Bandit Gang Writ Large

IMF Goes Directly After Bank Depositor Money In Cyprus Bailout Plan

"The IMF today took an unprecedented step to grab bank depositor money. In a new plan to bailout the government of Cyprus, under the watchful eye of the IMF, depositors in Cypriot banks will be hit with a one-time tax on their savings, as part of a €10 billion ($12.96 billion) bailout. In a deal, announced early Saturday, accounts with more than €100,000 will be taxed at 9.9%, those with less at 6.75%, raising an expected €5.8 billion for the near-bankrupt nation. Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris said the Cypriot Parliament would adopt the taxes over the weekend and the money would be extracted from accounts before banks take up business Tuesday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIMF Goes Directly After Bank Depositor Money In Cyprus Bailout Plan

Mexican town finds more security by throwing out the police

"The indigenous town of Cherán used to be like many places in Mexico, caving under the weight of drug-related crime and a police force that did little to stop it. But about two years ago, citizens here threw out the police, and took over their local government, running the town according to indigenous tradition. So far, they’ve had remarkable success. About six months after villagers threw out the police, the Mexican state granted the town a degree of legal autonomy to govern itself on the local level, according to indigenous tradition." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexican town finds more security by throwing out the police

“If Quoting the Constitution Makes Me a Terrorist, We Are in Hitler’s America”

"Cops in New Jersey arrested a homeschooling mother -- the daughter of Jewish folks who survived the Nazis -- because she quoted the Constitution at a tax-protest. They agreed to release her if she turned over her guns. As she explained, '[So I] sit in jail and my daughter doesn’t have a mother…?' ... , implying that she didn’t really have a choice in the matter. Hart turned over her two firearms and associated equipment, and was told that she’ll get them back 'when this is all over.' For all you fans of 'privatization,' the 'private' company doubling the Harts' real-estate 'assessment' is the one that sicced the thugs-in-blue on Ms. Hart." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“If Quoting the Constitution Makes Me a Terrorist, We Are in Hitler’s America”

Former Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

"Former Santa Fe police officer Anthony Rivera and brother Dominic were arrested Sunday and charged with overseeing the production of fake $100 bills, created using $20′s that were stripped of their color using paint thinner. The two men, 44 and 34 respectively, were arrested along with 20-year-old Tyler Ament and accused of creating more than $1,200 in counterfeit currency. Police broke the case last week after Ament tried to use one of the bills at a gas station and a clerk turned him away. Ament returned to the gas station for cigarettes after buying jeans at a local Kohls and officers were waiting for him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Washington, D.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Racket

"Civil forfeiture is a national problem. Law enforcement agencies seize millions of dollars worth of property each year with little or no due process for owners. In all but six states property owners are considered guilty until proven innocent. State law typically allows law enforcement to keep most or all of the proceeds from forfeiture—an enormous incentive to police for profit. Most seizures are of cash—generally less than $100 and as little as $7—taken from thousands of people each year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGuilty Until Proven Innocent: Washington, D.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Racket

3 Chicago-suburb cops accused of robbing drug dealers, selling cocaine

"Three Chicago-area cops robbed drug dealers of their stash while executing search warrants, then turned around and sold the heroin, cocaine and marijuana, pocketing the cash, prosecutors said Thursday. Schaumburg police officers John Cichy, 30, Matthew Hudak, 29, and Terrance O’Brien, 47, 'did it all for the thrill' prosecutor Audriana Anderson told a court. Prosecutors say the men were caught on surveillance video and audio recordings robbing local dealers of drugs and cash as they executed search warrants on homes and cars." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 Chicago-suburb cops accused of robbing drug dealers, selling cocaine

Illinois: High-Ranking Cop Caught Lying About DUI Arrests

"According to US Attorney Gary S. Shapiro, Timothy J. Veit was caught creating 122 bogus drunk driving arrests in an effort to boost the police department's revenue with federal overtime payments. Between 2009 and 2012, the effort generated $132,893 in bogus payments. The source of the funds was the US Transportation Department, which funnels federal gas tax dollars through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to bankroll traffic ticket-writing blitzes that typically take place on holiday weekends. City officials discovered the discrepancy in March 2012 and allowed Veit, who is 55, to retire in April." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIllinois: High-Ranking Cop Caught Lying About DUI Arrests

Florida City Caught Issuing 1645 Camera Tickets On Shortened Yellow

"In St. Petersburg, Florida, the yellow time at intersections was shortened by fractions of a second for thousands of drivers, enabling the red light camera program to generate an extra $259,910 in revenue in 13 months. The data show at seven city intersections, the yellow time dropped between 0.1 and 1.1 seconds for some tickets from the date the cameras started ticketing. St. Petersburg depends heavily on split-second timing misjudgment. The city generated 45 percent of its revenue -- $2,128,576 -- from tickets generated in a half-second or less after the light turns red. In the first three-tenths of a second, 31 percent of the city's tickets were issued." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida City Caught Issuing 1645 Camera Tickets On Shortened Yellow

L.A. County Sheriff’s Department will fire seven deputies who formed gang

"Seven Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have been notified that the department intends to fire them for belonging to a secret law enforcement clique that allegedly celebrated shootings and branded its members with matching tattoos, officials said. The Times reported last year about the existence of the clique, dubbed the Jump Out Boys, and the discovery of a pamphlet that described the group's creed, which required aggressive policing and awarded tattoo modifications for police shootings." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingL.A. County Sheriff’s Department will fire seven deputies who formed gang

Former Camden cop sentenced to nearly 4 years for conspiracy

"From May 2007 to October 2009, Stetser engaged in a conspiracy with other Camden police officers to deprive individuals of their due process rights by charging them with planted evidence; threatening certain individuals with arrest using planted evidence if they did not cooperate with law enforcement; conducting illegal searches without a search warrant or consent; stealing money during illegal searches and arrests; paying for cooperation and information with illegal drugs; failing to report found drugs and stashing them to use as planted evidence; and preparing false police reports or testifying falsely in court to conceal his actions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Camden cop sentenced to nearly 4 years for conspiracy