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Monday, May 30, 2016

THE 1836 CLUB'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH MEMBERS TO PAY FOR OPERATIONS - MARK CAMP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION

The 1836 Club's Mark Camp provided false information in an article that was published by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette today.




Dillard's actually had issues when the former Packet House was open.  According to a letter in opposition to the 1836 Club, Dillard's stated they had problems with parking and illicit activity when the Packet House was in business and had concerns that a private club run by a bunch of moral and ethical dregs would bring problems that could affect their business operations.






It's ironic that Camp would state that his wife was behind everything and she wouldn't run a smoke-filled shady brothel when she and Camp had some shady things going on before she divorced and they married. See one of our previous posts.


A confidential source from the 1836 Club tells us that at any given time there are more guests than members at the club and club membership is so low that it is costing more to operate the club than dues from club membership can provide.
The connection between the club and the Governor will no doubt keep ABC Enforcement agents away from the place.  Tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. will probably give Camp a heads up before his agents make a visit anyway.

Friday, May 27, 2016

TAINTED ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR BOYCE HAMLET, JR. USES POSITION TO OBTAIN T-SHIRT - ANOTHER COMPLAINT HEADING TO ETHICS COMMISSION

 
HAMLET USED HIS POSITION TO GET THIS T-SHIRT FOR A FRIEND


In March 2016, tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. violated      Ark. Code Ann.§ 21-8-304(a) which states that, “No public servant shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or herself or his or her spouse, child, parents, or other persons ..."


Junior was browsing the internet at work and saw a t-shirt that he thought a short fat friend that used to work at the Crime Lab would like.
 
This is not the first Ethics Complaint filed against Hamlet.  The Ethics Committee is set to hold a probable cause hearing on June 16, 2016 on a complaint filed earlier this year.


Junior is a perfect example of the Peter Principle.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Monday, May 23, 2016

ETHICS COMMISSION DETERMINES TASER WAS GIFT TO ABC AND DISMISSES COMPLAINT - JUDICIAL APPEAL FILED



By a two to one vote, the Arkansas Ethics Commission determined that the purchase of a Taser by two time convicted felon and strip club/dive bar owner, William Marfogilo to ABC Enforcement Agent Jerrell Smith in 2014 was not a gift to Smith, but to the ABC.

This was in direct conflict with the Arkansas State Police investigation and the investigation of Ethics Commission staff.

It was even in conflict with testimony Smith gave at the probable cause hearing.

Smith testified that the Taser was purchased by Marfogilo for him.  Smith also testified that he still possess the Taser and that he either intends to put it in a shadowbox (to remind him of his mistake) or give it to his son who is a law enforcement officer.

If the Taser was "gifted" to the ABC, then the ABC would have retained it when Smith was forced to resign by tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr.

An appeal has been filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court and we will provide updates on its status.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Monday, May 16, 2016

ETHICS COMMISSION TO HEAR COMPLAINTS ON FORMER ABC ENFORCEMENT AGENT AND PERMIT HOLDER

The Arkansas Ethics Commission will meet this Friday May 20th at 9:00 a.m. to decide whether or not probable cause exists for the finding of a violation of Arkansas Code Annotated § 21-8-301(a) and/or Ark. Code Ann. §21-8-801 (a)(1)  against former ABC Enforcement Agent Jerrell L. Smith.  Smith is currently employed as a deputy with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department.

The Commission will do the same for the ABC permit holder, William "Billy" Marfoglio,  that purchased and gave a Taser to Smith in violation of Arkansas Laws. Marfoglio is a convicted felon and some have questioned how he came to obtain a permit in the first place.

Corruption is not new to the ABC.  In fact tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. is the perfect example of a Brady Cop and his presence at ABC Enforcement creates great problems for that agency.

Governor Hutchinson needs to man up and admit that choosing Hamlet to head ABC Enforcement was a poor decision and do the right thing and send him packing.







Friday, May 13, 2016

FAULKNER COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY PROVIDES FOI RESPONSE (ALMOST A YEAR LATE) TO AVOID CONSEQUENCES

20TH JUDICIAL DIST. PROSECUTOR CODY HILAND CAVES IN AND HANDS OVER DOCUMENTS

Faulkner County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Hugh Finkelstein turned over some of the items sought in a AFOIA lawsuit to keep his boss, Cody Hiland, from facing sanctions and possible charges for refusing to comply with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and provide responses to multiple AFOIA requests made from July 2015 through January 2016.

Hiland initially responded to a FOI request back in June 2015.  But when we posted a story about Boyce Hamlet, Jr.  providing false information on his job application with Hiland's office, Hiland quit responding to FOI requests.

MATERIAL HILAND'S ATTORNEY SUBMITTED TO THE COURT

The material provided shows that Hiland also violated Arkansas Code Annotated § 12-9-602, which requires a hiring agency to make an inquiry to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training ("CLEST") to find out if/why that employee left a previous job in law enforcement.

