Originally posted by Excel1
Dred
Bribes, backhanders, kickbacks, what ever you want to call it, it's all corruption and it's a lot more common than a lot of people might think. From the building inspector that takes a $5k backhander from a developer to pass a below reg apartment building to the more extreme $1.3mil of "bought" contracts in your example; and even though it may reek of corruption it's nearly always hard to prove, if not imposable in an environment of mutual greed.
But judging by the way that the FBI have got their teeth into those corrupt city officials and the contractors that paid the bribes someone probably didn't play the game and must have squealed.
I could be wrong, but I doubt that the contractors claims that they were corrupted by the system would be a viable defence; at least it shouldn't be, as they had the option of blowing the whistle on it.
I agre with you about curruption. Its one of the reasons I dont make alot more money then I do.
I refuse to play that game.
I personally know two of the people involved in that situation. One of the city officials and one of the two contractors mentioned.Very very VERY well since he was 13 (can you say, brother in law) I know the other one too but only by way of a breif meeting. Thus I dont know him personally
The City official I used to work with some years ago. I quickly identified him as a weasel back then.
Hes the inspector mentioned. LOL this clown is about as qualified to be a building inspector as I am to pilot the space shuttle.
Probably less. His wife who also works for the city got him the job.
the contractor. Well like I told his sister "I feel sorry for your mother cause she doesnt deserve this. As for your brother. Well he's been a criminal for as long as Ive known him.
This guy has never cut a fair,legal or honest deal in his life."
to give a brief rundown on this clown
Age 12 dons his Pop Warner Football uniform and stands outside a hospital collecting money from people going in and out for a fund raiser. Problem was. There was no fund raising going on
Age 14 Collects money from his newspaper route. Literally punches himself in the eye giving himself a black eye. then tells the guy that he worked for he was robbed.
Thoughout his teenage years. Thinks nothing of Breaking & entering (B&E) and robbing peoples houses.
At one point he robbed a brand new gas grill Gave it to his mother for mothers day. Then 2 weeks later Restole it from their backyard and sold it.
Paticipates in various cons of various types including one I witnessed with my own eyes passing of little pieces of stained paper as Acid (LSD). Wasn't really acid. just little stained pieces of paper
Thinks nothing of not only cheating at cards, but one time I witnessed him being called on it he outright admitted in then dared the other players to do something about it. (nobody did)
I looked on in astonishment as about half at the table could have easily hospitalised him.
I dont play cards and I dont gamble money so it didn't involve me or I might have.
Breaks into MY truck and steals 2 fishing poles. (couldn't prove it but word on the street was it was him. Wife (then girlfriend) wouldn't let me **** kick him)
Becomes a heroin addict. Resorts to mugging and stealing from his own family
Runs another con where he has his girlfriend (he was married at that time and his girlfriend and his wife were not one in the same) Pick up buisness men in bars and take her to a local motel. Where he would charge in claiming she was his wife and proceed to shake the guys down for everything they had
Age 21 gets chitfaced into an accident where he kills an elderly couple.
Age 26 gets out of jail and .
Remarried now to the same girlfriend he was running the con with. they have a kid
Starts his own painting business but ruins his rep with taking peoples deposits and not doing the work.
Resumes his drug & crime activity.
Eventually homeless he joins a clinic to get clean and he shows up and our house with is wife and kid needing a place to stay. I reluctantly agree.
A week into this he asked me for a ride to a pawn shop to trade in some some stuff. I demand he show me the "stuff" before I do anything
He then shows me a bag with....Well lets just say it was stuff worth ALOT.
Obviously not his.
2 minutes later he and his family were homeless again because I threw the whole kit & kaboodle out.
Age 29, Joins AA and seems to clean up his act Gets a decent job and rises in it Eventually going into business with his current partner forming "the company named. Starts getting contracts with the city,Gets more and bigger contracts with the city.
More and more money to the point where its absurd how fast he is making it. And how fast he was aqquiring the contracts
I knew soemthing was up then and said so. That there was no way he was doing it legally
More and more, Trips to Mexico. France, Rome.
Free use of a Beachouse down the shore.(owned by a city official)
And a few months ago it comes out in the news that there is a big federal investigation goin on and I was like "AHAA I knew it!" (think I posted about it here)
but at that time he was yet to have been named. All the while he claims he is "clean" Im like yea..ok.
and then a few weeks ago he confides what I already suspected. He was involved in the investigation. And now this.
Trust me. I know this guy. There is no way he is an innocent party or "victim" in this.
I wouldnt be able to prove it but just knowing him and the way he is. There is no how,no way, no way this only goes back to only 06.
I'm betting thats only as far back as they can absolutely prove it was going on
From what Im hearing the inspector (the weasel I worked with) is the one turning rat on everyone.
I have to admit I am getting a certain degree in satisfaction in all this.
the man is....Garbage (the actual word wouldnt be allowed here). He's always been garbage, he always will be garbage.
He is going ot get exactly what he deserves
About the only "good" thing I can say about him is he no longer does drugs.
Also when I will no longer have to hear whines or brags about. This one is going here, or there, or he bought a brand new this or that.
True.
But then again I am not going to be part of a federal investigation either. Nor will I be charged in one.
You see Im one of those rare animals that cant be corrupted.
I refuse to pay you to work for you. I dont do bribes or kickbacks.
Either you want my services, or you dont. Simple as that.
And thats probably why I will never make it "big"
On the downside In this state this type of thing goes on up to the very highest levels of government. And its obvious.
Why else woudl they repeatedly vote down bills making for mandatory jail terms for state officials caught in curruption?
