Posted on 08/26/2006 9:33:29 PM PDT by Ken H
Tony Soprano Channeling Sam Spade
I don't mind a reasonable amount of trouble. If I did, would you find me in those dark hours, eyeing some broad at Blinco's, about to find myself in the middle of the biggest story to hit town in years?
I'm Tony Soprano of the Court TV discussion board fame. No, not the guy on that TV show. I just took his moniker cause it gave me cover like a cheap toupee when a fella's follicles are few. I'm not afraid of cops like Gottlieb. I was there the night the caper with the fry cook went down.
Did I see it? No.
Gottlieb and I rub each other the wrong way, like a cheap wool suit you've had one year too long. Things were tense that night, my friends. I shot off my mouth a few times.
As Gottlieb passed my barstool, he leaned in close. I could see the oily sweat on his shiny bald head. "Keep riding on me and they're gonna be picking iron out of your liver." He straightened up and, with his posse following him, sauntered out the door into the alley. What happened next, well, that's the most baffling mystery story in years.
A friend of mine, a newsie, was in Blinco's a few nights later. "Tony, Have the barkeep pour me some of that booze you're drinking, and I'll tell you a story you might want to hear." "Good booze makes any tale you're going to tell one I want to hear." I motioned for him to pull out the barstool beside me. We waited till the dame serving us gave me a wink and sauntered back to the bar.
"Did you see Gottlieb's picture on the front page of the local rag. Did you read the piece saying his boss Nifong should be worried he's going down for the Blinco's gig?'
"Yeah, me and half the town saw that. What's your beef? Gottlieb's days as a Big Shot Bully are as numbered as a Currier and Ives calendar. The cook ratted him out, said the "Bald guy" was the instigator. Of the coppers here that night, Gottlieb fit that description like a Hong Kong suit you had made to order. He's as finished as a Dame from an East Coast Boarding school. He's going down.
The newsie smiled, took another sip of his drink. "Not so fast, Tony, Gottlieb may have hired a lawyer, but he ain't gonna take the fall. Our big story tomorrow is two young cops will take the rap for him. No way bossman Nifong will let his boy Gottlieb go down till the Dukies are duked out." I took a drag on my cigarette and watched the smoke curl across the table. The newsie leaned in and pushed copy of the morning's paper my way.
Our eyes met again as I glanced at the photos of the two cops charged."
But they have hair! Their heads look like lucky sheep who ran from a careless shearer. No way they fit the Cook's description. And Gottlieb lawyered up faster than a railroad car on an icy stretch of track!"
"Exactly. Nifong's the boss. He ain't gonna let no stinking fry cook ruin the best campaign strategy since Washington rowed across a frosty river in Delaware. Gottlieb's the chief investigator. Three months later, he turned in ...pages of notes. His recollection of events added details to Nifong's case like a New York seamstress adds sequins to a songbird's gown. Gottlieb's in solid with the boss."
I sat in stunned silence, not even a come hither look from the comely barmaid could stop my thoughts. The newsie took another sip of the bourbon I bought him.
"It ain't the first time either. One morning. around 6AM, Gottlieb ran a red light and rammed his car into another guy's ride right here in Raleigh. When the smoke cleared, Mr.Nobody's car had $7000 worth of damage. Our man Gottlieb didn't even get a ticket. Tony, if that was you or me, think the Raleigh cops would let it slide like a fried egg on a greasy stove?"
I leaned back. The newsie smiled a knowing smile. "Ain't gonna happen, Tony. Watch and see. The guy with the smashed car, the poor fry cook here that got knocked around? They are NOBODYS, Tony. And NOBODY cares." My beat can be ugly, my friends. The night can be cold. But this story chilled me like a eager bridegroom's champagne waiting to be uncorked. But it's not over yet. Tony Soprano doesn't go down easy.
******Footnote: Unlike some OTHER fiction writers LieStoppers feels the need to distinguish fiction from fact. Should the NYT wish to carry this story, LieStoppers will insist they disclose the difference. Tony Soprano was NOT in Blinco's the night of the Fry Cook beating, but we link to the basic facts of the story that ARE true.
[Links are at Liestoppers, and will be listed in posts to follow]
Post 240 - Elmostafa trial tomorrow.