Had Hiland not violated the law and made the required inquiry when he hired Boyce Hamlet, Jr., he would have known about his status as a Brady Officer, and then would have known to make the required notification to criminal defendants in cases that Hamlet was connected or involved with. Or possibly he would have not hired Hamlet as the risk of having an untrustworthy liar that lacked credibility would be too troublesome for him.

Hiland violated this law a second time when Hamlet left employment with his office by failing to file the required form (Personnel Change-In-Status) with the CLEST.

Copies of bank statements and checks from Hiland's Equitable Sharing Account indicate that ABC Enforcement has been the only state agency to receive funds to purchase equipment.  There appears to be some questionable expenditures that will be the subject of a post on an upcoming new blog dedicated to revealing corruption, maleficence and the like concerning various city, county and state agencies, officials and employees.   

Faulkner County Circuit Judge David Clark did not see anything wrong with the chief legal officer for the 20th Judicial District failing to follow the law and provide any response to multiple FOI requests.

JUDGE CLARK
Perhaps his judgment was clouded by his friendship with tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr.

An email sent to us expressed concerns with Judge Clark hearing the AFOIA lawsuit.









Clark denied that he and Hamlet were friends and stated that his twitter account was inactive and that he wasn't sure the application was still on his phone.

With all due respect Judge Clark that is pure bullshit. 

Clark's twitter account is active as hell and he posted this only last week.



The way our some of our public officials act and follow the law when it suits them should surprise us, but it is all too frequent of an occurrence.

When elected public officials refuse to follow the law, it undermines public trust and confidence in government.

To be continued...

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Monday, May 9, 2016

BOYCE HAMLET POSES GREAT PROBLEMS FOR THE ABC

HAMLET'S HIDDEN PAST HAUNTS HIM


Taininted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr.'s continued employment poses a great problem for the ABC.

His status as a Brady Officer is the reason.

A recent case in Benton involving a Benton Police Department officer that was found to have issues with credibility and honesty that caused him to be fired, points to why Hamlet needs to be replaced as ABC Enforcement Director.

An article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette stated:

According to testimony, Hodge's purported dishonesty was a concern for Saline County prosecutor Ken Casady. He had told Benton police that cases involving Hodge could be jeopardized over questions about police integrity.
Assistant Attorney General Sara Farris focused on the same point Thursday, saying that even if Hodge retained his certification, he would be unemployable as a police officer.

"The dishonesty issue is huge. He is rendered useless as a police officer," she said.
CLICK TO READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT GAZETTE

Farris - "The dishonesty issue is huge. He is rendered useless as a police officer"


This blog and others have questioned Hamlet's appointment to head ABC Enforcement.

So has a Pulaski County Circuit Judge.



"His [Hamlet's] honesty...integrity...his truthfulness, or lack thereof, could be a huge issue...for the ABC"


Why is the Governor not removing him?  What does Hamlet know about the Governor that keeps him employed in a law enforcement position when he is so tainted?

PERHAPS JUNIOR SHOULD WRITE A BOOK IN CASE HE IS FIRED AND NEEDS A SOURCE OF INCOME



Friday, May 6, 2016

CONGRESSIONAL REPORT STATES ABC COOPERATING MINORS ARE VIOLATING ARKANSAS LAW IN ABC STING OPERATIONS



THE ABC PAYS KIDS TO TRY AND PURCHASE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IN VIOLATION OF ARKANSAS LAW

A Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage Drinking states that Arkansas Law has "no allowance for youth purchase of alcoholic beverage for law enforcement purposes".





 CLICK TO VIEW THE ARKANSAS PORTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL REPORT


Federal Entrapment Standard


During the prohibition days, an undercover agent sought out C.V. Sorrells in Canton, N.C., to try to buy a jug of moonshine whiskey. Sorrells, himself a non-drinker, repeatedly declined the agent's requests, but the agent persisted, playing on Sorrells' sympathies for "an old former war buddy." Finally, Sorrells relented and went to a bootlegger in a nearby town and brought back a half-gallon of whiskey. Sorrells was convicted of violating the National Prohibition Act, and he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that he had been entrapped into committing the crime. The Supreme Court agreed and reversed his conviction.

Said the court, "It is well settled that the fact that officers or employees of the government merely afford opportunities or facilities for the commission of the offense does not defeat the prosecution. A different question is presented when the criminal design originates with the officials of the government, and they implant in the mind of an innocent person the disposition to commit the alleged offense and induce its commission in order that they may prosecute.
"The first duties of the officers of the law are to prevent, not to punish crime. It is not their duty to incite to and create crime for the sole purpose of prosecuting and punishing it. It is unconscionable, contrary to public policy, and to the established law of the land to punish a man for the commission of an offense of the like of which he had never been guilty and evidently never would have been guilty if the officers of the law had not inspired, incited, persuaded, and lured him to attempt to commit it." (Sorrells v. U.S.)

