Fair Finance Trustee Squeezes $15,000 From Former Penthouse Pet

I hesitate to refer to her as a girlfriend of convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham, but she was a female acquaintance of Durham for whom he spent about $150,000 of other people's money to purchase her automobiles, clothing and diamond jewelry, including an engagement ring. Erica Lookadoo-Jiles, a/k/a Erica Taylor, a/k/a Juliet Cariaga, a 2000 Penthouse Pet, has entered an agreement with the bankruptcy trustee to repay just $15,000 due to "lack of personal assets" and "limited and sporadic income", at least of the kind reported to the IRS. It probably cost the trustee more money to travel to L.A. to depose her than he recovered from her at the end of the day. It's funny that she was supposedly engaged to Durham since during a NSFW interview with radio talk show host Howard Stern she claimed she was primarily a lesbian who didn't mind sleeping with men as well. She also said she was into voyeuristic sex, which is probably why Durham was so enamored by her. According to Wikipedia, she once cashed $39,000 worth of poker chips for Philadelphia money launderer Andrew Yao at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Yao was convicted of lying about and concealing gambling expenditures and extravagant gifts he purchased for Playboy and Penthouse models.

Tully Finally Pens A Critical Column Of Ballard: Challenges Him For Spending 62 Days On Out-Of-State Junkets

It's hard to understand why it took a disastrous handling of snow removal during a major winter storm for Star political columnist Matt Tully to finally write a critical column about Mayor Greg Ballard after almost 7 years, but he finally got there. In today's column, Tully finds a mayor who is: "dismissive of valid concerns"; "I'm smarter than anyone else"; "inability to tolerate different opinions"; "won't listen to complaints"; and "lost interest in the nuts and bolts of running a city . . . but not the trappings." Tully's toughest criticism of Ballard is the inordinate amount of time he's spent out of the city traveling on various junkets--62 days last year alone:

During 2013, Ballard spent 62 days on out-of-town travel, not including personal trips. He attended a bike summit in Washington, spent almost a week in India on a trade mission, a few days at a robotics tournament in California, and four days at the NCAA Final Four championships in Atlanta. He jetted off to France, Germany and New York for symposiums, meetings and summits. He went to Chicago and Barcelona, Spain to receive awards from the parking and electric-vehicle industries — industries that have fared well under his administration.

Some of the meetings were of clear importance, such as one on crime at the White House. But the value of other trips was less obvious. Does an American mayor really need to spend five days in Florence, Italy to “discuss cultural and urban redevelopment?”

Travel for Ballard and, in several cases, his wife, was financed largely by Develop Indy, an economic-development arm in the city funded primarily by local corporations, and by other non-taxpayer sources.

The mayor’s spokesman defended the travel, which collectively in 2013 was the equivalent of spending all of January and February, and three days in March, out of town. The spokesman, Marc Lotter, said several of the trips were related to areas in which Ballard “has taken a leadership position,” such as water issues, biking and parking meter privatization. He said the mayor “is never out of communication with the city, so the work of the city continues.”

Still, 62 days out of town when his city was suffering through the worst murder rate it has seen in years? Are more international jaunts, four last year alone, worthwhile when those in the past have produced few significant results?

When asked about his frequent international travel recently, the mayor offered yet another irritable reply.

“This is a global economy,” he told Murray. “You’re going to live by it, or you’re going to die by it — take your pick.”

I talked to Ballard late Friday, just before filing this column. Most of the conversation was off the record at the request of his staff, but Ballard did defend his travel and what he called his focus on the city.

“I just think it’s important to get out there and have a presence,” he said of his travel. “We’re getting a lot of notice for a lot of things outside of the city.”

At home, he added: “The things are getting done. I don’t know anyone could suggest otherwise.”

For Tully's edification, Ballard didn't turn into this monster after 7 years in office; he became that way within his first 30 days on the job. For someone with a very unimpressive resume' short on significant accomplishments, his ego outgrew his head pretty quickly. I'd like to see how much Ballard is declaring as income on his tax returns for all of these free vacations and other gifts given to him and his wife by city contractors and developers to which his administration has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and grants. I'll lay odds that he's not declaring a dime of the amount, which runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars as income.

