ICE Houston deports three illegal aliens wanted for homicide in Mexico

While Harris County, Texas residents were distracted by mandatory mask-wearing orders issued by a child county executive, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Removal Operations in Houston sent three illegal aliens ---adios fellas---back to Mexico where they are all wanted for homicide.

“These individuals fled Mexico to escape prosecution for their alleged crimes and have continued to engage in criminal activity here in the U.S.,” said Paul McBride, acting field office director of ERO Houston.

 "By working together with our foreign law enforcement partners, we have safely returned them to their home country where they will stand trial for their alleged crimes and made our community safer.”

From the ICE press release:


HOUSTON — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston, Texas, removed three fugitives Wednesday wanted for homicide in Mexico.

Alfredo Medina-Martinez, 29, Guillermo Vazquez-Saenz, 51, and Eduardo Antonio Perez Don Juan, 53, all citizens of Mexico, were escorted to the Laredo, Texas, Port of Entry where they were presented to Mexican law enforcement authorities.

Medina-Martinez is wanted by Mexican authorities for homicide. Vazquez-Saenz and Perez Don Juan are wanted for aggravated homicide.

Medina-Martinez has been removed from the U.S. to Mexico on three previous occasions; Jan. 5, 2019; Feb. 27, 2019; and May 10, 2019. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge Dec. 30, 2018. Medina-Martinez was convicted of illegal entry Jan. 2, 2019, and illegal reentry Feb. 26, 2019, and Oct. 15, 2019. He is a documented member of the Mexicles, a Mexican street gang allied with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Vazquez-Saenz, a documented member of the Zetas Drug Cartel, was administratively removed from U.S. to Mexico May 14, 2013. On Jan. 22, 2018, he was encountered by immigration officials after illegally reentering the U.S. An immigration judge ordered him removed from the U.S. to Mexico Aug. 24, 2018. He was convicted of escaping from custody July 15, 2002, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and driving while intoxicated in Collin County (Texas) June 2, 2006.

Perez Don Juan has previously been removed from the U.S. to Mexico on four occasions; April 17, 1999; Oct. 25, 2002; March 25, 2004; and Dec. 10, 2009. He has multiple criminal convictions in the U.S. including a conviction for attempted burglary in Dekalb County (Georgia) June 26, 1998, illegal reentry March 24, 2003, driving while intoxicated in Galveston County (Texas) Nov. 30, 2009, and illegal reentry March 27, 2020.

Read it all here.

Mask-wearing suspect sought in robbery of Lee County 7-Eleven

In yet another edition of a problem associated with pushing Americans to wear face masks in public comes this blog post on a fourth mask-wearing robbery in Southwest Florida. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

Three days later two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

And now the Lee County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help identifying the black mask-wearing man who robbed a 7-Eleven store.

From Wink News:

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down an armed man who robbed a Lehigh Acres 7-Eleven store early Tuesday. 

According to LCSO, the man entered the 7-Eleven store, located at 4325 Lee Blvd., just after 4:30 a.m., with a semi-automatic handgun. After firing several shots, he demanded all the cash from the register. The clerk complied and handed over an unknown amount of cash, after which the suspect fled on foot southbound toward Gunnery Road. No injuries were reported. 

The man is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, approximately 5’10” with shoulder-length dreads with blonde tips and shells at the end. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, khaki pants and a black facemask.

At the time I opined how criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public.

I haven't read a single blog or news article pointing out the public safety issue associated with being ROBBED as all this mask-wearing talk circulates in the era of cononavirus.

So I'm wondering; what's next? Public shaming (or worse) for NOT wearing a mask while out and about?

Florida GOP releases statement on shocking tweet by Miami Herald writer

Immediate Release
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Contact: RPOF 850.222.7920

Statement by RPOF Chairman Joe Gruters

Re: Shocking tweet by Miami Herald writer

#FireFabiola #CancelMiamiHerald

“At the very moment when our state and nation are trying to come together to fight COVID-19, Miami Herald writer Fabiola Santiago issued an appalling, hate-filled tweet openly rooting for the deaths of broad numbers of Floridians who support President Trump, Gov. DeSantis and Mayor Gimenez. Santiago, a 30-year veteran of the Miami Herald, who long ago stopped pretending to be a fair and impartial journalist, does further damage to the newspaper’s fraying reputation, which has become one, long heavy dose of Trump-DeSantis attacks.

“This is far beyond the pale for civilized people. It’s time for the Miami Herald to hold Fabiola Santiago accountable and to condemn her statement.

