Loss of millions in grant money at stake for one Texas county urging Congress issue ID’s for illegals

The Harris County, Texas Commissioners Court is urging “national leaders” aka Congress to enact a plan allowing people not lawfully present in the United States that includes providing them with legal identification. On Tuesday July 30 a resolution (see page 35) is on the court agenda that, if adopted, would amount to an estimated loss of over $22 million dollars in Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) grants affecting over 94 FTE's (full-time equivalents) for the county.

“now therefore be it resolved…that Harris County Commissioners Court calls on national leaders to adopt legislation that comprehensively reforms immigration policy, including enactment of a plan that allows people without permanent legal immigration status, and who have demonstrated a desire to remain in the United States, to gain a status that permits them to remain in the United States, work and obtain legal identification…

Note also the resolution acknowledges over 412,000 persons in the county are estimated to be not lawfully present in Harris County.

So how much in grant money would Harris County stand to lose should Commissioners Court adopt this resolution?

An internal memo obtained by County Examiner reveals an analysis of over $22 million in grants funds affecting over 94 FTE (full-time equivalent Harris County employees) are at risk. These funds, listed in the table below, affect the budgets of the:

• Harris County District Attorney
• Harris County Juvenile Probation
• Harris County Constable Precincts 4, 5 and 7
• Harris County District Courts
• Harris County Judge
• Harris County Sheriffs Department
• Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
• Harris County Protective Service; Children and Adults
• Office of County Court Management

Read the entire memo here.

Harris County Commissioners Court meets Tuesday July 30 at 10 a.m. at 1001 Preston Street, Suite 394, Houston, TX 77002.

Better get there early.

Hack attack on Cali Superior Court; it was a Katy, TX man!

From the U.S. Attorneys Office- Central District of California:

LOS ANGELES – A suburban Houston resident has been found guilty by a jury of 27 federal criminal charges for hacking into the Los Angeles Superior Court computer system and then using it to send approximately 2 million malicious phishing emails.

Oriyomi Sadiq Aloba, 33, of Katy, Texas, was found guilty late Thursday afternoon after a three-day trial. The jury found Aloba guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud, one count of attempted wire fraud, one count of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer, five counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Aloba was taken into federal custody immediately after the verdict was read.

According to the evidence presented at trial, in July 2017, Aloba and his co-conspirators targeted the Los Angeles Superior Court for a phishing attack. During the attack, one court employee’s email account was compromised and sent an email – without her authorization – to co-workers purporting to be from the file hosting service Dropbox. In fact, it was a phishing email that contained a link to a phishing website that asked for the users’ Superior Court email addresses and passwords, court papers state.(read the rest here)

"DREAMer" ordered deported after transporting illegal aliens

From a news release out of the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas:

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Mexican national living in Laredo has been ordered deported following his conviction in a multi-agency, high-speed pursuit, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Jose Yepez-Vega pleaded guilty April 29, 2019, to three counts of transporting an undocumented alien within the United States for financial gain, causing risk of serious bodily injury or death as well as one count of conspiracy.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña noted Yepez-Vega’s status as a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy has been revoked and he is to be deported back to Mexico. At the hearing, the court warned him to not come back to the United States. (read the rest here)

County school district proposes spending $2 million on student mental health infrastructure

One Florida school district will take action on a proposal to approve the $2 million Mental Health Allocation Plan for the 2019-2020 school year.

Public records reviewed by County Examiner reveal the Lee County School District 2019-2020 Mental Health Allocation Plan is a requirement of a comprehensive Florida statute addressing school safety.

Documents reveal the addition of (4) school psychologists for the 2018-2019 school year, one of which was assigned full-time to the Districts’ Success Academy. The Success Academy is one of forty-five Title 1 schools in the District.

The six licensed mental health professionals represent an expansion of school mental health personnel from the 2018-2019 school year.

Upon Trustee approval, the plan will be transmitted to the Commissioner of Education by an August 1 deadline.

Texas Immigration Attorney Arrested for Bribery

From the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Federal authorities have arrested a Weslaco attorney following the return of an indictment alleging conspiracy and bribery involving immigration detention employees, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.   

