Joseph Bruno's Blog, page 78

Joe Bruno on the Mob – 24-Hour Tail on Fat Freddie Thompson

Boy this "Fat Freddie" Thompson is sure attracting a lot of attention across the Pond.

It has recently came to light that Fat Freddie, the head of the so-called "King Ratt" gang, has put a bounty of 100,000 pounds on the head of former pal, and present rat Joey O'Brien. Now, it seems that underworld forces operating in direct opposition to Fat Freddie have initiated several attacks on Fat Freddie's family members.

First, Fat Freddie's bother Rickie (Fat Richie? I once knew a Richie Fat in Manhattan's Little Italy) had his leg broken, when he and his wife Catherine (who was stabbed) were beaten badly in the Karma Stone Pub in Camden Street in Dublin,Ireland. Then someone threw a pipe bomb into Fat Freddie's family home, forcing his mother to evacuate to safer digs.

So, I think it's safe to say we haven't seen the end of the animosity between Fat Freddie and whomever is trying to decimate his family.

To try and stop any more violent incidents, the Dublin Police, called the "Garda," have put Fat Freddie under 24-hour surveillance. Since Fat Freddie has been constantly looking over his shoulder for either his enemies, or for the police, he hasn't hooked up with long-time girlfriend Vicky Dempsey for quite some time.

Maybe that's a good thing for Vicky, since she might escape being in the crossfire of any more violence directed at Fat Freddie.

My guess, considering Fat Freddie reportedly also pissed off the Turkish Mafia in a drug-connected matter, in addition to not making too many friends in Ireland, "Fat Freddie" Thompson might be involved in a little more action.

As a perpetrator, or maybe even as a victim.

Stay tuned.

The article below appeared in the Dublin Herald at:

http://www.herald.ie/news/24hour-tail...

24-hour tail on Freddie as tensions rise

Thursday August 18 2011

Gangland tensions have escalated enormously — with the return of crime boss 'Fat' Freddie Thompson, now under 24-hour surveillance. The garda's Organised Crime Unit have been monitoring Thompson's activities on a "round-the-clock basis" since his return.

'Fat' Freddie spent a day at the Rotunda Hospital on Monday where his sister Lisa Jane gave birth to her first child, Jamie.

The gang boss (inset below) is said to be still "furious" after his brother and mother were targeted in feud related attacks.

Sources say that "top-of-the list" is a 24-year-old criminal present during a violent incident in which Freddie's brother suffered a broken leg in a south city pub in March. The savage attack on Freddie's brother Ritchie (40) and his wife Catherine at the Karma Stone pub in Camden Street has still not been avenged.

Gardai fear the criminal responsible for the assault is a dead man walking.

To compound the situation for this member of the so-called 'King Ratt' faction, Thompson also blames the fellow criminal for throwing a pipe bomb into the garden of his family home earlier this summer.

This incident led to Thompson's mother being evacuated from the south inner city property in the early hours of the morning.

Sources say that 'Fat' Freddie has not returned to his family home while in Ireland and has been staying in city centre hotels.

It is unclear if he has met up with his long term girlfriend Vicky Dempsey, who is from Crumlin, during his time in Ireland.

But sources say that he has been in contact with a number of his close associates — including his first cousin, Liam Brannigan. Brannigan was arrested by members of the Organised Crime Unit after a pipe bomb was seized in the west of the city last month but was later released without charge.

This is not Thompson's first visit back to Dublin this year and it is understood that he has been back in Ireland on at least two occasions since January.

Sources say that the gangster who leads one of Ireland's most notorious drugs gangs has been mainly based in Birmingham since 2011.

Despite earlier reports, a European Arrest Warrant is not in place for Thompson in relation to a massive police operation in Spain last year which led to his drug supplier, Christy Kinahan, and other senior gang members being arrested and charged.

At a murder trial earlier this summer, it emerged that 'Fat' Freddie wanted to kill gangland supergrass and Crumlin criminal Joey O'Brien.

The court heard evidence that by the summer of 2005, his life was under threat because he had fallen out with a well-known, notorious criminal — understood to be Thompson — who had become associated with him when he was a teenager.

O'Brien agreed that this drugs boss came down heavy on him and that he told a garda that this individual was threatening to shoot him over a debt and for informing on him to the gardai.

O'Brien agreed that his father — who had been in the Army all his life — had to put up a sum of money to get this criminal off his back.

Sources say that 'Fat' Freddie is very close to his younger sister who has no involvement in crime.

hnews@herald.ie

Joe Bruno on the Mob – Fat Freddie Thompson Offers €100k to Kill Witness

The Dublin Mafia, headed by "Fat Freddie" Thompson, has allegedly offer a reward of €100k (pounds) to anyone who can locate and kill informer Joey O'Brien.

It seems that the 28-year old O'Brien was the chief witness in a murder trial of Thompson associate Peter Kenny, which caused Kenny to be convicted and given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of murder of drug dealer John 'Champagne' Carroll, who shot dead while socializing in Grumpy Jack's Pub in the Coombe in February, 2009.