“Gov. DeSantis has worked tirelessly, patiently and wisely to safeguard the lives of Floridians while protecting everyone’s rights. His efforts have been bold in the face of unrelenting criticism from armchair quarterbacks. Floridians are proud of Gov. DeSantis’ effective leadership.  

“I’m encouraging all reasonable-minded Floridians, who care about the lives of others — even those they disagree with — to unite in demanding that the Miami Herald take disciplinary action against Santiago, up to and including firing her.

“If you agree with us that this reprehensible conduct is unacceptable, for a supposedly professional journalist no less, take to your favorite social media platform such as Twitter and Facebook and let them know using the hashtags #FireFabiola #CancelMiamiHerald.”

Two more SW Florida robberies by men wearing masks

Criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

And now on April 16 the News-Press reported two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

A suspect alleged to have robbed two North Fort Myers convenience stores within an hour overnight is being sought by Lee County authorities. 

Police reports said the first incident occurred at 11:27 p.m. Wednesday at the 7-Eleven at 15999 North Cleveland Avenue. 

A store clerk said the male suspect entered the store wearing a bandana over his face and approached the counter.

Roughly a half hour later, at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the same suspect walked into the Circle K at 4600 Bayline Drive.

After briefly browsing through the store, he approached the check-out county and pointed a gun at the clerk, again demanding all the money in the register. In fear for her life, the clerk complied, after which the suspect fled eastbound on foot. 

Now is not the time to let your guard down with the false sense of security that everyone you see wearing face masks is "safe" to be around.  On the contrary, the age of COVID-19 is a reminder to always be cognizant of your surroundings. 

















https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/city-of-miami-orders-people-to-wear-face-masks-at-grocery-stores-more/2217409/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241864981.html

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241746246.html

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2020/04/16/two-north-fort-myers-convenience-stores-report-armed-robberies/5143511002/?fbclid=IwAR3ARg1JA62Y3feC8LS_urAD9yIoW-SilD5Sj8I_vYhDUzxdVFArSl1Juqk

Not one more dime in taxes for building new schools

Yours truly took notice of public school districts that launched "virtual classrooms" aka on-line learning as a result of the COVID-19 "disaster" and the corresponding school closures that will, in some cases, extend through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. 

County Examiner believes that these school districts have just provided taxpayers with the most compelling reason to never, ever soak the taxpaying public for one more dime of hard-earned money for the construction of new school campuses ever again. 

They can move classes on-line and learn to live with their means like the rest of us.

Take the Fort Bend (Texas) Independent School District--on April 14, 2020 the school superintendent announced classes will continue on-line through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. 

I'm posting the notification here in its entirety in case FBISD removes the notice from their website.

FORT BEND ISD (April 14, 2020) - Fort Bend ISD will continue online classes through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre shared Tuesday.

In a message to the FBISD community taxpayers, Dupre announced that the District will not return to face-to-face classroom instruction this year, and commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 will be postponed until July.

Read full message from Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools:

To our FBISD community, I am writing to share plans for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Following much consideration and discussions with our Board of Trustees, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current state-wide school closure in effect through at least May 4, Fort Bend ISD will not return to face-to-face classroom instruction this year. It has become clear that it will be in the best interest of our students and staff that Fort Bend ISD continue online classes through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

There are several factors we took into consideration, with safety and security being our top priority – we know that, even if Governor Abbott allows schools to reopen as of May 4, many families and staff members will be reluctant to return to school and work to avoid potential exposure to the virus. Additionally, because there are only three weeks remaining of instruction after May 4, we believe it will be even more disruptive to our students, staff and teachers to ask them to pivot back into our buildings and the traditional classroom environment.

We have built systems and structures to deliver learning online for the time being, and while we recognize this system is not perfect, we believe it will allow us to successfully complete the year while we focus on our planning for the reopening of school in August and re-strategizing to make up for any lost learning in the current year.

We have also announced that commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 will be postponed to July. We are in the process of scheduling dates at the Smart Financial Center, which will be announced in the very near future. High school campus principals will be sharing information about end of year events for seniors, including information about refunds for cancelled events.

You can expect more information in a video update soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to keep you informed about the latest developments. We are continuing our work together to support students, staff and families in the short- and long-term, and we will keep you updated as there is more information to share.

According to the Texas Bond Review Board Local Government Debt Database, Fort Bend ISD taxpayers are on the hook for repaying over $1.65 billion dollars in bond indebtedness (including principal and interest). 