Marion's Financial Woes An Albatross For Seybold's Campaign For State Treasurer

It looks like the spotlight is growing on the financial plight facing the City of Marion where its popular mayor, Wayne Seybold, is seeking the Republican nomination for State Treasurer this year. Seybold has asked the city council for authorization to borrow up to $12.8 million in tax anticipation notes after the city started the year with $320,000 in its general fund and only $44,000 in cash reserves. Seybold blames the state's property tax cap law and rising health insurance costs for the city's financial woes. A story in the Chronicle-Tribune compares Marion's financial situation with that of a similar-sized city, Richmond, and finds that Richmond has managed its financial affairs better in the face of equally-challenging financial circumstances. This can't be good news for Seybold, who is facing strong opposition from Richmond businessman Don Bates and Deputy Treasurer Kelly Mitchell for the Republican nomination. Seybold still boasts the support of many GOP leaders though.

UPDATE: I neglected to mention that Seybold was also sued in the Grant County Superior Court this past week for an unpaid American Express card issued by Centurion Bank. According to the complaint, Seybold has an unpaid bill of $5,357.

New Report: Rocket Used In Syrian Sarin Gas Attack Launched By American-Backed Rebels

The McClatchy News Service has a report that weapons inspectors meeting in Washington this week concluded that a rocket launched in Syria for a Sarin gas attack originated from the territory held by the American-backed rebels seeking to overthrow the Assad government. It's another report you probably won't see on the nightly news or one of the 24-hour cable TV news stations.

A series of revelations about the rocket believed to have delivered poison sarin gas to a Damascus suburb last summer are challenging American intelligence assumptions about that attack and suggest that the case U.S. officials initially made for retaliatory military action was flawed.

A team of security and arms experts, meeting this week in Washington to discuss the matter, has concluded that the range of the rocket that delivered sarin in the largest attack that night was too short for the device to have been fired from the Syrian government positions where the Obama administration insists they originated . . .

Nonetheless, the Obama administration is sticking by the original story it fabricated as an excuse to start yet another war in the Middle East. It seems that our interest in ensuring that a pipeline gets built through Syria connecting the American-controlled Arab states to the south with Turkey trump the truth. Assad objects to construction of the pipeline so we will do whatever it takes to discredit him and drive him from power so another puppet regime can be installed.

In Washington, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its assertion of Syrian government responsibility remains unchanged.

“The body of information used to make the assessment regarding the August 21 attack included intelligence pertaining to the regime’s preparations for this attack and its means of delivery, multiple streams of intelligence about the attack itself and its effect, our post-attack observations, and the differences between the capabilities of the regime and the opposition. That assessment made clear that the opposition had not used chemical weapons in Syria,” it said Wednesday in an email.

But the authors of a report released Wednesday said that their study of the rocket’s design, its likely payload and its possible trajectories show that it would have been impossible for the rocket to have been fired from inside areas controlled by the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad . . . 

The report also raised questions whether the Obama administration misused intelligence information in a way similar to the administration of President George W. Bush in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Then, U.S. officials insisted that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had an active program to develop weapons of mass destruction. Subsequent inspections turned up no such program or weapons.

“What, exactly, are we spending all this money on intelligence for?” Postol asked.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/01/15/214656/new-analysis-of-rocket-used-in.html#storylink=cpy

It's incredible how all the so-called liberals who yelled incessantly about Bush's incursions in the Middle East sit by silently as Obama perpetuates his sins. Surely Obama's puppet strings aren't pulled by the same people who pulled Bush's strings?

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/01/15/214656/new-analysis-of-rocket-used-in.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/01/15/214656/new-analysis-of-rocket-used-in.html#storylink=cpy

Lucas Eitel Mention On ESPN

My nephew, Lucas Eitel, received a nice mention during an ESPN 3 broadcast of the ISU-Missouri State game the other night, which the Sycamores won 70-55. Lucas was recognized as the Scholar-Athlete of the game. The Sycamores have a 15-3 record and are undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Hogsett Says No To Indy Mayoral Bid

U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett sat down with his favorite, gushing admirer, Star political columnist Matt Tully, to break our hearts by telling us he won't be a candidate for mayor of Indianapolis in 2015 or the U.S. Senate or governor's office in 2016.