O'Brien is hiding somewhere in the Witness Protection Program, so Thompson and his gang are trying to make life miserable for O'Brien's sister Louise, who was forced to flee Dublin with her children. Apparently, even though Louise had nothing to do with her brother turning canary, she was threatened on the streets, spat on, and called a "rat" herself. A Dublin police source said, "What he (Joey O'Brien) did had absolutely nothing to do with Louise – it left her in a very vulnerable position. She has been advised to get out of Dublin and that is what she has done."

This brings to mind an incident that took place in American in 1992. Fat Pete Chiodo, all 500 pounds of him, had turned rat against his Lucchese crime family associates. As a result, on May 8, 1991, Chiodo was shot 12 times in a Staten Island gas station. Chiodo's blubber absorbed all the bullets, and amazingly, he lived to testify in court. But that didn't stop his former friends from going after Pete's sister Patrica Capozallo, who was ambushed on a Brooklyn street in March of 1992. Capozollo was shot in the arm, back and neck, but she survived too.

In the good old days of the Mafia, or any organized crime group, a person's family was always considered off-limits, when it came to retribution against anyone who might have found a friend in the government. Not any more. Everyone, male or female, relative, or friend, of any canary, is now in danger, whether they had anything to do with the situation, or not. The feeling apparently is, with the informer now in the wind and unavailable for killing, hurt him where it hurts him most – his family.

I liked the good old days better.

The article below appeared in the Dublin Herald.

http://www.herald.ie/news/freddies-eu...

By Ken Foy

Friday August 12 2011

'FAT' Freddie Thompson's gang has agreed to pay €100k to anyone who kills a State witness.

The gangsters have clubbed together with other criminals and there is now a €100,000 price on the head of protected witness Joey O'Brien.

But because they can't get at Mr O'Brien – Thompson (below) and fellow criminals have turned on his innocent sister. Louise O' Brien has also been targeted by associates of murderer Peter Kenny, convicted on her brother's evidence. Ms O'Brien fled her Dublin home in the wake of the conviction of Peter Kenny (28) – jailed after her brother, Joey, gave evidence against him.

Kenny (28), from Rialto, was given a mandatory life sentence last month after being convicted of the murder of drug dealer John 'Champagne' Carroll (33), shot dead while socialising in Grumpy Jack's Pub in the Coombe in February, 2009.

O'Brien's family and his girlfriend's family in the Coombe have been targeted with pipe bombs and threats before and during the trial over his decision to turn supergrass. In one incident, a taxi owned by a member of O'Brien's girlfriend's family was blown up outside his south Dublin home. Joey O'Brien, from Crumlin, his partner and children and other family members have been given new lives as part of the Witness Security Programme, probably outside the jurisdiction.

However, his sister Louise was not included in the secret programme but has been forced to flee her south inner city home with her children because of the campaign of terror. Sources have revealed that Louise was verbally threatened, branded a "rat" and even spat at on the street because of her brother's decision to give evidence. "What he did had absolutely nothing to do with Louise – it left her in a very vulnerable position. She has been advised to get out of Dublin and that is what she has done," explained a source.

In one of the most serious incidents, a close male associate of Ms O'Brien was given a "severe hiding" close to their home by three criminals armed with baseball bats. CRIMINALS Sources say that one of the criminals involved in the baseball attack was a convicted heroin dealer from the south inner city who is a major target for gardai under antigangland legislation.

It is understood that death threats were made against Ms O' Brien during the course of this extremely serious assault which left the victim battered and bruised. The vicious assault was carried out with the approval of 'Fat' Freddie's gang. During the murder trial, O'Brien denied being a garda informer for several years before the 2009 killing. He agreed that by the time of the killing he was a drug dealer at a significant level and used to sell drugs to "anybody, including new users, recreational users and addicts".

However he didn't begin taking drugs until he was 19 and was a recreational user, never becoming addicted to substances. O'Brien also admitted that he committed a large number of other criminal offences, including credit card fraud. He said that by the summer of 2005, his life was under threat as he had fallen out with a wellknown, notorious criminal, who had taken a shine to him as a teenager. O'Brien agreed that this drugs boss came down heavy on him and that he told a garda that this individual was threatening to shoot him over the debt and for informing on him to the gardai.

O'Brien agreed that his father, who had been in the army all his life, had to put up some money to get this criminal off his back. He agreed that at the time of John Carroll's killing, he (Joey O'Brien) was socialising seven nights a week, taking cocaine, getting taxis everywhere, "could drop" €3,000 or €4,000 an hour in a bookies and owed €8,500. However, he denied driving the gunman to the scene that night in order to make €15,000. After being arrested, O'Brien told gardai that his role in the murder was to burn the motorbike used in the killing at a housing estate in Harold's Cross – he told detectives that Peter Kenny was the gunman in the hit on Carroll.

O'Brien confirmed that Peter Kenny walked into the pub wearing a helmet and fired a number of shots at 'Champagne' Carroll with a semi-automatic weapon.

hnews@herald.ie

Joe Bruno on the Mob – Missing Italian Bank Money Found in the Bahamas

I guess the attitude of banker Roberto Calvi, called "God's Banker," was if you're going to steal, you might as well steal big.