In the days since the Sorrells case, the court has focused the entrapment inquiry on the two issues of whether law enforcement officials or their agents provoked the crime, and whether the suspect was already inclined to commit it. "A valid entrapment defense has two related elements: government inducement of the crime, and a lack of predisposition on the part of the defendant to engage in the criminal conduct." (Mathews v. U.S.) The facts and holdings of four other U.S. Supreme Court cases illustrate these elements.

Sherman v. U.S.: Government Inducement

Joseph Sherman was a recovering drug addict. A government informant approached him at his doctor's office and began a series of attempts to persuade Sherman to abandon his treatment and resume his addiction, so they both could avoid the suffering caused by recovery and treatment. Sherman refused several times, but the informer supplied Sherman with money for drugs and eventually persuaded him to buy drugs for the two men to share.
Considering the government agent's relentless efforts not only to obtain drugs but to convince Sherman to abandon his treatment and return to a life of addiction, the court said, "We conclude from the evidence that entrapment was established as a matter of law."

Lopez v. U.S.: No Government Inducement

An IRS agent was investigating tax irregularities at Lopez's restaurant when Lopez made an unsolicited offer to pay a cash bribe for the agent's approval of phony records. The agent pretended to play along, reported the bribe to his superiors, and wore a wire to his next meeting with Lopez to obtain evidence of the crime.

Arguing entrapment, Lopez appealed his subsequent conviction to the Supreme Court, which had no difficulty in deciding that the agent had merely afforded an opportunity for a continuing course of criminal conduct by a willing criminal, without overbearing inducements. The court ruled, "It is evident that entrapment has not been shown as a matter of law."

U.S. v. Russell: Suspects Predisposed

An undercover narcotics agent posing as a drug distributor was investigating three suspects for manufacture and sale of methamphetamine. In face-to-face conversations, the suspects talked freely of their narcotics activities and offered the agent some meth from their "last batch." The agent told them he could supply a precursor chemical that was difficult to obtain.

The suspects accepted the offer, received delivery of the precursor, and used it to make more methamphetamine, after which they were arrested and convicted. They appealed, arguing that by furnishing one of the components of the illegal drugs, the government had entrapped them. The Supreme Court rejected this argument, noting that an undercover agent "will not be taken into the confidence of illegal entrepreneurs unless he has something of value to offer them."

Jacobson v. U.S.: Suspect Not Predisposed

Over a 2.5-year investigation of child pornography, postal inspectors made numerous efforts to persuade Keith Jacobson to order kiddie porn. Some 34 months after their first mailing to him, inspectors posed as a First Amendment protection lobby and offered to send Jacobson a sample of the kind of material that they thought should be readily available. He ordered the magazine and was later arrested and convicted on federal pornography charges.

The Supreme Court ruled that in the absence of any evidence that Jacobson had a predisposition to possess child pornography, the lengthy government efforts to ensnare him constituted entrapment. Said the court, "In their zeal to enforce the law, government agents may not plant in an innocent person's mind the disposition to commit a criminal act, and then induce commission of the crime so that the government may prosecute."

State Entrapment Standards

Many states apply the federal entrapment test, looking to see whether law enforcement officers or agents have induced the commission of the crime, and inquiring into the suspect's criminal predisposition. Other states have variations on this test, with some states ignoring the suspect's criminal background and weighing only the degree of pressure or incentives employed by officers to see whether such influences were so overbearing as to cause a normally law-abiding person to commit the crime. To confirm the test of entrapment applicable in your jurisdiction, consult local prosecutors or legal advisors.

Certain techniques are generally considered not to constitute entrapment, whether in the federal jurisdiction or the states. These typically include the following: offering to buy or sell drugs or stolen property; agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution; posing as an underage correspondent in an Internet chat room; pretending to be a hit man after a prisoner or other suspect has expressed an interest in paying for a contract murder; and leaving the keys in an unlocked car under surveillance in an area where auto thefts occur.

Underage Alcohol Sales Entrapment Stings


A 2004 sheriff’s department sting operation against alcohol retailers was illegal entrapment. That’s the conclusion of a jury in Florida.

Entrapment is illegal because it is an attempt to induce law-abiding citizens into engaging in crimes that they would not otherwise have committed. It tricks and deceives the innocent into breaking the law and is a federal offense. In the words of the U.S. Supreme Court, entrapment “deserves the severest condemnation.”

Charges have now been dropped against a cashier, Reese Nickells, accused of selling alcohol to a minor who was an undercover operative, and prosecutors say other cases resulting from an undercover sting operation will have to be dropped as well.