With over 761,000 Texans filing for unemployment in the four weeks leading up to their April 9 article, KSAT.com reported Cisco Gamez, a spokesperson for the Texas Workforce Commission explained that number equated to everyone who filed in all of 2019.

“In all of 2019, we helped about 700,000 people,” Gamez said. “We have actually met that number and gone beyond. We’ve done a year’s worth of work in just a couple weeks’ time.”

When the time comes again--and it surely will in FBISD and school districts across the state--the taxpayers can say "Take your proposed new bond debt and shove it"---you don't need more classrooms or new campuses--move classes on-line.

President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups

After more than ten years observing and participating in the Texas & Florida political processes while working in the private sector, when I contrast the achievements of entrepreneurs and business risk takers of all sizes; the millions of jobs they create by providing goods and services people want to buy with the partisan bickering & inertia at every level of government ----it is easy to see why President Donald J. Trump turned to the private sector to form the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups.

These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity.  The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups Today, President Donald J. Trump announced many of the esteemed executives, economists, scholars, and industry leaders who together will form various Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups.  These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity.  The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation. Agriculture American Farm Bureau Federation – Zippy Duvall Sysco Corporation – Kevin Hourican Tyson Foods, Inc. – Dean Banks Perdue Farms, Inc. – Randy Day Cargill, Inc. – David MacLennan Archer-Daniels-Midland Company – Juan Luciano Corteva Agriscience – Jim Collins Tractor Supply Company – Hal Lawton Seaboard Corporation – Steven Bresky Grimmway Farms – Barbara Grimm Mountaire Farms – Ronnie Cameron Banking Bank of America – Brian Moynihan JPMorgan Chase – Jamie Dimon Goldman Sachs – David Solomon Citigroup – Michael Corbat Wells Fargo – Charles Scharf U.S. Bancorp – Andrew Cecere Morgan Stanley – James Gorman Grand Rapids State Bank – Noah Wilcox Southern Bancorp – Darrin Williams Construction/Labor/Workforce International Union of Operating Engineers – Jim Callahan North America’s Building Trades Union – Sean McGarvey Laborers’ International Union of North America – Terry O’Sullivan International Brotherhood of Teamsters – Jim Hoffa National Electrical Contractors Association – David Long Bechtel – Brendan Bechtel Fluor – Carlos Hernandez National Association of Home Builders – Jerry Howard Associated Builders and Contractors – Michael Bellaman Associated General Contractors – Stephen Sandherr AFL-CIO – Richard Trumka GH Palmer – Geoff Palmer American Council of Engineering Companies - Linda Bauer Darr Defense Lockheed Martin – Marilyn Hewson Honeywell – Darius Adamczyk Northrop Grumman – Kathy Warden Raytheon – Gregory J. Hayes General Dynamics – Phoebe Novakovic Energy ExxonMobil – Darren Woods Continental Resources – Harold Hamm Chevron – Mike Wirth Southern Company – Tom Fanning Alabama Power – Mark Crosswhite ConocoPhillips – Ryan Lance Occidental Petroleum – Vicki Hollub Kinder Morgan – Steven Kean Hess Corporation – John Hess Perot Group and Hillwood – Ross Perot Jr. National Mining Association – Rich Nolan Valero – Joseph Gorder Financial Services Blackstone – Stephen Schwarzman Paulson & Co. – John Paulson Citadel LLC – Kenneth Griffin Elliott Management – Paul Singer Vista Equity Partners – Robert Smith Fidelity Investments – Abigail Johnson Mastercard – Ajay Banga Visa – Al Kelly Chubb – Evan Greenberg Sequoia Capital – Doug Leone Stephens, Inc. – Warren Stephens Charles Schwab – Chuck Schwab FIS Global – Gary Norcross  TD Ameritrade - Todd Ricketts  Intuit – Sasan Goodarzi Food & Beverage National Restaurant Association – Marvin Irby McDonald's – Chris Kempczinski Darden Restaurants – Gene Lee Jr. Coca-Cola – James Quincey PepsiCo – Ramon Laguarta Chick-fil-A – Dan Cathy Subway – John Chidsey Bloomin’ Brands – David Deno YUM! Brands – David Gibbs Papa Johns – Rob Lynch Wendy’s – Todd Penegor Waffle House – Walt Ehmer Starbucks – Kevin Johnson Wolfgang Puck Thomas Keller Jean-Georges Vongerichten Daniel Boulud M Crowd Restaurant – Ray Washburne Jimmy John’s Founder - Jimmy John Liautaud Kraft - Michael Mullen National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors – Dirk Van Dongen International Franchise Association - Robert Cresanti Inspire Brands – Paul Brown Healthcare NewYork-Presbyterian – Jerry Speyer HCA Healthcare – Sam Hazen Ascension Health – Joseph R. Impicciche CommonSpirit Health – Lloyd H. Dean Community Health Systems – Wayne Smith Trinity Health – Benjamin Carter Cardinal Health – Mike Kaufmann McKesson – Brian Tyler 3M – Mike Roman Procter & Gamble – David S. Taylor Abbott Laboratories – Robert Ford Johnson & Johnson – Alex Gorsky Merck – Kenneth Frazier Pfizer – Dr. Albert Bourla Eli Lilly and Company – Dave Ricks Thermo Fisher Scientific – Marc Casper Gilead Sciences – Daniel O’Day AbbVie – Richard Gonzalez Regeneron – Leo Schleifer Biogen – Michel Vounatsos Roche Diagnostics – Matthew Sause Anthem – Gail Boudreaux UnitedHealth Group – David Wichmann Aetna – Karen Lynch Cigna – David Cordani Humana – Bruce Broussard Centene – Michael Neidorff Hospitality Las Vegas Sands Corp. – Sheldon Adelson Marriott – Arne Sorenson Carnival – Micky Arison Hilton – Christopher Nassetta Hyatt – Mark Hoplamazian Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – Geoff Ballotti Intercontinental Hotels Group – Elie Maalouf Royal Caribbean – Richard Fain Norwegian Cruise Lines – Frank Del Rio Treasure Island Hotels – Phil Ruffin Manufacturing Caterpillar – Jim Umpleby III Deere & Company – John May Cummins – Tom Linebarger Dow Inc. – James Fitterling Emerson Electric Company – David Farr General Electric – Larry Culp Tesla – Elon Musk Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – Mike Manley Ford Motor Company – Bill Ford  General Motors Company – Mary Barra National Association of Manufacturers – Jay Timmons Pernod Ricard – Ann Mukherjee Nucor - Leon Topalian  Real Estate Simon Property Group – David Simon Caruso – Rick Caruso Vornado Realty Trust – Steven Roth Related Companies – Stephen Ross Blackstone – Jon Gray Irvine Company – Don Bren Starwood Capital Group – Barry Sternlicht Witkoff Group – Steve Witkoff Greystar – Robert Faith  Retail Walmart – Doug McMillon Home Depot – Craig Menear Home Depot – Ken Langone Home Depot – Bernie Marcus The Kroger Co. – Rodney McMullen Lowe’s – Marvin Ellison Target – Brian Cornell CVS Health – Larry Merlo Rite Aid – Heyward Donigan Walgreens – Stefano Pessina Amazon – Jeff Bezos Menards – John Menard Best Buy – Hubert Joly Life Time – Bahram Akradi National Retail Federation – Matthew Shay Tech Apple – Tim Cook Google (Alphabet Inc) – Sundar Pichai Oracle – Larry Ellison Oracle – Safra Catz Salesforce – Marc Benioff SAP – Jen Morgan Microsoft – Satya Nadella Facebook – Mark Zuckerberg IBM – Arvind Krishna Intel – Bob Swan Qualcomm – Steven Mollenkopf Cisco – Chuck Robbins Advanced Micro Devices – Lisa Su Broadcom – Hock Tan Micron – Sanjay Mehrotra Telecommunications Liberty Media – John Malone Verizon – Hans Vestberg T-Mobile – Mike Sievert Charter Communications – Thomas Rutledge Comcast – Brian Roberts Altec – Lee Styslinger Transportation FedEx – Fred Smith United Airlines – Oscar Munoz UPS – David Abney J.B. Hunt – John Roberts III YRC Worldwide – Darren Hawkins Crowley Maritime – Tom Crowley Jr. Uber – Dara Khosrowshani DHL – Scott Sureddin  LDJ Global Strategies - Louis DeJoy  American Trucking Associations – Chris Spear Sports NBA – Adam Silver MLB – Rob Manfred NFL – Roger Goodell UFC – Dana White PGA – Jay Monahan LPGA – Mike Whan USTA – Patrick Galbraith MLS – Don Garber WWE – Vince McMahon NASCAR – Lesa Kennedy NHL – Gary Bettman New England Patriots – Bob Kraft  Dallas Cowboys – Jerry Jones Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban WNBA – Cathy Engelbert NWSL - Lisa Baird Thought Leaders/Groups John Allison Kay Coles James Condoleezza Rice Art Laffer Steve Moore Steve Forbes Larry Lindsey Catherine Reynolds Jim DeMint Bill Hagerty Scott Gottlieb

Florida news outlets accidentally makes the case for not wearing masks in stores

When the news outlets published a photo and video of a mask-wearing man suspected in the robbery of a Publix Supermarket they probably never realized the incident reveals why it's bad policy for a store to require all shoppers wear face masks.