The blockbuster race for mayor of Indianapolis in 2015 that many political observers have been predicting, with anticipation, will not take place. Joe Hogsett, the high-profile U.S. Attorney who has drawn attention for stepping up prosecutions of gang members and corrupt politicians, has decided not to run for mayor.

Sitting over a cup of coffee at a Northside diner Thursday morning, Hogsett told me the job he has now is the job he wants. He pledged to serve in the position through the end of his term, which ends when the Obama administration leaves office in January 2017.

"It truly is the best job I've ever had, and it has been responsible for providing me with enormous personal satisfaction," said Hogsett, who as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana has jurisdiction over 60 of the state's 92 counties. "We have tried to do good things in this office, and I look forward to continuing to do good things." . . .

I'm not sure on which planet Tully is residing if he believes Hogsett has stepped up prosecution of corrupt politicians. He let one of this biggest catches in years, former Marion Co. Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, slip through his hands in a fashion that almost looked deliberate. Wholesale theft of public assets for the benefit of a few political insiders continues unabated on his watch. The prosecution of former City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman predated his arrival in the office, and the prosecution of former City-County Councilor Paul Bateman was for a crime unrelated to his service on the council.

The prosecution of Ponzi schemer Tim Durham also predated his arrival as U.S. Attorney. In fact, he technically had to recuse himself from participating in the case once he arrived due to his former law firm's role in representing Durham. It is quite concerning that collateral crimes committed in connection with the Durham matter that implicated many other prominent individuals may have been swept under the rug by federal prosecutors.

Hogsett's decision not to enter the 2015 mayoral race leaves a choice on the Democratic side between Tweedledum and Tweedledee: State Rep. Ed DeLaney and Washington Township Trustee/lobbyist Frank Short. Yep, it's a very sad prospect for Indianapolis voters.

GOP Marriage Amendment Poll Not Good News For HJR-3's Proponents

State House Rumors Say Bosma Plans To Remove Republicans Who Would Vote Against Amendment From Judiciary Committee
Proponents of enshrining Indiana's statutory ban on same-sex marriages are hailing the results of a new poll conducted on behalf of the Indiana State Republican Party that shows a small majority favoring a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. The new poll results were released as members of the House Judiciary Committee ponder whether to send HJR-3 to the full House for consideration.

When read the language of the amendment as proposed by HJR-3, a survey of 800 Hoosier  Republican voters found that 53% supported the amendment. When the respondents were told that state law contains similar language, support for the amendment grew to 58%; however, when respondents were explained the literal meaning of the second sentence of the amendment, a clear majority, or 54%, opposed the amendment. That includes prohibiting legal recognition of civil unions and domestic partner benefits.

Proponents of HJR-3 are trying to soften the impact of that second sentence with a trailer bill that claims that's not what their intent is, but that explanation would render the second sentence of the amendment as meaningless, surplus language. In interpreting a provision of the constitution, the Indiana Supreme Court should not be able to read out of the constitution language based on some legislative statement passed by the legislature. A majority of the respondents indicated their belief that the legislature should remove the second sentence from the proposed amendment, a move rejected by the proponents who want the proposed amendment on the ballot this fall. If the amendment is rewritten, the view is that the amendment would need to be passed by the members elected to the next General Assembly before it can be presented to voters.

Equally as important is the poll's finding that at least 50% of the respondents don't consider HJR-3 as a very important legislative priority or not a priority at all for lawmakers to address this year. Only 21% of the respondents indicated that the issue of same-sex marriages will be the primary reason they cast a vote in the November election. The respondents were split over whether their legislator voting to place the issue on the ballot would make them more or less likely to support that legislative candidate. The biggest impact would come in a primary election where 68% of the respondents indicated that it would make a difference in how they voted if a candidate did not share their view on the issue. Only 35% said they would be more likely to support a candidate for re-election who supported putting the amendment on the ballot compared to 25% who indicated they would be less likely to support a candidate who voted to place the amendment on the ballot.

