Texas Republican pay-to-play slate accidentally endorses a compromised Republican---so he can lose?

Two Harris County-area Texas "Conservative" Republicans running an opinion "pay-to-play" endorsement slate have accidentally highlighted a compromised, (IMHO) GOP primary candidate and recommended him in the Republican primary--did they endorse him to win or did they endorse him to lose?

A slate endorsement arriving in the mailbox of tens of thousands of unsuspecting Harris County, Texas-area GOP primary voters is suggesting Republican primary voters vote YES for a certain Republican judge who wants get back on the bench. 

That judge is James Lombardino, the former judge of the 308th District Court. You see, Lombardino was booted off the bench in 2018; more on that in a moment.

The two Texas "Conservative" Republicans running the pay-to-play endorsement slate and their recommendation of Lombardino are shown in the two photos below:

What does Pay-to-Play mean in the context of a political endorsement in Texas? 

Well, Dictionary. com refers to "pay-to-play" as situations where one must exchange money to engage in an activity or to earn favors or influence, meaning money is exchanged for the purpose of extending the reach of the candidate.

How? By influencing the voter to take the "sample ballot" into the voting booth or complete their mail-in ballot using the above as a guide.

Why is their "sample ballot" suggesting a YES vote for Lombardino so problematic?

We'll let the eagle-eyed former Houston TV investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino explain it to you:

Do you agree? Should judges avoid real or perceived impropriety and disclose potential conflicts of interest to everyone appearing in their courtroom?

Should Lombardino win the March GOP primary and go on to the November general election, I expect Texas Democrats will hammer Texas Republicans over their choice of Lombardino on the appearance of impropriety that caused him to lose his reelection bid back in 2018--meaning Texas Republicans could conceivably LOSE the race for the 1st Court of Appeals, District Place 5 in the November general to either Democrat Amparo Monique Guerra or Tim Hootman.

So is this endorsement designed for the Republican to win in this race or for the Republican to lose in this race?

OOPS! Florida news reporter accidentally makes the case for passing an EVerify bill

When she shared the story of "Junior" and his pending deportation from the United States,  she revealed "Junior" was employed at his fathers' business. 

In an opinion piece published by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune titled "Seidman: One-size-fits-all in Florida ICE detentions"dated January 26, 2020 columnist Carrie Seidman gives an account of "Junior", a Mexican national brought to the United States by his parents as a minor. Junior, she reveals, was recently arrested in Sarasota, Florida after a traffic stop, found to be unlawfully present in the country with an arrest record back to 2007 and subsequently turned over to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for deportation.

"Last week, I shared the story of “Junior,” a Mexican national brought to this country by his parents as a minor, who was arrested in Sarasota recently after a traffic stop and turned over to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for potential deportation."

 Turns out "Junior" has an arrest record going back 13 years 

"Though he has never been accused of a violent crime or a felony offense, Junior does have a history of arrests dating back to 2007 that includes numerous traffic and misdemeanor offenses, including driving without a valid license, shoplifting, disorderly intoxication, parole violations and resisting arrest without violence."

"Junior" it turns out, has been employed at his fathers' business:

"Thus, it’s not terribly surprising that someone like Junior, who graduated from Riverview High School and has been employed ever since in his father’s business or as a barber, now finds himself on the brink of being returned to a country he left 16 years ago and barely knows."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called upon the Florida Legislature to pass an EVerify bill to ensure Florida businesses not only follow the IIRIRA (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) but to ensure Florida businesses maintain and employ a safe and legal workforce.

Thank you Sarasota Herald-Tribune for publishing a story supporting the Governor and supporting the Rule of Law.

ICE: Inspection of employment records reveals Texas construction company knowingly employed 43 illegal aliens

Perhaps the Texas Legislature should pass an EVerify bill in their 2021 session. They could follow the lead of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Joe Gruters; the chair of the Republican Party of Florida.

Earlier today, January 28 and in the aftermath of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' direction to the Florida Lege, Florida Politics reports the Republican Party of Florida Executive Committee passed a formal resolution last night rallying behind the Governor's call for passage of an EVerify bill this session.

Why does Florida --any state for that matter---need a safe and legal workforce?

County Examiner has written numerous articles: 

• the fake father who forced a 12 year old boy to work in agriculture fields in Palm Beach County, 
• the Stuart, Florida company whose officers were sentenced for knowingly hiring 92 illegal aliens, and 
• the Fort Lauderdale-area illegal alien charged in Broward County with the hit-and-run death of a Canadian snowbird while operating a forklift at a construction site without a license required by OSHA.

So here comes a news release published by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) where five North Texas businessmen agreed to pay the U.S. Government $3 million for their role in a scheme to employ illegal aliens.

DALLAS – A North Texas construction company will pay the U.S. government $3 million for its role in a scheme to illegally employ illegal aliens.

