So I literally started a pit thread two Sundays ago and promptly dropped out of sight. Given the length of this, I didn’t want to put this in that thread as explanation, but felt the participants were owed one, so here it is.
And, for the vast majority of you not interested in my Pit thread… following is one complete, absolutely fucked up story, with three bank frauds, two of them involving me as the victim in separate cases, a business shakeup and restructuring, my daughter’s first true rock and roll concert (5SOS), and ending with me starting a case to arrest one, maybe two people whom four days ago I would have counted among my best friends.
And about 100 hours of work. At least.
No TLDR other than above. I lived it, you read it.
Sunday, 9-11: Canvassed another 50 doors for Hillary after posting pit thread (about Hillary supporters who whine online without doing GOTV/campaign/messaging work), washed 2 cars, cut grass, worked on marketing and sales program for business.
Monday, 9-12: Was told by partner that we are moving the business to his house, dropping our offices in Boerne and laying off two people. This is to be done by September 30th, a date, by the way, critical to the marketing and sales program. Much of what was decided was based upon my recommendations, but the suddenness of it was surprising.
Went to Wells Fargo with evidence of bank fraud committed against me in 2011 (when I applied for a mortgage from them). Like the 5,300 who were fired for opening up and closing accounts, a man did that to me in 2011 - I complained, filed a formal complaint, but he was still working there as of Monday.
So I walked in with my emails, my logs of my calls with their corporate complaint department, the account passbooks, the debit card, and ask to see a manager. The guy comes to me and I say, “Sorry, another manager.”
The poor lady just shit a brick. Immediately processed a call to, I think, Dallas, bypassing her district manager (which she’ll likely get some shit for.) I went through case, told them they need to review every transaction they allowed this man to make since 2011, when they last ignored me.
Tuesday, 9-13: Phone call with a top-10 petroleum company with VP of “I control the bux.” Was able to steer conversation from one proposed project to a series of three proposed projects, with the scope of the first project effectively increasing in size no less than 50%. Also got them to agree to 3-hour workshop this week (tomorrow, Tuesday, in fact) about the first project. 3 VP’s are scheduled to attend. We’re talking about up to $250k in billings for these three projects.
Sent 200+ emails to county-level Democratic party groups offering route optimization services, first 5,000 listings free for first 5 respondents. Got 12 respondents, including Bexar County. Scheduled appointment to meet with them on Saturday.
Wednesday, 9-14. Preparing for petroleum company meeting, was asked by local politician to assist in an exploratory committee for their run for the mayoral spot here in SA and to help set up office. Also took my daughter and friend to 5 Seconds of Summer concert.
Thursday, 9-15: Sister’s birthday: made 4 attempts to reach her, no response. Even talked to the kids nanny. Sigh…
Received phone call from ex-VP of our neighborhood association, the Tanglewood Resident’s Association (TRA): he had heard rumor that the Treasurer of the San Antonio Firemen and Police Pensioners’ Association (www.safppa.org) had stolen up to $70,000. This Treasurer happens to be the Treasurer of the TRA as well. Went to bank. Found out things. Bad things.
Called other Board members as we had a Board meeting that very night. Went to Board meeting, Treasurer (and spouse, who happens to be the President of the Association) cannot give financial report due to computer problems. (hammer to hard drive, I suspect, but have no proof.)
I am a signatory on this account, by the way, though I have never made any payments from it. With only 90 members paying $17/year each, there’s not a lot of money in this thing, and most of it goes to four items: power, water, National Night Out, and our Christmas Light contest.
Friday, 9-16: Over the entire day, called lawyers, detectives, for advice on handling this. Went to bank, requested all documents, found the following: Funds from our account being paid to SAFPPA (the organization she stole from). Forgeries of checks in my name (no attempt to mimic my handwriting). Debit card purchases like it was their home account.
Found out that there is an internal struggle at SAFPPA (again, we are “TRA”, not these guys) and that some people want to have a vote of confidence for the entire slate of Board appointees. The President of the association is one who wants to keep it quiet (I think I know why, but cannot say… for now). Other people want to blow it open and have her arrested.
Also, went to work, because that, too, is a thing that needs doing.
3:30pm Got call from press: reporter is getting onto this story – the reporter knows a fair amount, the other group doesn’t want to press charges, a number of members are pissed about this (which is, apparently, how we found out), and they are using the press to force the issue. Talked to reporter, gave him confirmation on info he will find in a filing anyway, no details, but I did tell him that I would keep in touch.
