Is Va. going easy on flimflam man ‘Bobby Thompson’?
Ken Avidor | Courtesy of DumpBachmann.com
Where is the con man at the center of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association fundraising/campaign donations scandals?
The guy on the left is a wanted man in the state of Ohio. He organized and ran a phony nationwide charity, the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. He’s charged with all kinds of felonies, which involved scamming more than $2 million from citizens in that state.
His name (it’s a stolen identity) is “Bobby Thompson.” And in 2009 he was also the second largest individual contributor to Ken Cuccinelli’s successful campaign for Virginia Attorney General. In three donations, “Thompson” ponied up $55,500 for Ken.
Back in 2010, Cuccinelli admitted to The Roanoke Times that in 2009 he’d personally solicited the largest donation in a phone call to “Thompson.” The Florida-based con man responded with a check for $50,000.
After news broke in Florida and later in Virginia that the U.S. Navy Vets was a scam, attorneys general in other states launched investigations. Ohio indicted the con man and a female associate, Blanca Contreras.
She got 5 years in prison and Ohio charges remain pending against “Thompson,” or whatever his name is. He’s nowhere to be found. The last time his former lawyer saw him, he had been drinking. (“Thompson” has a penchant for tequila and Natural Light beer.)
AP Photo | Steve Helber
The Veterans Administration has removed the U.S. Navy Vets from its listings of veterans service organizations.
The IRS raided locations in Florida for evidence against Thompson.
The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board fined “Thompson” $21,000 (in abstentia) for illegal contributions to Republicans in that state, including Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Thompson’s own lawyers in Ohio and Washington have quit and denounced him as a scumbag.
So what has Cuccinelli done about this in Virginia, where Thompson scammed the entire Virginia General Assembly into enacting a 2010 law that would make it easier for his phony group to steal money from the commonwealth’s citizens?
The answer, so far, appears to be not much:
- Under pressure (and months after Thompson had vamoosed), Cuccinelli divested his campaign of the $55,500 in contributions from “Bobby Thompson.” He gave the money to legitimate veterans groups.
- This year, the General Assembly repealed “Bobby Thompson’s law” — which would have exempted the U.S. Navy Vets from registering with the state. Cuccinelli supported that repeal. Big whoop. It was an obvious no-brainer.
- The AG has assigned his “top deputy” to investigate.
And that’s pretty much it.
Sixteen months after his Virginia fraud was revealed, Virginia authorities have charged “Thompson” with no crimes, nor have they assessed any other penalties against him, either for campaign finance violations, or defrauding Virginians who donated more than $2 million to the U.S. Navy Vets between 2005-10, or for anything else.
“With regard to possible criminal charges, we cannot comment because they do not fall within our office’s jurisdiction,” said Brian Gottstein, a spokesman for the AG’s office.
“Our office has been investigating potential civil violations, which do fall within our jurisdiction. While we do not comment on the specifics of investigations, we can say that the investigation has been continuing and we are in the process of pursuing civil remedies. We will be able to comment further when that process concludes.”
At least publicly, Cuccinelli seems to have been far more actively investigating the “potential fraud” (which is a crock) of a former University of Virginia climate scientist.
The Attorney General has said he’s purposefully staying out of this. He’s walled himself off from the investigation. There are appearances to maintain. Besides, it’s complicated, he says.
I can understand that last bit. It is a complicated investigation. Thompson bamboozled millions from Virginians. He scammed the entire Virginia General Assembly into passing a law that would help him do that.
Back in May 2010, it took me and another reporter 5 full days to sort out this scandalous mess of flimflamery and thievery.
How much longer is it going to take the Virginia Attorney General?
Karl Rove and "Bobby Thompson" | Ohio Attorney General's Office
November 4, 2011 - 8:00 AM
Karl Rove and “Bobby Thompson”
Also known as Satan and one of his minions.
My guess is that nothing is going to be done. It’s clear that 55 grand buys you something in Virginia.
There’s more important stuff to do, like crucifying a scientist because you don’t like his science.
I’ve said before that some rich right-winger is probably protecting him, letting him live in their guest house behind mansion #6. Now we know that Virginia’s AG, Ken Cuccinelli, is judicially protecting him by failing to do everything he can to prosecute this thief. It doesn’t matter that Cuccinelli’s spokesman says criminal prosecution is outside of his jurisdiction. It’s similar to how a U.S. President may not have the formal, designated power to do something, but if it is a priority, he finds a way to try to get it done. Judging from results, Cuccinelli apparently isn’t even trying.