This agreement was reached following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Five individuals have already pleaded guilty in connection with the scheme.

In a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Speed Fab Crete, a Texas-based builder, admitted it illegally employed individuals not authorized to work in the United States, and agreed to forfeit $3 million to the U.S. Treasury for use in promoting law enforcement activities related to immigration enforcement.

According to the agreement, which requires Speed Fab Crete to cooperate with the government to ensure it will not violate immigration laws in the future, the company pledged to continue to use E-Verify, the federal government’s web-based employment eligibility verification system; to comply with new internal verification procedures; to conduct company-wide training on immigration compliance; and to discipline those who attempt to employ unauthorized workers.

The company’s three owners, Carl Eugene Hall, Ronald Alan Hamm, and David Leon Bloxom, are jointly and severally liable for the full amount if Speed Fab Crete does not fulfill its financial obligations under the non-prosecution agreement.

You can read the rest here.

Federal law requires employers hire only U.S. citizens and aliens who are authorized to work in the country and its a darn shame Florida Senate President Bill Galvano continues to stubbornly resist an EVerify bill that would codify into state law that which is already federal law---verify all new employees at all Florida businesses---in the hopes of thwarting labor trafficking schemes among employers who thumb their nose at our Rule of Law.

Here we go! Republican resorts to Shifty Schiff-style campaign tactics in Galveston, Texas race

Some Harris - Galveston County area Republicans are resorting to Democrat Adam "Shifty" Schiff -style campaign tactics, wanting to boot an effective Galveston County tax assessor/ collector from office based on anonymous sources, uncorroborated statements,  manufactured statistics and overall foolishness.

In the GOP primary race for Galveston County tax assessor/ collector, Republican Jackie Peden told The Daily News (Galveston County) - behind paywall---that two anonymous sources-former employees of incumbent Cheryl Johnson claimed there's high turnover, a sign, Peden asserted--of discord in the tax office.

We'll go through these claims one-by-one and show the Shifty Schiff-style tactics at play. See if you recognize them!

(photo credit: WND.com)

• Peden claimed the tax office has a turnover rate of 700 percent, with more than 600 people revolving through the employment doors. What facts and calculations did Peden provide? 

"She believed the number was well more than 600..." and provided no calculations to back up her assertion.

• The Daily News pressed Peden for details provided by the two anonymous sources aka former employees. What details did Peden reveal?

"They said she doesn't give them the recognition that they're due..Peden said...but I'm not exactly sure."

• Peden said employee turnover costs the taxpayer money; money that could be used elsewhere since it costs real dollars for new hire training, reported The Daily News.

"The county could use that money for roads and flood remediation if the county reduced the tax office budget," she (Peden) said.

Does Peden NOT KNOW the tax office is self-funded from fees and services from the state & local governments it serves? The tax office only COLLECTS the approximately $500M each year in property taxes; THESE ad valorem taxes collected are what funds county roads.

Is Peden playing Galveston County voters for fools or idiots like Adam Schiff does? 

Since 2004, Cheryl Johnson has served Galveston County residents as their tax assessor/ collector. She's won reelection three times and for the first time since she took office is facing a primary challenger.

Johnsons' primary challenger, according to a report in The Daily News (Galveston County) has never held elected office. Jackie Peden, they write, owns and manages a small accounting firm with her husband Chris, who is a former Friendswood city councilman, former Friendswood Mayor Pro-Tem and former Chief Financial Officer at Select Asset Management (SAM) 

When will Galveston County voters penalize candidates like Ms. Peden who mislead them with Shifty Schiff-style campaign tactics?

Breaking: White House statement on Supreme Court victory

Earlier today a majority of the justices on the Supreme Court of the United States gave the government the go-ahead to enforce the "public charge" rule pending appeals.

Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog wrote:

"The rule that the government will now be able to enforce interprets a provision of federal immigration law that bans non-citizens from receiving a green card if the government believes that they are likely to become a “public charge” – that is, reliant on government assistance. In August 2019, the Department of Homeland Security defined “public charge” to refer to non-citizens who receive a variety of government benefits, including cash, health care or housing, for more than 12 months over a three-year period. The rule also considers factors such as age, employment history and finances to determine whether a non-citizen might become a public charge in the future."

Here's the link to a short five-page order.

Just minutes ago, the Office of the Press Secretary for President Trump put out this statement:

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2020

Statement from the Press Secretary on Supreme Court Victory
Today’s stay from the Supreme Court is a massive win for American taxpayers, American workers, and the American Constitution. This decision allows the Government to implement regulations effectuating longstanding Federal law that newcomers to this country must be financially self-sufficient and not a “public charge” on our country and its citizens. Two courts of appeals had already ruled that the Government should be able to implement these regulations, but one single district judge’s nationwide injunction remained. As two Justices pointed out today, the expanding practice of district courts entering nationwide injunctions raises real problems about the proper power of a judge to decide only the case before him or her.