Today, law enforcement took Roel Alaniz, 39, of Weslaco, into custody. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III tomorrow at 10:00.

The seven-count indictment, returned yesterday, alleges he obtained “alien detainee roster lists” from immigration detention employees who received cash payments in return.

In May 2019, a federal grand jury also indicted Benito Barrientez, 42, of Lyford, Damian Ortiz, 30, of Weslaco, and Exy Adelaida Gomez, 42, of Los Fresnos. Barrientez and Ortiz were employed at the Willacy County Regional Detention Center, while Gomez was employed at the El Valle Detention Center. Both facilities are located in Raymondville. (read the rest here)

Indian National Sentenced To More Than 20 Years For Filming Sexual Abuse Of An 11-Year-Old Child

From the U.S Attorneys Office, Middle District of Florida:

Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Divesh Valanju (30, India) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for producing child pornography. Valanju had pleaded guilty on April 11, 2019.

According to court documents, Valanju met an 11-year old child via two online messaging apps. He lied about his name on the apps and exchanged sexually-explicit images with the child. On two occasions, Valanju arranged to meet the child at Max Hasse Park in Collier County. After the victim’s parents dropped her off at the park, purportedly to meet her friends, Valanju picked the child up, drove her to a motel and filmed sex acts that he performed with the child. (read the rest here)

Florida statute requires schools collect mental health data upon student enrollment

County Examiner continues to review provisions of the omnibus Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Signed into law by former Florida Governor, now U.S. Senator Rick Scott, S.B. 7026 contains sections pertaining to firearm confiscations, prohibitions on persons younger than 21 years of age from purchasing a firearm, and adoption of policies relating to the prevention of violence on school grounds.

As school districts across the state gear up for the start of the 2019-2020 school year and in the run-up to the back-to-school shopping season, parents & guardians must adhere to an astonishing requirement of the MSDHSPSA; the disclosure to the school district of prior referrals to mental health services.

Section 1006.07, Florida Statutes, (1) (b) was amended to add the mental health services stipulation:

(1) CONTROL OF STUDENTS.—

(b) Require each student at the time of initial registration for school in the school district to note previous school expulsions, arrests resulting in a charge, and juvenile justice actions, and referrals to mental health services the student has had.

In 1971 the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida Mental Health Act. Colloquially known as the “Baker Act” the Act is named after Maxine Baker, former State representative from Miami who sponsored the Act, while serving as chairperson of the House Committee on Mental Health.

Referring to the treatment of persons with mental illness before the passage of her bill, Representative Baker stated “In the name of mental health, we deprive them of their most precious possession – liberty.”

Kinda tells you all you need to know about where collection of student mental health data through the school system is destined. 

Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Immigration and SORNA violations

Headlines such as these result in ever-increasing numbers of U.S. citizens opposed to passage of any laws granting amnesty or temporary protected status from deportation to anyone in the country illegally.

Read the full news release here.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 57-year-old Guatemalan national has admitted to two federal felonies after sexual assault conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.  

On or about July 19, 2002, Jose Paxtor-Chiroy was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a five-year-old child in Harris County. Following his state prison sentence, federal authorities ordered he be deported from the United States and to not return. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

He had previously faced removal proceedings on two other occasions.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2018, authorities located Paxtor-Chiroy walking through a ranch near Sarita. He was attempting to avoid the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. At the time of his arrest, he admitted he unlawfully entered the United States by traveling across the Rio Grande River near Hidalgo County.

Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), convicted sex offenders must provide registration updates annually or quarterly, depending on the reportable conviction. Today, Paxtor-Chiroy admitted in federal court that he failed to do so as required. He also pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Nov. 6, 2019. For the immigration offense, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, while the failing to update his sex offender registration carries a potential 10-year-term of imprisonment. Both convictions also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face deportation proceedings.

Why Congress should not pass a TPS “amnesty” for Venezuelans

Two bills, one each in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate would result in a grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) aka amnesty for Venezuelans in the United States. While the text of House Bill H.R. 549 differs from the text of its Senate companion bill S. 636, the overarching question to ask is why should Congress grant an amnesty “free pass” to Venezuelans worried their asylum application will be denied?