Would someone please explain what they think should be being done at this time and at what cost to Virginia Tax payers?
Don’t get me wrong. I think there is no question that ““Bobby Thompson” is a despicable dirtbag. I would fully support going after him — if and when he is found and if it is still within the statute-of-limitations / civil filling date limit when found.
OTOH, why waste tax money looking of a figment of a conman’s imagination, when there is likely to be no recovery in a civil action.
As to criminal action does anyone know what statute he would have been in violation of and/or what the penalty is for what he did?
Then there is the issue jurisdiction for in the case of congruence / continuation of same criminal act under the concept of double jeopardy — the procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same, or similar charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction for a specific criminal act. In common law, a defendant may enter a peremptory plea of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict when a person has been tied in another jurisdiction for an act or the continuation of an ongoing criminal action. Although the the “separate sovereigns” rule does allow two different States to prosecute someone for the same criminal act, it can get tricky. Even if convicted twice the judge might give credit for time served, elsewhere.
Also, white-collar crimes typically end up with light treatment of that sort.
I suspect that it might well be prudent to take a wait-and-see position as long as others are using their tax money to look for the guy.
I don’t think we can make the call that Virginia is “going easy” on the guy until he is found and the “fat lady sings” on the combined legal action.
It is quite clear that Bobby Thompson committed despicable fraud in Virginia. He solicited funds that were generously given for Navy vets, and he squandered them on cheek implants and bribes. What to do when a right-wing friend commits fraud…what to do…hmm…maybe charge him with fraud? And issue an arrest warrant? And file proceedings to seize his assets? Nah…better to just wait and do nothing until he is found. Cuccinelli has more important things to do, like harrass and intimidate mild-mannered climate scientists.
John
Is this another of those, “lets just do ‘something’ because ‘something’ make us ‘feel good’ — regardless of the likely effectiveness of that ‘something’ actually accomplishing anything and without regard to what it cost the State (citizens) to do that ‘something,’ which might accomplish nothing”?
If you donated and have evidence of fraud/bribes/etc (or otherwise have standing for a claim or to support a warrant) — go for it.
I have little question that “Bobby Thompson” (whoever he really is) was a despicable fraud.
But think about it. There are criminal inquiries being conducted (or completed) in nine States; the IRS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Inspector General are on the case. Two other States are already in-line to recover whatever “Bobby Thompson” (whoever he really is) has left. There is a warrant out for his arrest — which means that the US Marshals are looking for him. There is also a likelihood that Marshal Service has requested assistance from other Federal agencies.
Do you have evidence that Brian Gottstein, the spokesman for the AG’s office was incorrect when he said, “With regard to possible criminal charges, we cannot comment because they do not fall within our office’s jurisdiction. [emphasis added]” What criminal code would the AG have authority to take action under, in your opinion?
If there was a reason to suspect that “Bobby Thompson” (whoever he really is) defraud the State, as a entity, I to would expect Cuccinelli to be taking civil action — assuming there are still funds to recover.
As it is, Dan has quoted the AG’s office as saying, “Our office has been investigating potential civil violations, which do fall within our jurisdiction. While we do not comment on the specifics of investigations, we can say that the investigation has been continuing and we are in the process of pursuing civil remedies.”
If you want to raise an issue of lack of action, why is the AG’s office not pursued civil remedies against Blanca Contreras? Might it be that there is nothing been found to recover? Hum?
Bobby Thompson is a piker compared to HUGE Democrat donor Bernie Madoff. Odd, no calls for 0bama et al to give back Madoff’s dirty money.
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Madoff&first=Bernard
The Democrat hypocrisy never ends.
Madoff is in prison where he belongs. Thompson is not.
” ….like crucifying a scientist because you don’t like his science.” How do we know if we like his science or not….he won’t show the science that the state paid for. Something is terribly wrong when a man(MANN) acts THAT guilty. He did the science on our dime…show us what we paid for!!
“A special interest’s lobbying activity may go up or down over time, depending on how much attention the federal government is giving their issues. Particularly active clients often retain multiple lobbying firms, each with a team of lobbyists, to press their case for them.”
