Bandit Gang Writ Large

Police officer gets year in jail for conning immigrants out of $13,000

"A former Wappingers Falls police officer has been sentenced to one year in Dutchess County Jail after he admitted he conned immigrants who sought driver's licenses and immigration assistance out of more than $13,000. Rodriguez, who worked as a liaison to the Latino community in Wappingers Falls, admitted he charged victims $500 to $1,000 for 'asylum and withholding of removal' applications. He said he falsely promised the applications would be reviewed by an attorney and filed with immigration authorities. Rodriguez also admitted he charged immigrants $300 to enter a non-existent state lottery where the victims could win valid state driver’s licenses." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice officer gets year in jail for conning immigrants out of $13,000

Virginia City Hides Data Showing Increased Red Light Camera Injuries

"After holding out for more than three years, officials in Virginia Beach, Virginia finally released accident data that raise serious questions about whether the use of red light cameras has improved traffic safety in the city. The number of injury accidents went down 12 percent throughout the city. At the twelve intersections where red light camera tickets are issued, however, injury accidents went up 5 percent over the same period. After finally releasing the information, city officials dismissed the relevance of the climbing injury rate. As of January, the cameras had issued 199,463 citations worth $10 million. $7.3 million worth of tickets have been issued solely to vehicles making rolling right turns on red." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVirginia City Hides Data Showing Increased Red Light Camera Injuries

Vermont: Federal Lawsuit Challenges Bogus Traffic Stop, Lying Cop

"Rod MacIver filed a suit in the US District Court for the District of Vermont on Thursday over the December 9, 2012 traffic stop. Officer Jason P. Lawton pulled over MacIver's truck and accused him of running a red light, even though a dashcam video of the incident confirms that did not happen (view video). When MacIver began arguing with Officer Lawton, he was slapped with a $214 ticket and two points against his driver's license. Lawton then filed a complaint about the rookie officer with the Shelburne Police Department, and Sergeant Allen Fortin emailed Lawton back claiming that he had reviewed the video and it showed a violation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVermont: Federal Lawsuit Challenges Bogus Traffic Stop, Lying Cop

Florida Police Jail Man For Petitioning Against Red Light Cameras

"'As I was approaching him, I read 'BAN CAMS' on the sign he was wearing,' Officer Campbell wrote. 'He was holding a large stack of papers... I asked him if he had a permit to protest the red light cameras, and he said no.' At this point, Officer Campbell asked for Schmidter's identification. Since he was not driving, the man explained he was not carrying any. The officer then asked for his name and date of birth. Schmidter declined to do so unless the officer could show him what law he had violated. Officer Campbell said he did not have to do that. After asking one more time he grabbed Schmidter's wrist, handcuffed him, and placed him under arrest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida Police Jail Man For Petitioning Against Red Light Cameras

Officer takes seized vehicles home, bills city for repairs

"A Eugene police officer has been reprimanded for improperly taking seized vehicles home with him, neglecting to tell his bosses about it and then charging the city for the time he claims to have spent repairing them. The officer told investigators that he had taken the vehicles home to fix them up so that they could be sold at a higher value as part of a city program that transfers the proceeds of auctioned items into a fund that aids crime victims, officials said. But questions were raised when a property control specialist couldn’t find the motor­cycle, and an internal investigation was launched." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOfficer takes seized vehicles home, bills city for repairs

Government tax advisor quits after tape reveals him giving tips on avoidance

"A tax advisor to the British government was forced to resign after he was secretly filmed giving advice on how to avoid paying tax, officials said on Saturday. David Heaton was recorded by undercover BBC reporters at a London conference explaining to companies how to keep their money out of finance minister George Osborne’s 'grubby mitts'. Two months later, he started work on a panel advising the revenue ministry, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), on how to tackle abuse of the tax rules, according to the BBC. A spokeswoman for HMRC confirmed that Heaton had resigned to preserve the integrity of the panel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment tax advisor quits after tape reveals him giving tips on avoidance

All Hail Rick Perry!

"It’s always a good thing for society, but bad for our rulers, when at least one of them decides it’s a good idea to compete by lowering taxes. (Maryland state government recently imposed a 'rain tax' based on the size of the roof on one’s business establishment under the crackpot theory that rain running off your roof will pollute the Chesapeake Bay.). Cory A. writes that he moved to Austin, Texas last year to take a great new job with Paypal/Ebay which he says is 'expanding dramatically.' As is a new Apple facility in Austin, along with Visa, with 800 new jobs. These are all well-paying jobs, he says. In addition, Austin has become 'the' place to go if you want a career in the music industry." Continue reading →

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American expats are “offshore tax dodging” “trash”, say Homelanders

"So, there you have it. According to America, all Americans living abroad are 'offshore tax dodgers' since they are taxed where they live to pay for the infrastructure they use. Why does America seek to trash its diaspora? Because it believes that they are pirates sailing around with stolen treasure. Yet, the impact of US policy on Americans living abroad has never been an American concern, as one fellow kindly stated to one who does not live in America. The US government clearly doesn’t give a damn if Americans are harmed as a result of US policy, but it is eager to brand its expats as 'tax cheats' and to throw them away as 'trash'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerican expats are “offshore tax dodging” “trash”, say Homelanders

Can the Internet Tax Be Stopped Just Like the Attack On Syria?

"This time we would be stopping a direct attack on us. A new national comprehensive survey commissioned by National Taxpayers Union and the R Street Institute finds that Americans overwhelmingly oppose new legislation, like the Marketplace Fairness Act, that lets states force tax collection obligations on Internet purchases made from businesses outside their borders. Fifty-seven percent of respondents in recent polls opposed changes to Internet sales tax policies like those provided in the Marketplace Fairness Act. Will Rand Paul, Justin Amash and 'Leader' Mitch McConnell take up this cause?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCan the Internet Tax Be Stopped Just Like the Attack On Syria?

FATCA: The end of financial privacy

"Financial privacy isn’t typically considered as sexy as other forms of privacy, like our right to private beliefs, health care, property, and communications. Infringement of financial privacy doesn’t evoke the kind of outrage as other violations, because most overlook the vital role it plays in preserving human rights and protecting individuals from governmental abuse. Just as supporters of the police and surveillance state argue that individuals with nothing to hide should be willing to forfeit their right to privacy, those obsessed with collecting taxes think that the vast majority of Americans who do not engage in evasion should be willing to relinquish their financial privacy rights." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFATCA: The end of financial privacy