A similar sting operation resulted in the earlier arrest of bartender Robin Scocozza after she served a beer to the same undercover operative who was several months shy of his 21st birthday, has a receding hairline and was wearing a beard in both operations.

Ms. Scocozza was acquitted in a jury trial last week, and jurors later said they believed she had been set up. The bartender had previously refused to serve another undercover minor. Deputies then sent in the "older-looking" operative to entrap her. Although she was an innocent victim, the illegal law enforcement operation cost her time, anxiety, and a large amount of money.

The operative, who looks much older than his actual age, served as an undercover informant in 16 other sting operations that resulted in arrests and fines as high as $300. Apparently, his work led to 16 illegal entrapments for which people may have lost their jobs and reputations and for which they were forced to pay heavy fines.

The U.S. Attorney General’s guidelines for the FBI are based on U.S. Supreme Court decisions and exist in order to protect the rights of the innocent while convicting the guilty. Those guidelines insist, for example, that sting operations can only be conducted against the “unwary guilty,” not the “unwary innocent.”

To prevent illegal entrapment retail establishments should not be randomly selected. That would not prevent entrapping a clerk who sells “innocently due to a momentary lapse in judgment” as a result of being rushed, from becoming distracted, or other reasonable cause.

“The only way to ensure that only the "unwary guilty" are caught in the trap is to create a history of the cashier in question with the use of surveillance or repeated compliance checks which are not also sting operations.” Since many, if not most of those caught in these sting operations have passed previous compliance checks, which clearly proves that they have no criminal predisposition to make underage sales, they are the "unwary innocent" if induced by law enforcement to sell to an underage person.

It’s important to enforce the law, but it’s also important to follow the law in doing so. Unfortunately, many law enforcement agencies fail to protect the rights of innocent citizens and illegally entrap them in underage alcohol sales stings.

A highly successful alternative to alcohol stings is to provide alcohol vendors an economic incentive to confiscate false ID’s and to impose civil fines of $1,000 on anyone under the age of 21 who attempts to purchase alcohol from them. Such a voluntary program was so successful in Anchorage that it has been expanded throughout the entire state of Alaska.

**********

Tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. does not possess the intelligence to be able to plan any effective program such as the one in Alaska. His status as a Brady Officer  impacts the effectiveness and operations of the ABC and damages its reputation.



Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR HAMLET'S LONG HELD SECRET SEEPING OUT AND IMPACT FROM LYING WILL BE FAR REACHING



Tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. not only lied to the Arkansas State Police (which resulted in his firing as a trooper) he lied on every job application since then. He never listed his hiring and firing by the ASP and he made up employment history to cover up his dishonest activity while employed as a trooper.

Hamlet, Jr. had to make false statements on official documents to try and keep his dreadful, career killing secret.

Junior is so slow witted, he forgot what he put on one application to the next so nothing in his file with the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training matches.

As we have previously mentioned, a law enforcement officer that has issues with truthfulness, honesty and credibility is an extreme liability to any law enforcement agency. The are commonly referred to as Brady Officers

When a Brady Officer is appointed to head a law enforcement agency, the entire agency suddenly has Brady Issues.

Poor ol' Junior, he didn't want to make any comments to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette or the Arkansas Times last year about the FOIA suit to get his records and discuss his firing by the ASP.

Junior has no problem talking to television reporters and making false claims about his accomplishments, but he isn't man enough to deal with his Brady Issues.

But Junior isn't the only one that runs aways from discussing his tainted past and Brady Issues.

His current boss at the Department of Finance and Administration won't respond to news media about Hamlet's Brady Issues nor will Hamlet's former employers.


HILAND NEVER RESPONDED TO OUR INQUIRY



Governor Hutchinson needs to accept the fact that he made a mistake is appointing a grossly unqualified Hamlet and do the right thing and get rid of him before more damage is done.



Monday, May 2, 2016

DOCUMENTS REVEAL THAT ABC ENFORCEMENT AGENTS COULD USE SOME TIME ON THE FIRING RANGE


Add caption

Documents obtained from the ABC indicate that some members of what tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet, Jr. calls "Arkansas Most Elite Law Enforcement Agency" appear to could some more practice firing their weapon.

In fact, Kenny Heroman gives Junior a bit of advice...




Darryl "Deadeye" Talley wins the the 1st Place in the Barely Making It category, while Sharon "Sureshot" Reed comes in at 2nd Place. 3rd from the bottom is Shelby "Slowhand" Clark.


According to the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training the minimum of 80% to pass.




ARKANSAS FIREARM STANDARDS


Word is that Hamlet, Jr., was at the range before the rest of the ABC-E staff arrived and self-reported his score.  We know it has to be right as Hamlet Jr. is known for his honesty and credibility.

STATE POLICE REPRESENTATIVE REACTS TO HAMLET'S SCORE