Let's see : Nifong appears on 60 minutes. . . and in an exclusive interview, tells it all as it was :
Gottlieb brings the details of the rape investigation to Nifong.
Nifong (rightly) goes ballistic, and in his zeal, unfortunately he goes public. He relies on what he has been told via Gottlieb--that the poor woman was choked ("like this", as Gottlieb demonstrated), beaten, etc. He has no reason not to trust his investigator.
Himan, new to the job, goes along with Gottlieb, being told it will be "all right", that this is the way things are done; Gottlieb is the old hand, Himan the newbie.
Nifong discovers cracks in the case, but is willing to stand by his investigators. He is embarrassed over being misled on some details (choking), but he won't throw over a veteran cop for embellishing a few details.
Then it starts to get worrisome; the case falls apart, there are too many holes in it--and Nifong isn't to blame.
There's only so far he can go to protect Gottlieb. Perhaps Gottlieb isn't worth saving. Maybe he and Himan have to go; or Himan will turn on Gottlieb and get immunity, and join with Nifong in prosecuting him.
Nifong, though, declares at a presser that he can't be faulted for his zeal in attempting to defend women, and especially women of color, from potential rapists--even though in this case he was sadly--but not criminally--mistaken.
I don't think so. I think Nifong took over investigation of this case. Nifong is the one who set up that final line-up. He's the one who told the cops not to use fillers and instruct the accuser that the photos were of people they believed were at the party. Nifong's fingerprints are all over this and I don't think he can weasel out. He had the most powerful motive too - the primary election. His job was on the line. Gottlieb is a dirty cop but Nifong has been pulling the strings on this case.
NIFONG'S HOOLIGAN CLUB
NIFONG'S HOOLIGANS
T-shirts and bumper stickers.
Himan's notes 3/21 AV and J.J. come to DPD...
I asked her questions trying to follow up on a better description of the suspects, she was unable to remember anything further about the suspects.Himan would obviously be referring to his notes "short, chubby, 260...etc" when he questioned her.. She said she was unable to remember any more details.. But yet she remembered enough to describe the Duke 3 to a 'T' for Gottlieb... Uh..Uh... I ain't buying it...
How did I know you'd be interested in that?
Isn't it amazing, people start questioning the crime stats showing that Durham seemingly doesn't arrest people for prostitution - and 6 weeks later there's a press conference with the FBI.
Note: One of residences where they tried to serve a search warrant was vacant.
I'm talking about Wendy Murphy.
She runs out on TV and says John Ramsey did it - she says "other people" in the investigation agree with her. She says - again - that they found Child porn on his PC and that he has a problem with Child porn.
Then, this week she says - Oh Yeah, why did he leave the country when he found out they were investigating this case again?
1) He didn't leave the country
2) People on the Investigation have said more than once, that there was no Child porn on John Ramsey's PC - and that he was cleared as a suspect fairly early. Suspicion remained for an extended period of Patsy.
3) A FEDERAL JUDGE reviewed the EVIDENCE in this case and stated that there was very strong evidence that someone from outside the home and outside the family committed the crime.
This is an official finding - not a hired gun.
4) Male DNA was found in JonBenet's underwear and clothes - John Ramsey and his son - do NOT match that DNA.
5) All handwriting experts concluded John Ramsey did NOT write the ranson note found at the scene.
Does Wendy care - he's a man isn't he?
.
Just a point I'd like to make - Nifong's not giving it up.
He believes he can convince a Durham Jury by mudding the waters on most every witness - IMO.
Now, that's wrong as the State has the burden of proof, but he does know Durham Juries - he's been in that office, in other positions, for 29 years, IIRC.
-
- FREE ELMO - I love it !
How about a, Tickle me ELMOstafa ?
Now, I've done it, I'm having flashbacks. I waiting in line one year forever hoping to get one of those Tickle Me Elmo's.
In fact, to this day, when I see a Sesame Street Character on the street - I start screaming uncontrolablly!
And Sesame Street has offered me 2 million dollars to keep my mouth shut.
Yes, I remember now, it was the Cookie Monster, Bert, and Ernie - No big Bird.
They made a comment about a rubber Duckie - and I doubt I will ever recover.
.
So Himan has TWO contemporaneous accounts which conflict with Gottleb's long delayed recollections.