Yep, Madoff knew how to butter his bread.
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000031931&year=2008
You know the only reason Bernie Madoff is in jail? Because he stole from the rich. Had he stole from anyone else, like Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase did, he would be scott free right now.
Re: #9
“Madoff is in prison where he belongs. Thompson is not.”
———-
Dan,
So, what’s your point in these redundant threads about Thompson? That Thompson is not in prison because of donations or some connection to Cuccinelli and or other Republicans?
Do you think that the current Obama administration (as in IRS, VA, US Marshal Service, etc) is/are in on protecting Thompson?
It’s funny how no mention was ever made in the Madoff trial that he was a huge Democrat contributor. Yet the MSM and Dan here are all over Bobby Thompson. How come nobody here is demanding all those damn Democrats give back their Madoff contributions??
Dan,
OTOH, if you are venting about Cuccinelli and not about Thompson, then Suzie raises an interesting question.
How much of the $284K (?) shown at her link was returned to bankruptcy trustee? How much of that was recovered w/o legal action forcing the return?
As I said before [in comment #43 on http://tinyurl.com/4y846pf ], a grievance of mine is the lack of principled constancy in political debates.
Yes, I know about Emerson’s often misquoted statement:
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — ‘Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’ — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. [Emphasis added]” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self Reliance (1841)
I have no problem with changes of position when based on growth, new knowledge, different circumstances, etc. However, I stronghold object if such inconsistency is partition driven, based on NIMBY, Whose ox…, etc.
To quote Herman Cain, “apples and oranges.” To equate Thompson with Madoff is a feeble attempt at distraction.
#16 That’s the game of a troll, one who admits she/he actually practices being a troll. Strange thing to be proud of.
@#7, from Dave Hicks,
Dave H, you wrote:
“Do you have evidence that Brian Gottstein, the spokesman for the AG’s office was incorrect when he said, “With regard to possible criminal charges, we cannot comment because they do not fall within our office’s jurisdiction. [emphasis added]” What criminal code would the AG have authority to take action under, in your opinion?
If there was a reason to suspect that “Bobby Thompson” (whoever he really is) defraud the State, as a entity, I to would expect Cuccinelli to be taking civil action — assuming there are still funds to recover.”
This is what I know:
1) Ken Cuccinelli is the top law enforcement official in Virginia.
2) Ken Cuccinelli has claimed, that, as Virginia Attorney General, he has the standing to investigate potential fraud by a former UVa climate scientist, who researched (with some federal and state funds) and published historical climate data with which Ken Cuccinello disagrees.
3) By his own admission, Ken Cuccinelli is “the General Assembly’s lawyer.” He said this to a crowd in the summer of 2010 in Rocky Mount in Franklin County. I was there.
4) Bobby Thompson, or whatever his name is, gave contributions totaling $66,500 to the AG, the governor, the speaker of the House of Delegates, a committee chairman in the House, a subcommittee chairman in the House (all of the aforementioned were Republicans) plus $1,000 to a Democratic senator.
5) Following those contributions, Bobby Thompson, working through a hired lobbyist (who has since denounced Thompson as a scumbag) persuaded the General Assembly to enact a law that would aid his group, the U.S. Navy Veterans, to continue scamming Virginians.
6) If the state’s top law enforcement official (who has claimed to be “the General Assembly’s lawyer”) can investigate a state university’s climate scientist when there is no scintilla of evidence he committed fraud, it stands to reason that that same AG ought to be able to investigate criminal fraud (and campaign finance violations, which seem to be overtly criminal) that we KNOW with a certainty has been committed. Especially when it has been committed against his primary client, the General Assembly.
The only reasonable conclusion I can draw from this mess is that Ken Cuccinelli DOES NOT WANT his office to investigate this mess because it’s going to run into problems with much bigger fish in the GOP who have (obvious) close ties to this con man.
So yeah, given his apparent avarice for Prof. Micheal Mann, it seems to me that Cuccinelli is deliberately going soft on a probe of Bobby Thompson.
Re: #18
“So yeah, given his apparent avarice for Prof. Micheal Mann, it seems to me that Cuccinelli….”
———-
So you are saying it is about Mann.
And taht you don’t actually know what jurisdiction the AG’s office has or does not have.