Eight Republicans file in the primary race to represent Florida's 19th Congressional District

With the announcement that Congressman Francis Rooney would not run for re-election to represent Florida CD-19 in Washington, DC , County Examiner begins an eight month series on the District and the eight Republicans vying for the GOP nod. 

Rooney, reported Politico back in October 2019, was the first House Republican to express openness to voting to impeach President Donald Trump. 

But first, a little bit about the District using the map ordered by the Florida Supreme Court, December 2, 2015.

Florida's 19th Congressional District is located in Southwest Florida and encompasses the majority of Lee County and a portion of Collier County. The major cities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Sanibel and the Village of Estero are in Lee County, as is the Town of Fort Myers Beach. The city of Marco Island and a portion of the City of Naples are also in the portion of Collier County included in the District. Additional Census Designated Places in the District (CDP) such as Captiva, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers can be found here.

According to the Florida Division of Elections, and because 2020 is a Presidential election year, the primary election date (with the exception of the President Primary Election) will be held August 18. The winner of the Republican party primary will face a Democratic opponent on November 3, 2020. 

Next up: the eight Republicans running in the GOP primary sourced from the Federal Election Commission.

ICE adds Venezuelan attorney, businessman to Most Wanted List for money laundering

County Examiner was opposed to the idea of Congress granting Temporary Protected Status or TPS from deportation for Venezuelans in the United States. Back in July 2019 CE published a story about two bills winding their way through Congress which sought to give an amnesty to Venezuelans whose asylum applications could be denied or those whose visas were approaching expiration.

CE cited public documents obtained from the Florida Department of Children and Families Refugee Task Force with knowledge of thousands of Venezuelans in the Tampa Bay area intending to thumb their nose at our Rule of Law and remain in the community without documentation.

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."

Now today we learned a Venezuelan attorney and businessman wanted for conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and several counts of money laundering was added to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Most Wanted List earlier this month, according to an ICE news release.

MIAMI – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced earlier this month the addition of Raul Antonio De La Santisima Trinidad Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan attorney and businessman, to its Most Wanted list for conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and several counts of money laundering. The action follows an indictment filed August 16, 2017, in the Southern District of Florida, Gorrin Belisario’s subsequent escape from justice, and the updated FinCEN advisory (FIN-2019-A002, published by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network May 3, 2019) regarding widespread public corruption in Venezuela.

The indictment alleges that Gorrin Belisario, 50, a Venezuelan citizen with a residence in Miami, Florida, paid millions of dollars in bribes to two high-level Venezuelan officials to secure the rights to conduct foreign currency exchange transactions at favorable rates for the Venezuelan government. In addition to wiring money to bribe the officials, he allegedly purchased and paid expenses for them related to private jets, yachts, homes, champion horses, high-end watches, and a fashion line. To conceal the bribery payments, Gorrin Belisario made payments through multiple shell companies. Furthermore, he allegedly partnered with other subjects to acquire Banco Peravia, a bank in the Dominican Republic, to launder bribes paid to Venezuelan officials and stash the illicit proceeds of the scheme.

Gorrin Belisario was last seen in Caracas, Venezuela, and currently remains at-large

Read the rest here

"Fake father" forced 12 yr old to work at Palm Beach County ag farms in labor trafficking scheme, says DOJ

A Guatemalan national was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a labor trafficking scheme of a 12 year old boy, announced the U.S, Department of Justice, Southern District of Florida earlier today.

In a press release posted January 13, 2020 the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Miami Field Office made the announcement.

Court records reveal the Guatemalan national obtained fake identification in order to pose as the 12 year old boys' father (think "fake families" attempting to illegally enter the U.S.) who then lied to Customs and Border Protection about being the boy's father and unfortunately were released as a family unit. 

Based on the "fake family" lie, both made their way to Florida where, it was announced the fake father obtained a fake ID and forced the BOY to work at agricultural farms throughout Palm Beach County (emphasis mine):

"Beginning in December 2016, the Guatemalan national obtained false identification for the 12 year-old boy and forced him to work at agricultural farms throughout Palm Beach County for more than 6 months to repay a debt from the human smuggling venture.  The boy was eventually able to escape and reported his victimization during the course of the labor trafficking scheme. 

Walfre Eliseo Camposeco-Montejo, 35, of Guatemala, previously pled guilty to providing and obtaining forced labor, alien smuggling, and unlawfully transporting aliens.  On Friday, January 10, 2020 U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Camposeco-Montejo to a total of 96 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release."  

Side note:

The 2020 session of the Florida Legislature will convene in Tallahassee tomorrow, January 14. Passage of an E-Verify law is among the major initiatives Governor DeSantis has announced for this legislative session.