The Recall of Mike Nifong
There are strange things done in the Durham sun
By the men who moil for votes;
The paper trails have their secret tales,
That refute Herr Gottlieb's notes;
The Durhamites have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever will see;
Is the night that they'll note, Miss Jakee will vote,
"Recall the SOB!"
There may be more. We know the Gottlieb also conflicts with a female officer that accompanied him to her house.
That's powerful because there's multiple people now disagreeing with Gottlieb in the record. We saw the NYT initimate that Gottlieb is experienced and the Head of Investigations and Himan is young and this is his second case.
But, you have two people conflicting him on MAJOR issues of evidence. I suspect there's more.
To me, it's apparent that Himan (brand new to the team) didn't know what was going on - he didn't get the memo. He doesn't have a relationship with these guys as he just arrived in that district in that position. He probably wasn't trusted.
Himan is also the only one to record in his notes - that Nifong wanted the Cabbie arrested and NIFONG wanted to be alerted when the Cabbie - a minor bit player - was in Police Custody.
As the election grew near and the GJ meeting - for the last time before the election - was drawing near, Gottlieb took more and more control. Others had done the earlier lineups with the women, but Gottlieb took over totally for the well-known 4/4 lineup. And Himan - centrally involved initially - he wasn't even present. Not even there.
Makes you wonder if Himan didn't fall out of favor.
_
I like it! But, then again, I like every poem that refers to Nifong as an SOB!
Gottlieb's notes conflict with just about everything - his partners notes, other officer's reports, medical records etc. He is in for one hell of a cross-examination.
I agree Nifong will not let go of this case. I don't think he has anywhere to go but forward. And he still has his allies - the Herald-Sun, some at the N&O, the New York Times, Victoria Peterson and assorted pot-bangers.
Is that the photographer? According to Neff's article, both her contemporaneous account AND the photographs conflict with Gottlieb's long delayed notes.
But, you have two people conflicting him on MAJOR issues of evidence. I suspect there's more.
Plus, he's got to explain the conflict with the medical record.
http://johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2006/08/duke-lacrosse-nifong-campaign-disaster.html
Black community shakes up Duke University
Victoria Peterson presented statistics that show over 80 rape cases that have occurred in that part of town, with five of them taking place on the campus of Duke.
"You talk about the Panthers being dangerous, but this university is a danger to the people of Durham," she contended.
--http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2632.shtml
"How do you find the two defendants in this case?" Shabazz shouted. "Guilty," the crowd shouted back.
About 30 local residents participated, including school board member Jackie Wagstaff and activist Victoria Peterson.
-http://donstott.blogspot.com/2006/05/new-black-panther-party.html
Yes, she's an officer and a photographer - she took notes and her notes differ from Gottlieb's on major issues - like injuries. The female officer did not state the AV had any injuries in her report - yet Gottlieb does in his magic notes.
I'm not surprised Victoria Peterson is a supporter of the NBPP.
What scares me is the NBPP vowing to get justice "one way or the other". That sounds bad to me.
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/480203.html
District attorney's race may attract Duke vote
http://www.newsobserver.com/580/story/480044.html
Resolve it
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-764974.html
Prostitution sting nets 8 arrests so far
By BriAnne Dopart : The Herald-Sun
bdopart@heraldsun.com
Aug 28, 2006 : 10:11 pm ET
DURHAM -- The house at 1949 Cheek Road -- one of three allegedly of ill repute targeted in a wide-ranging prostitution sting Saturday -- stood silent and empty Monday evening.
A trash bag, a torn sofa, and a few empty matchbooks strewn around were all that remained inside the house that city, state and federal officials called a brothel at a news conference earlier in the day.
A man calling himself Juan Gonzales said he had no idea the home was a place of business for prostitutes and was only attempting to visit friends when he pulled up to the vacant residence Monday afternoon.
Gonzales, a construction worker who has lived in Durham for 10 years, said his friend's name is Ernesto and that he, Gonzales, had not heard about the sting operation or arrests at the Cheek Road house.
Gonzales said he had visited only once before, when Ernesto and several male friends were present. One woman was also present at that time, he said, but he did not notice any sexual activity taking place.
Asked if he was shocked to hear about Hispanic prostitution activity in Durham, he said, "I'm not surprised. The Latino community is very big here."