Documents obtained from Florida Department of Children and Families shed light on the answer to this question.

An announcement was made to 63 attendees of the Tampa Bay Area Refugee Task Force meeting held January 22, 2019.

“…a brief announcement by Norma Reno, president of the Casa de Venezuela of Tampa Bay organization. She announced that there are currently over 20,000 from Venezuela in the Tampa Bay area. While some are seeking asylum, many are also concerned about being denied asylum and are staying in the community without documentation. Casa de Venezuela is offering English classes & civic classes to educate the community as well as support services for those in need. Task Force members will stay connected with this and other organizations serving those from Venezuela to ensure that they are aware of the services we can provide for those who qualify and are in need.

Venezuelans currently in Florida should be worried about the denial of an asylum application, especially if their visa to enter the U.S. was obtained through fraud or their entry to the U.S. through misrepresentation. 

Let the petitions of Venezuelan seeking permission to remain in the U.S. succeed or fail on the facts of each case.

Texas-based bail bondswoman sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment for smuggling hundreds of aliens into the US

From the ICE Newsroom:

NEW YORK — Pursuant to an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, Hema Patel, 51, a Texas-based bail bondswoman, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for her role in smuggling hundreds of illegal aliens into the United States. Patel was also ordered to forfeit her Texas residence, two hotels, $7.2 million in bail bonds, $400,000 in cash and 11 gold bars, among other assets. On June 7, 2018, Patel pleaded guilty to alien smuggling for financial gain by fraudulently bonding illegal aliens from immigration custody and causing their release into the United States.

“In a classic example of how criminal networks exploit loopholes in our nation’s immigration system to make a profit while threatening the national security of the United States, Hema Patel and her human smuggling co-conspirators manufactured fraudulent bond documents to secure the release of undocumented aliens that were smuggled through the southwest border by an international criminal network,” stated HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Melendez. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to secure our nation’s legitimate travel, trade and finance by going after transnational criminal networks, their facilitators and their ill-gained assets.”

“For her personal financial gain, defendant Hema Patel arranged to have hundreds of aliens smuggled into the United States, completely by-passing the visa application and eligibility requirements,” stated Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “She will now pay the price for placing the safety and security of the residents of our communities at risk. Border security is a top priority of the Department of Justice.” (read the rest here)

ICE News Release: Former South Texas police officer sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking

MCALLEN, Texas — A former South Texas police officer was sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in federal prison following his cocaine-trafficking conviction in March.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, Southern District of Texas. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

“This sentence serves as a sobering reminder about the serious consequences for those who violate the public’s trust,” said Shane Folden, special agent in charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI San Antonio. “HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target and investigate those who exploit their positions for financial gain.”

On July 18, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Geovani Hernandez, 45, from Weslaco, Texas, to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court noted the evidence against Hernandez was overwhelming. In imposing the sentence, the court ruled Hernandez abused his position of trust to facilitate the drug trafficking offense and obstructed justice when he attempted to intimidate both the case agent and confidential informant to prevent them from testifying at trial. Hernandez was convicted March 7 on two counts of aiding and abetting and attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. (read the rest here) 

Federal Court Bars Florida Tax Return Preparer and Her Businesses From Preparing Tax Returns

In 2009 Edwin Rubenstein introduced his new report, “The Earned Income Tax credit and Illegal Immigration: A Study in Fraud, Abuse, and Liberal Activism.” The report documents how abuse is rampant in the collection of fraudulent income tax refunds from the IRS, especially by illegal aliens.

And on Tuesday July 16, 2019 comes this press release from the U.S. Department of Justice:

“A federal court in Miami, Florida permanently barred Georgina Gonzalez and Georgina Gonzalez LLC, Ideal Tax Pros LLC, and Trinity Tax Service LLC, from preparing federal tax returns for others and owning or operating a tax preparation business, the Justice Department announced today. The court also ordered that Gonzalez and Trinity Tax Service LLC disgorge $48,214.30, representing the ill-gotten gains that they received for the preparation of tax returns making false claims.