Story is to be released Saturday evening, 7pm, online. That’s our deadline for the next 27 hours.
6:30pm Had emergency Board meeting. Voted couple out. Voted them off the bank books. Voted to approve an audit. Voted to approve the compiling of data for presentation to the District Attorney.
Night: Wrote letter to couple explaining Board decision and motions, communication methods, receipt of our materials, deadlines, etc. To use a phrase from history, it was a “most formidable document.”
Saturday, 9-17. AFTER MUCH STRESS AND DELAY, finally got minutes to Bank at 1:15pm, taking couple off account access. Received big old stack of checks from yesterday’s request. Also had disagreement with a Board member as to whether to send this letter. I didn’t talk to three attorneys and two detectives, asking all of them “What is your best advice on how to approach them”, for nothing. Anyway, got the other Board member to approve the letter before she raised her voice, so she was effectively voted down. (Her argument was that notifying them that we know would cause them to destroy evidence. My counter was (a), we addressed this already in the letter, (b), destroying evidence is itself a crime, and (c), since this is a financial fraud and forgery case, the evidence that matters most of all is the electronic tracking that is impossible to erase – video at ATM’s, check copies, debit card PIN numbers, electronic signatures, more. Not that the granny panties she bought aren’t critical to our case, but they’re not going to convince a jury. A forged $3,000 check convinces juries.
Had to cancel meeting with Bexar County Democrats because of above meeting minutes. Lost 15 hours because…. Calm down, JohnT….
3:15pm Went to couple’s home. Handed letter with copy of minutes to husband. Talked very little, total time was no longer than 90 seconds. No wild accusations, just mentioned the story being released in 4 hours, we had an investigation, and the results of that investigation resulted in an emergency Board meeting, and here are the results. He said he was disappointed in his wife, which would’ve caused internal bleeding had I not been prepared and prevented my eyes from rolling as much as that statement required.
4:00pm Wrote statement to Association members explaining the issue and our resolve. Get it approved by Board. Board also approves decision that member statement will also be press statement.
7:00pm Article goes on newspaper website. Treasurer accused of raiding police and fire pension fund
(Many people can’t see the article. Don’t know what to tell you. I know how to break the WaPo and NYT “you’ve seen this paper too many times this month” wall on a cell phone, but I don’t have a problem with this site so I don’t know what to tell ya.)
7:05pm Statement is released to members via email, posted on our website at 10:00pm
Sunday, 9-18
3:00am Newspaper hits streets. Front page news, I’m quoted.
8:00am Skipped church, phone calls start coming in, explaining things throughout day, making same plea: “if you know of any attorney or CPA who is looking for some high-profile pro bono work, let us know!”
Research Lien laws in Texas
Research Forgery and White Collar Crime filing requirements for SA Police Department.
Begin to write Affidavits for above.
Write Notification of Lien, in case it’s required.
Prepare documentation for 7:45 meeting with SAPD to officially file charges.
Assign other Board members document preparation duties.
Took dog out for brisket – got a ½ pound at Ruby’s and sat on the tailgate, sharing food, me and my Scottie.
Monday, 9-19
7:45am Present evidence to three SAPD detectives. Everything they need we either have prepared or the Bank is working on getting it for us.
File charges against people whom, the previous Thursday morning, four days prior, I considered friends and (relative) confidantes. Told the detectives I was going to pursue the forgery, no matter what. There were three of them – 1 to ask questions, the second to write down answers, and the third to just look at me, see if I’m nervous or hiding anything. I talked to the third person the most.
Call other organization, talked to 2 members. The President wants to bury this, was not at all happy with my statement that we are going to pursue prosecution no matter what, and was REALLY unhappy when I told him that, if the couple told their group that our Association agreed to any terms, this was not truthful as none of the Board members were aware of any problem, much less made any vote involving SAFPPA. The other member, a lawyer of some repute here in San Antonio, is quite irritated at the President and is glad that I’m pursuing the case.
I’m not, of course. But what has to be done, has to be done.
Will have evidence prepared and affidavits sworn to by this time next week – we all have our assignments and our only chance of getting $ back is getting this criminal judgment, then slapping a lien on their house and/or future earnings.
And you know what? I WAS GOING TO RESIGN IN THREE FUCKING WEEKS!
… deep breaths…
So… how has your week been?