Another man who was visiting a body shop that sits in front of the alleged brothel admitted to having visited the residence but would not give his name.
A prostitution ring involving women lured from Mexico with phony job promises has been linked to at least three alleged brothels operating in Durham and up to 40 people in the Raleigh-Durham area, according to federal and state investigators.
Eight people were arrested Saturday at three alleged Durham brothels and more arrests may follow, officials said at a news conference Monday.
"This is a very highly organized, highly sophisticated organization. I don't think we can understate that," said Gregory Baker, supervising special agent for the FBI in Raleigh.
Baker said the brothel network has been taking shape in the Raleigh-Durham area for several years and has links to New York. The operation yielded similar arrests last month in Raleigh.
The Durham arrests -- at 116 Junction Road, 217 North Hoover Road and 1949 Cheek Road -- stem from a year-long partnership involving Durham and Raleigh police, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspector, the N.C. Highway Patrol and federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
Durham County tax records show Francis Mutura of 5804 Brambleton Ave., Raleigh, owns the home on Junction Road. Southern Repair Services Inc., P.O. Box 685, Durham, owns the Cheek Road residence, and Patricia A. and Daniel T. Glosson, P.O. Box 179, Rougemont, own the North Hoover Road house.
No telephone number was available for Mutura, and neither of the other two residences' owners immediately returned calls seeking comment.
Law enforcement officials also reported serving a warrant at a house at 509 E. Geer St., owned by Rental Investments LLC, 4791 S. NC HWY 87 in Graham, tax records show, but found no one present.
Tax records show $1,203.47 in 2005 property taxes on the Junction Road house unpaid, while property tax payments are up to date on the other three properties. Property taxes for 2006 are not due until Jan. 5, 2007.
Authorities say they targeted only a few of the people they believe are behind the alleged sex ring. But as more people become aware of the prostitution scheme, more will likely come forward with information, said Durham Police Chief Steve Chalmers.
Like the alleged brothel on Cheek Road, the 116 Junction Road site appeared abandoned except for a lone, half-full Corona beer resting on the front steps.
Phone cards advertising cheap phone calls from the Carolinas to Honduras littered the front and back lawns of the ranch-style residence. A shiny "For Sale" sign rested against the back wall of the carport.
Neighbor Larry Matlock said he hadn't noticed anything strange at the residence except an excess of cars.
"I had no idea," he said. "And I'm [home] from sunup to sundown."
Similarly, Tanisha Kincy, who lives two doors down from the alleged brothel on North Hoover Road, said she thought nothing of the several vehicles she saw parked in front of and behind the house each day.
There is so much regular traffic around the residence, located across the street from a bus depot and just yards from Junction's intersection with Holloway Street, that Kincy said she didn't think anything of the cars parked in the home's yard.
While reporting on this story, a Herald-Sun reporter saw several men pull up to the homes identified by police as brothels. None of the men said they were aware the residences housed prostitutes.
Baker said the brothels -- where women performed sex acts for between $30 and $50 -- were the final destination for illegal immigrants lured to the U.S. with empty promises of employment.
After incurring travel expenses sometimes totaling nearly $6,000, the women are offered a means of "working off" that debt, he said.
Some of the women, however, told investigators they were not held against their will while they worked in the brothels, Baker said.
"They were pretty much able to come and go as they please, but [if you were an illegal immigrant] where are you gonna go ... if you had no infrastructure, no support? It's a very transient lifestyle."
According to a June report by the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Mexico plays a role in trafficking for sexual exploitation or labor, primarily through fraudulent offers of employment or threats of violence.
Mexican officials have identified 126 gangs involved in trafficking, the report said.
The people allegedly behind the Durham brothels are both legal and illegal immigrants, authorities said. Officials could not confirm if they believe the group has ties to locally active Latino gangs such as MS-13.
Investigators believe the leaders of the group are based in New York, though no arrests have been made there, Baker said.
State Department statistics show that up to 50 percent of the 600,000 to 800,000 people trafficked across international borders annually are juveniles. But Baker said investigators have not linked children to any of the local brothels.
All the men and women arrested over the weekend were charged with offenses relating to prostitution. At least three people are being held for deportation.
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/gaynor/060828
Will "60 Minutes" do a "180" about exposing the Duke rape hoax?
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