E-Verify, authorized by Congress and signed into law by former President Bill Clinton through the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees.

Federal law requires employers hire only U.S. citizens and aliens who are authorized to work in the country and its a darn shame Florida Senate President Bill Galvano continues to stubbornly resist supporting SB 664, a bill that would codify into state law that which is already federal law---verify all new employees at all Florida businesses---in the hopes of thwarting labor trafficking schemes.

Mexican national, illegal alien among four who plead guilty to making, selling fake SS and green cards

A Mexican national and an illegal alien of an undetermined country of origin are among four people who pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to manufacture and sell fake green cards ( Lawful Permanent Resident - LRP cards)  and social security cards, announced the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California. 

According to a press release dated January 6, 2020 the case was originally investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

FRESNO, Calif. — Elfego Alcala, 47, Tamilene Cisneros, 49, and Aida Corona, 38, of Visalia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and production of false identification documents, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. 

According to court documents, between Feb. 2018 and Aug. 8, 2018, the defendants conspired to produce and sell false identification documents. On March 12, 2018, they engaged in a transaction in which they manufactured and sold three false Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR or “green card”) and three false Social Security cards that appeared to be issued by and under the authority of the United States. 

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case. 

Co-conspirator Maria Elena Soriano Salinas, 58, previously pleaded guilty to the same offenses and to being a deported alien found in the United States. On Nov. 4, 2019, she was sentenced to 27 months in prison. 

Alcala, Cisneros, and Corona are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on March 27. They each face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Court filing reveal Aida Corona was ordered to surrender a Mexican passport back in July 2019 as part of ongoing immigration proceedings at the time.

The case is 1:18-cr-00182-LJO.

Yet another reason why Florida needs E-Verify

Three officers of a corporation based in Fort Pierce, Florida were each sentenced in Federal court earlier this month for knowingly hiring ninety-two illegal aliens in a conspiracy to conceal and harbor them for commercial advantage and profit, announced the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to a press release published by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, TentLogix, Inc corporate officer Gary Hendry, 52, of Jenson Beach, Florida, and two other corporate officers were sentenced on December 20, 2019:

"TentLogix, Inc. and its corporate officers Hendry and Dennis Birdsall, 41, of Stuart, Florida, and Kent Hughes, 53, of Jenson Beach, previously pled guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy (Case No. 19-CR-14035).  

TentLogix was sentenced to 4 years of probation, to include the implementation of a corporate compliance program.  In addition, TentLogix was ordered to forfeit $3,033,946.46 to the United States.  Hendry was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. He was also ordered to forfeit $282,789 to the United States and pay a $75,000 fine.  Birdsall was previously sentenced to 5 years of probation.  Birdsall was also ordered to forfeit $170,943 to the United States and pay a $15,000 fine.  Hughes was previously sentenced to 3 years of probation.  Hughes was also ordered to forfeit $80,000 to the United States and pay a $7,500 fine. "

The press release lays out the findings from the court record, emphasizing the employment of ninety-two aliens who entered the country illegally and the scheme concocted in defiance of our laws to purposely conceal them from TentLogix payroll (emphasis mine):

 "According to the court record, from January 2016 to March 2018, TentLogix employed approximately ninety-two aliens knowing those individuals had entered and remained in the United States unlawfully.  During this time frame, 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 for violations of federal immigration law, Hendry, the chief executive officer of TentLogix, Birdsall, the president of TentLogix, 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.  

Hendry was the architect of the unlawful scheme and recruited Hughes, a childhood friend, to participate.  Hughes formed KH Services, LLC for the sole purpose of concealing, harboring, and shielding the aliens employed by TentLogix from HSI’s investigation.  Hendry directed Birdsall to make a supervisor (“GMC”) at TentLogix aware of the scheme.  At Hendry’s behest, Birdsall directed the supervisor to tell the aliens employed by TentLogix to obtain new identities, including social security numbers, which GMC did, so that they could be “transferred” to KH Services, LLC. "

E-Verify, authorized by Congress and signed into law by former President Bill Clinton through the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees.

The guilty pleas and sentencing of TentLogix officers for defying Federal law requiring employers hire only U.S. citizens and aliens who are authorized to work in the country come on the heels of news accounts that Florida Senate President Bill Galvano does NOT support a mandate on private business use the federal government’s E-Verify system.

From WUSF Public Media:

"Gov. Ron DeSantis wants all Florida businesses to use a system to prevent undocumented immigrants (inserted by me: system to ensure Florida businesses follow the IIRIRA) from getting jobs in the state, but a powerful Republican leader is pushing back against the proposal. 

Senate President Bill Galvano said this week he does not support a measure that would force Florida's private employers to use the federal government's E-Verify system, which checks to see if new hires are authorized to work in the U.S."