The headline on NBC-2 read: Charlotte County deputies searching for Englewood armed robber. 

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - Charlotte County deputies are searching for a man accused of robbing robbing a Publix in Englewood on Monday evening.

Deputies said the man went into the Publix, located at 1500 Placida Road, just before 6 p.m. with a weapon and demanded money.



He is believed to be in his mid-50s, wearing a ball cap, black sunglasses, a white makeshift face mask, a grey sleeveless shirt with "Livin The Life" beach scene on the back, dark grey shorts just above the knees, a yellow in color wristwatch on the left wrist and dark-colored ankle-high slip-on shoes with possibly an Asian or Latino accent, deputies reported.

The Englewood Sun later reported the suspect; Karl Byron Minott was arrested Friday April 10.

Deputies arrested Minott on Friday. “Between witness statements and the communities assistance, Minott was identified and subsequently arrested,” the report states.

Minott then walked away from the service desk and approached a person in the store, demanding money. “During this interaction, Minott had a small caliber semi-automatic weapon pointed at the victim,” the report states.

He was charged with armed robbery, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and wearing a mask while committing an offense.

Earlier today April 14, Wink News reported the Southwest Florida supermarket chain Fresh Market would require workers and shoppers wear face masks---to keep everyone safe (emphasis mine).

A Southwest Florida grocery chain will require shoppers and workers to wear masks in their stores—as further precautions to protect against COVID-19 are being taken. 

If you go to Fresh Market — you are going to see signs posted everywhere that says all guests must wear face coverings starting Tuesday.

Fresh Market tells me this decision was made for no other reason but to keep you and their employees safe.

A spokesperson for Fresh Market said they won’t block you from entering without a mask but they are asking guests to support this recommendation for the benefit of the community. 

Their employees are also now required to wear a face mask while working.
The spokesperson says their biggest fear is someone walking into their store who doesn’t know they’re carrying the virus and getting other people sick.

County Examiner hopes local law enforcement encourages Fresh Market management to rethink their "keeping guests safe" mask policy lest what happened to a shopper in the Englewood Publix happen in their store.

OIG finds accounting, documentation deficiencies in audit of Dallas refugee services, human trafficking group

Over $300,000 in unallowable and unsupported questionable costs were found during an audit of a taxpayer-funded award to Refugee Services of Texas, Inc says the Office of the Inspector General U.S. Department of Justice in a report released to the public on March 31, 2020.

According to the OIG report, Refugee Services of Texas, Inc provides services to hundreds of refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking  and related vulnerable populations from over 30 different countries of origin each year.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) completed an audit of four cooperative agreements awarded by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Office for Victims of Crimes (OVC) under the Comprehensive Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program, to Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. (RST) in Dallas, Texas. 
Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. received four awards under this program totaling $2,730,000.

While auditors found RST demonstrated adequate progress towards achieving the awards’ stated goals and objectives and  did not identify significant issues regarding RST’s management of the award budgets or drawdowns, the audit did find the following:

"we identified $308,336 in questioned costs, including $24,969 in unallowable questioned costs and $283,367 in unsupported questioned costs. Subsequent to the issuance of the draft report, RST provided new documentation that supported $8,002 in additional matching costs. As a result, we consider $8,002 of the unsupported matching costs to be remedied. We also found that RST did not comply with essential award conditions related to progress reports, compliance with award special conditions, use of award funds, matching funds, and Federal Financial Reports (FFRs). Additionally, we found that RST’s written policies and procedures could be strengthened." 

An analysis of the report revealed ten (10) recommendations made to Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. to address deficiencies found during the audit, including matching transactions on its general ledgers, implementing new policies and procedures to ensure matching costs are properly supported and  ensure the progress reports are accurate and fully supported.

In a letter to the OIG dated March 13, 2020 Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. submitted their official response to the draft audit report (page 25 of this document) agreeing and disputing with some of the findings.

You can read the entire report here.