman And Child

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Jordie L. Callahan, Jessica L. Hunt and Daniel J. Brown

Photos: USDOJ

Woman and child held captive for two years by the suspects.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 19, 2013

Ashland, Ohio - On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern District of Ohio in a news release announced that three Ashland residents were taken into custody and charged for human trafficking that included forced labor and stealing disability benefits from a cognitively disable woman and her child. The woman and child were held captive for two years.
The suspects were identified as Jordie L. Callahan, 26; Jessica L. Hunt, 31; and Daniel J. Brown, aka D.J. Brown, 33, they were all charged with forced labor. Callahan is charged with an additional count of tampering with a witness.
The three suspects are accused of participating in a conspiracy between May 2011 and October 2012 in which they held a woman and her juvenile child in a condition of forced labor and involuntary servitude.
The conspiracy included beating the disabled woman and her child, threatening the woman with a firearm, threatening to kill the woman and her child, threatening the woman and her child with large snakes, forcing them to sleep in a padlocked room with a large iguana, and other actions, according to charges filed in U.S. District Court.
The case was referred to the FBI by police investigators after  the woman was caught stealing candy from a store. The told police that she didn't want to return to where she was living at because the people there treated her bad. When police investigated, they found that the suspects were holding the woman and her child against their will.
The woman was beaten and both the woman and her child were only allowed to eat canned foods or leftovers after everyone else, including the suspects children had eaten. The woman's disability benefits were used by Callahan and no money was ever given to the woman. Her child was not allowed to go with her to the store for fear she would escape.
An affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Michael Sirohman states, that "Callahan and Hunt forced the woman to clean the house, do laundry, walk to the store to do their shopping, and care for their numerous pit bulls and reptiles. The woman was timed when she went to the store and was not allowed to bring her child with her. Callahan and Hunt beat the woman and her child, threatened their lives, denied them food, and threatened them with the pit bulls and reptiles.
"At various points, Callahan threatened the woman with a gun. The woman and her child initially were forced to sleep on a cement floor in the basement with no mattress. Later, they were moved to a room upstairs, again with no bed or mattress. The child was kept in the room all day, and at night the room was padlocked to keep the woman and her child from escaping...Callahan and Hunt also repeatedly taunted and threatened woman and chld with injury from the couple's snakes, including a poisonous coral snake, a ball phython, and a Burmese python that weighed 130 pounds.
"In August 2011, the conspirators slammed woman's hand with a rock in order to obtain pain medication. She was taken to the emergency room and returned with a prescription for pain medication.
"In December 2011, Callahan and Hunt injured the woman's back and then forced her to turn over the prescription for Vicodin she received for her back injury.
On another occasion, Callahan kicked the woman in the hip, and then he and Hunt forced her to turn over the prescription for Vicodin she received for her hip injury.
"About a year later, the woman was arrested for shoplifting a candy bar. She asked to be taken to jail and said she was living with Callahan and Hunt and that they "were mean to her." 
"A police officer went to Callahan and Hunt's apartment. When the officer advised Callahan that the woman would not return, Callahan told police he believed the woman was abusing her child and showed them the mobile phone video from October 2011.
"The woman later told police that Callahan had showed her video recordings of her beating her child after being instructed to do so by Callahan and Hunt. Callahan told the woman that if she "messed up" or told police about her living conditions, Callahan would show the videos to police and have her daughter taken away," according to an FBI affidavit.
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Butler Residents Debating Whether To Disbanded Police Department

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Michael Cosgrove

The Village of Butler Board keeps police department, despite recent racist and sexist remarks, including frequent porno watching by officers and former chief, a report released by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 19, 2013

Butler, WI - On Tuesday, the Village of Butler Board of Trustees met to hear residents complaints about the recent porno watching scandal by their police department while on duty. The 365-page released by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department revealed that four officers and their former Police Chief Michael Cosgrove engaged in "college frat house" behavior while on duty and with Cosgrove's leadership, the department "was permeated with elements of racism and pornography."
Cosgrove led the department by "fear and intimidation...derogatory and offensive" remarks toward officers and staff. One officer allegedly exposed his penis at the department and Chief Cosgrove loosely used the "n" word in frequent burst outs with personnel, the report revealed. 
One officer was placed on administrative paid leave and the other officers were disciplined for misconduct, but no criminal charges have been filed yet by the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office, which is reviewing the report.
The officers involved were identified as Joe Fus, Rick Napierala and Chad Rahn. A supervisor, Lieutenant Brian Pergande was also disciplined. 
Lieutenant Dave Wentlandt was the only supervisor cleared of any wrong doing and was recommended to replace Cosgrove who retired in March 10, after 33 years on the job. In 2005, Cosgrove became Chief of Police.
Cosgrove did not get a performance review by the Butler Board of Trustees for the last 20 years, as a contract clause had required it done periodically, the Waukesha County Sheriff's report indicated. He was placed on administrative leave on February 20. 
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Missing Employee Allegedly Connected To Educators Credit Union Robbery

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Jessica Benson

Benson allegedly planned a May credit union robbery with boyfriend. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 18, 2012

Milwaukee,  WI - A search warrant filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court by police confirmed that they are investigating a connection between a missing person, Jessica Benson, 22, to a May 7 robbery of the Educators Credit Union at the  7000 block of W. Appleton Ave. Benson worked at the credit union and disappeared days after the credit union was robbed. 
Two suspects, Kevin Blackburn, 25, and Ricardo Perkins, 31, were taken into custody shortly after attempting to flee from the credit union robbery. They were charged with robbing a financial institution. 
A police search warrant was issued to get rental car records from a car rental place that Benson used after the robbery. Police investigators believe that both Benson and her live in boyfriend, Nathaniel Robinson planned the robbery, but managed to move out from their appartment on or after May 3. Court documents indicate, a probation agent had visited Robinson's apartment earlier and furniture was still at the place. Soon after, both Benson and Robinson moved out. 
On May 14, police visited Benson's apartment and found an empty place and no one was there. She was reported missing. 
Robinson has not reported his new address to his parole agent and has missed a meeting with the agent. Robinson is now sought for violating his parole conditions. 
Police continue to treat Benson's disappearance as missing.
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