Looking at the issues with which the respondents were most concerned, the marriage amendment ranked near the bottom with only 35% as identifying it as a very important issue. By contrast, respondents felt much stronger about job creation (83%), public school funding (69%) and Medicaid funding (57%). Support for cutting business taxes came in near the bottom with 33% identifying it as a very important issue.

The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony earlier this week but declined to take a vote on the amendment as anticipated. House Republicans now plan to put off a vote until next week. Rumors are circulating that three Republican members of the committee, Jerry Torr, Dan Leonard and Wendy McNamara, who have not publicly stated their position, are leaning in favor of voting against the amendment. If that occurs, the amendment would fail in committee because all four Democratic members appointed to the committee are opposed to it. There is some talk that House Speaker Brian Bosma, a supporter of the amendment, is threatening to replace any Republican member of the committee who would block its favorable passage out of the committee prior to the vote being taken. Perhaps the one aspect of the poll Republican leadership is using to influence the vote of their own caucuses is that a vote against the amendment could hurt their re-election chances if they face a primary challenge, even if it's not a particularly advantageous issue for them in the general election.

Is Carl Brizzi Using Campaign Funds For Personal Use?

Former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi may no longer hold public office or be a candidate for public office in Indiana, but he still maintains a campaign committee that has a large sum of money. His "Brizzi for Prosecutor" committee started off last year with cash on hand of more than $190,000 and ended the year with a little over $153,000 according to a campaign finance report his committee filed this week. The committee raised no money during 2013 but spent more than $37,000. It's those $37,000 in expenditures that have me asking questions:

• More than $26,000 in attorney's fees;
• $6,000 to pay Elizabeth Shrout as campaign finance manager for a non-existent campaign;
• Nearly $3,000 in cell phone expenses paid to Verizon; and
• $390 paid to Hirons & Company for media research.

Only one expenditure appeared clearly related to campaign purposes-$1,125 contributed to the Indiana State Republican Party. It is my suspicion that the payments for attorney's fees related to the hiring of a criminal defense attorney during the federal grand jury investigation last year of his corrupt relationship with Paul Page and John Bales that bungled its task of learning why people making campaign contributions to his campaign committee received favorable treatment from his office while he was prosecutor and how he landed a 50% ownership interest in an Elkhart building with Paul Page, a criminal defense attorney, that was later leased to the state's Department of Child Services to which Brizzi contributed no capital through a deal brokered by Bales. Brizzi described his acquired interest in the building as being based on a "finder's fee."

Curiously, the expenditure for attorney's fees lists the payee as "Attorney" in hand-written form; the balance of the expenditures are in type-written form and list the specific payees. Use of campaign funds to pay criminal defense expenses does not appear to be an allowable use of campaign funds under Indiana law. Brizzi's 2012 campaign finance report listed nearly $17,000 in legal fees paid to the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister.

During Brizzi's defense of Charlie White, Shrout's services were utilized by Brizzi's law office as a paralegal. Is he paying her $6,000 a year to complete an annual campaign finance report for an inactive campaign committee? It's hard to imagine how a non-existent campaign would have nearly $3,000 in cell phone expenses. Who knows what the media research expense with Hirons is about. According to IRS rules, campaign expenditures used for personal use is treated as taxable income.

Pence Reappoints Carolene Mays To Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

Once again, Gov. Mike Pence proves that he sold his soul to the devil to get elected governor. He announced today that he is reappointing Carolene Mays, a former Democratic state lawmaker who possessed zero qualifications to serve as a utility regulator other than the fact that she's the niece of Bill Mays, who served on Vectren's board of directors for many years until his retirement in 2012. Try not to gag as you read Pence's statement:

Mays with her husband

“Carolene Mays has served Hoosiers well in her role as commissioner, ensuring that Indiana has access to  reliable utility services at fair, reasonable prices,” said Pence. “I am confident Hoosiers can count on her and  the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to serve their needs and protect their pocketbooks in the years to come.”

Protect our pocketbooks? Obviously, Gov. Pence hasn't paid a utility bill in Indiana out of his own pocket for a long time. Since when did anyone appointed to the IURC represent anyone other than the big utility companies? Certainly not in my lifetime. The only people with whom the governor consults on these appointees are lobbyists and executives for the utility companies.
Got to keep those campaign contributions flowing.