The government’s complaint alleged that the defendants prepared tax returns that included fraudulent claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) based on fabricated income or business expenses. The complaint further alleged that defendants prepared returns for some customers that reported bogus “Household Help” work income, and returns claiming phony business loss deduction so as to falsely maximize their customers’ claim to the EITC. The complaint also alleged that defendants falsely claimed education credits on the tax returns of customers who did not attend college and had no qualifying educational expenses (read the rest here)”

Palm Beach County Sheriff, other cooperate with ICE-HSI in international alien smuggling case

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida 

Jamaican Man Sentenced to Twenty-One Years in Prison for Heading Alien Smuggling Organization from Freeport, Bahamas

Michael Stapleton, 44, of Jamaica, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks to a total of 262 months in prison after having been convicted by a South Florida jury of running an international alien smuggling organization out of Freeport, Bahamas.

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Thomas G. Martin, Acting Chief Patrol Agent for U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, made the announcement.

Stapleton was convicted by a federal jury on January 30, 2019, of forty-seven criminal counts related to his involvement in an alien smuggling scheme (Case No 14-CR-80151).  The trial evidence showed that Stapleton was the head of a smuggling organization operating out of Freeport, Bahamas. For several years, he coordinated the smuggling of aliens to the United States through Freeport from around the world. He arranged for them to be hidden in stash houses, hired smuggling captains, and arranged for boats to make crossing from the Bahamas to the United States. Testimony at trial showed he also used the vulnerability of the aliens to exploit them by demanding more money from them after they were in his power, keeping them in deplorable conditions, mistreating them, and sending them out in unsafe boats. In one smuggling venture, the aliens were pushed overboard in rough seas far from the beach, despite some of them not being able to swim. Stapleton was extradited to the United States in 2018.

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan said, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to the vigorous prosecution of those individuals who engage in the dangerous and illicit practice of alien smuggling.  Today’s sentencing shows those who plan and commit these crimes while abroad will not have impunity from federal prosecution in the United States but will instead face more than twenty years in prison.”

“These smuggling organizations place no value on human life and are constantly putting people’s lives at risks. Stapleton’s actions clearly proved that,” said Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “Our goal is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the type of organization that Stapleton headed and we are committed to do everything within our powers to put these individuals behind bars.”

U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Thomas G. Martin stated, “Smuggling organizations like these pose a great risk.  Without the combined efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved, the actions of Stapleton would continue to endanger migrants’ lives and threaten U.S. border security.”

The Court found that Stapleton was the leader/organizer of the smuggling venture that involved between 20-99 victims, that he created a risk of substantial bodily harm, sexually assaulted two women, and possessed a firearm.  In addition to the term of incarceration, Stapleton was ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay a special assessment of $4,700. 

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended ICE-HSI, along with the United States Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Jupiter Police Department, the Juno Beach Police Department, and the Manalapan Police Department, for the investigative assistance provided in support of this matter.  This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Jones and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Evans.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Florida corporation, three officers indicted with conspiring to conceal, harbor aliens for profit, making false statements

From the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

Tentlogix, Inc., a Florida corporation headquartered in Fort Piece, Florida and three of its corporate officers, Gary Hendry, Dennis Birdsall and Kent Hughes of Martin County, have been charged by indictment with conspiring to conceal and harbor aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage.  Hendry and Birdsall are also charged with making false statements to a federal agency. 

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

According to the indictment, beginning as early as January 2016, and continuing through March 2018, TentLogix, Hendry, and Birdsall recruited and employed aliens to work for TentLogix knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that many of the aliens had entered and remained in the United States unlawfully, and were not authorized to work in the United States (Case No. 19-14035-CR-ROSENBERG/MAYNARD).  During the course of the conspiracy, a large portion of TentLogix’s workforce in the Southern District of Florida was comprised of aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States.  While TentLogix was being investigated by HSI, Hendry, Birdsall, and Hughes devised a scheme to “transfer” the aliens employed by TentLogix to KH Services, LLC, a company owned by Hughes, so that they no longer appeared on TentLogix’s payroll.  Hughes formed KH Services, LLC for the sole purpose of concealing, harboring, and shielding the aliens employed by TentLogix from HSI’s investigation.  Birdsall directed wire transfers to be sent from TentLogix’s bank account to KH Services, LLC’s bank account on a bi-weekly basis to cover the payroll expenses for the aliens who worked for TentLogix but were purportedly employed by KH Services, LLC.  Between May 2017 and March 2018, TentLogix transferred over $3,000,000 to KH Services, LLC in 23 separate wire transfers for the express purpose of paying aliens employed by TentLogix who were not authorized to work in the United States.

The indictment further alleges that in 2016, TentLogix generated more than $21,000,000 in gross receipts and $10,000,000 in gross profit from its business operations.  In 2017, Tentlogix allegedly generated more than $36,000,000 in gross receipts and $14,000,000 in gross profit from its business operations.  During the course of the conspiracy, a large portion of Tentlogix’s workforce in the Southern District of Florida was comprised of aliens who were not authorized to work in the United States. 

If convicted of the conspiracy charge, Hendry, Birdsall, and Hughes face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense.  TentLogix faces a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense. If convicted of making false statements to a federal agency, Hendry and Birdsall face up to 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense.

An indictment merely contains allegations.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of HSI in this matter.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Press release: Illegal Alien Receives Significant Sentence for Unlawfully Being in the Country

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 44-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for being an aggravated felon who illegally re-entered the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Juan Ramon Arevalo-Guzman pleaded guilty Dec. 21, 2018. He has a history of violent felony robberies in Hidalgo County and was previously deported and ordered not to return.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Arevalo-Guzman to serve an 84-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face deportation proceedings following the sentence.

Arevalo-Guzman had aggravated felony convictions in 2002 and 2008. He had terrorized and robbed U.S. citizens at knife point, including one instance in which he committed carjacking and forced the victim to drive him to another city before stealing the vehicle. 

On more than 15 separate occasions, Arevalo-Guzman robbed or caused disturbances at a local Hidalgo County church by assaulting the members in the parking lot. 

Following his last conviction, he had been removed from the United States – Feb. 15, 2017.

However, he re-entered the country illegally on or about Nov. 1, 2018. At that time authorities found Arevalos-Guzman in the Rio Grande River area near Donna.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Schorr Dinsdale prosecuted the case.

Read the press release here

From the Inbox: Did Dallas County's $1.1 Billion Bond Really Pass?

July 12, 2019 Austin, Texas - The largest community college district bond election ever attempted in Texas history, and the fourth largest bond overall, is being contested in a Dallas court.   Analysis of the official results by election integrity advocacy groups show numerous tabulation discrepancies that are enough to completely discredit the officially reported results.

Experts are sorting through a myriad of inconsistent election reports, computerized audit logs, conflicting tabulation numbers and sordid accounts of an environment rife with lawlessness, according to court documents.

The over 4,600 page election petition details that eyewitnesses, official Dallas County central counting station watchers, directly observed tabulation errors, illegalities and potential fraud.  

The bond election was reported to have passed with 71.46% in favor. Yet, election contest court documents cite, "While the margin of victory appears large, when electronic vote tabulation manipulations, mistakes, errors or fraud occurs, the vote spread knows no bounds."

The 18-page election contest , filed in Dallas County District Court in June, asserts that the enormity of electronic vote tabulation errors and illegalities makes it impossible to determine the bond election’s true outcome.  As such, a Dallas court is being asked to evaluate the evidence and declare the election void and order a new one. 

Analysts have begun unraveling what seems to be a $1.1 Billion-dollar election gone wrong. The detailed election contest contains over 4,000 pages of exhibits and evidence.

"The reported results for early voting and election day don't add up - the math is way off,” said Dr. Laura Pressley, Ph.D., and founder of True Texas Elections, LLC. “Because of the electronic vote tabulation discrepancies and reported illegalities, the official results of the $1Billion Dallas bond election are in question."

The Dallas Court is being asked to evaluate eyewitness reports and computerized tabulation irregularities and illegalities and declare the election void:

• Early voting flash memory cards without security seals were left unattended without security personnel (a violation of the Texas Election Code and the Texas Secretary of State Advisory 2018-34).

• Presiding judge or alternative judge were absent during the electronic download of early voting data (a violation of Texas’ Election Code Section 127.005).

• Official watchers at Dallas County central counting station, report compelling evidence that a parallel central counting station may have been set up in another part of the building, where significant election tabulation events were potentially being conducted out of the view of official central counting station watchers (a violation of Texas Election Code 33.056).

• Widespread use of wireless networks and computers, with wireless signals being documented when votes were downloaded and tabulated (in violation of Texas Election Code 129.054). Official watcher observed unlabeled grey ethernet cables running to the equipment, and a blue ethernet cable running between a wall drop and one of the tabulation system boxes on a rack. When asked why? Election officials replied, “I can’t really tell you. That’s why we rely on a contractor.”

Here's how you can donate to True Texas Elections

(image credit: True Texas Elections) 

Martin County board agrees to pay $450,000 legal bill of commissioner acquitted of public records violations

During their June 18, 2019 board of commissioners meeting the Martin County Board of Commissioners agreed to pay $450,000 to a law firm for work done in obtaining an acquittal of Commissioner Sarah Heard on charges of public records violations.

Commissioner Heard abstained from the vote.

According to a report published by WPTV in partnership with TCPalm, Commissioner Heard was indicted by a grand jury in 2018 on charges she violated the states’ public records laws alleged to have occurred during the course and scope of her commissioner duties.

“Heard was charged after the rock mining company Lake Point sued the county in 2013 in a breach-of-contract lawsuit that, in part, claimed Heard, and former Martin County Commissioners Ed Fielding and Ann Scott destroyed or failed to produce emails pertinent to their case. (read more) “

Report: Florida “red flag” law resulted in 1,443 petitions filed to confiscate firearms

1,443 petitions for temporary ex-parte risk protection orders were filed across 54 Florida counties from March 2018 through February 2019, according to a report obtained by County Examiner.

Prepared by the Florida Office of State Court Administrators the document reveals Broward, Polk and Pinellas law enforcement topped the list of counties reporting the filing of temporary firearm confiscation orders for the above-mentioned period; 251, 248, and 202 respectively. Thirteen Florida counties presumably filed zero firearm confiscation orders.

While a footnote specifies the statistics were provided to OSCA by each Clerk of the Court and have not been audited for accuracy, examining the number of motions filed to extend the ban on firearm possession to one year raises additional questions about the origins and motivations for the temporary ERPO filing in the first place.

For example, Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts reported 88 petitions for temporary firearm confiscations and extended a one-year ban on firearm possession in 43 of those situations. Does a one-year ban on firearm ownership meet the definition of “temporary”?

Meanwhile the OSCA report reveals Broward, Polk and Pinellas law enforcement, who together presumably filed 701 temporary firearm confiscation orders, ultimately filed ZERO motions to extend the firearm ownership ban to one year. Does that equate to successfully stopping a person before something bad happens?

You can view the OSCA report here.

County Examiner previously reported on a brief filed in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals challenging several provisions of Florida’s gun confiscation act, most notably due process concerns, allowing admission of hearsay evidence and the unlawful delegation of prosecutorial authority to law enforcement in violation of the Florida Constitution.

You can view the court docket here.

ICE removes 37 Cambodian nationals via Dallas, TX

WASHINGTON –  Thirty-seven Cambodian nationals, most convicted criminals, were repatriated to Cambodia, Tuesday, in accordance with their final removal orders following immigration court proceedings.

Among these 37 individuals were 35 convicted criminals, who traveled via a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) ICE Air Operations (IAO) flight from Dallas, Texas to their home country.

Their combined criminal convictions include: three counts of murder, two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated assault, five counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, two counts of assault, sexual assault,  three counts of attempted murder, burglary, child abuse, lewd act on a minor, driving under the influence, larceny, stolen property, two counts of firearm possession, two weapon offenses, traffic offence, forgery, three counts of robbery, resisting arrest, auto theft, and seven drug convictions.

Read the rest here.