Calvi was the chairman of the Banco Ambrosiano Overseas Limited, which collapsed in 1982 due to lack of funds. The bank's largest shareholder was the Vatican (God's Banker?) and the missing funds have since been traced to accounts in the Bahamas and in South America.

The amount missing? $800 million!

Now the Italian government is certain hundred of millions are stocked away in bank accounts in the Bahamas. They have been requesting the Bahamian government to return those funds since 2005, but so far have been met with deaf ears.

To make matters more dicey, in the Banco Ambrosiano Overseas Limited scandal, there have been reports that the Mafia was involved, and that several murders may have been committed before the $800 million suddenly disappeared.

As for Calvi, he was arrested in 1981 for illegally transporting money out of Italy. But at his trial he was given only a 4-year suspended sentence.

In 1982, Calvi was found suspended himself: suspended with a rope around his neck, from scaffolding beneath Blackfriars Bridge in the financial district of London. Calvi's clothing was stuffed with bricks, and he was carrying around $15,000 worth of cash in three different currencies.

Calvi's death was ruled murder because Calvi had been a member of Licio Gelli's illegal masonic lodge, P2, and members of P2 referred to themselves as frati neri or "black friars". This has led to a suggestion in some quarters that Calvi was murdered as a masonic warning, because of symbolism associated with the word "Blackfriars," the bridge from which Calvi was hung.

Makes sense to me, or does it?

So Calvi stole the money, and someone, probably connected to the Mafia, or to a Masonic Lodge, killed him. Now, almost 30 years later, the money is still missing, but some of it is in bank accounts in the Bahamas (the Italian authorities think). The Bahamian government is dragging their feet as to returning the money, and if I had to guess, I'd say the money will disappear again.

Simple fact – the Mafia doesn't return their victim's money. And I'm sure the Mafia, or the Masons, or whomever has the money in bank accounts in the Bahamas, has spread plenty of cash around in the Bahamas to make sure the money is never returned to Italy.

Wanna bet I'm wrong?

The article below, which appeared in the Bahama Tribune, can be found at : http://www.tribune242.com/searchresul...

Bahama Tribune

Government in talks over bank scandal investigation

Published On:Thursday, August 11, 2011

THE BAHAMAS government is in active discussions with investigators concerning the longstanding, multi-million dollar Banco Ambrosiano investigation, the attorney general confirmed yesterday.

While he was unable to comment further on the requests, Attorney General John Delaney said that there was an active dialogue between Italian authorities and the Office of the Attorney General, which acts as the Bahamas' authority for international legal cooperation.

Since investigators traced several hundred million of missing funds to accounts in the Bahamas in 2005, sources claimed that local authorities had ignored official requests for assistance – the most recent of which was sent in 2008.

Mr Delaney wrote: "Communications between a foreign requesting authority and the OAG in any matter are conducted under an understanding of confidentiality.

"In this matter there have in fact been responses from The Bahamas in relation to requests received and, with the concurrence of the requesting authority, I am able to confirm that dialogue is active and ongoing."

Foreign news reports indicate that the whereabouts of hundreds of millions of dollars linked to the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano in the early 1982 is one of the biggest bank scandals in history.

The tale of murder, Mafia plots, international money laundering schemes, and clandestine Masonic sects, placed the Bahamas branch of the bank, Banco Ambrosiano Overseas Limited, at the very centre of the scandal.

According to the press in Italy and the UK, Italian prosecutors are looking for funds allegedly squirreled away by former bank chairman Roberto Calvi, known as "God's banker" because the Vatican Bank was the largest shareholder.

In years leading up to the collapse, Calvi set up companies in the Bahamas and South America to which he funnelled hundreds of millions in bank funds. It is claimed that $800 million in total went missing.

Joe Bruno on the Mob – James Hines- The Ultimate Political Fixer

He started off as a simple Harlem blacksmith, but when he dug his fat fingers deep into Tammany Hall, James Hines became the biggest political fixer in the history of New York City.

Hines was born on December 18, 1876, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. His father operated a blacksmith shop on 121st Street and Eight Avenue, and when his father became ill, Hines took over his father's business at the age of 17.

Through his father's connections in politics in the 11th Assembly District on the Upper West Side, Hines became close to Big Tim Sullivan, a politician so crooked, he actually took part of the profits from the rackets perpetrated by street gangs, who were plundering the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Sullivan was the main cog in the political machine called Tammany Hall and he played his constituents like a fiddle, getting certain people to vote on Election Day several times, by constantly changing their appearances. Hines learned the ropes from the master, and in 1907 Hines ran for the position called Alderman. With the help of Sullivan's manipulation of the election process (Sullivan had men, who wouldn't vote his way at the polls, beaten up badly by his street gangs, most notable the Whyos), Hines won the election going away.

In 1910, Hines took the bold move of running for District Leader against the incumbent. After both sides used roughhouse tactics against the other, Hines was able to emerge victorious. With his new-found power as District Leader, Hines formed the Monongahela Democratic Club, which was his base of operations for many years to come. At the Monongahela, Hines played the good old boy; providing the poor in the neighborhood with Thanksgiving turkeys, donating clothes to the needy, and finding jobs for whomever needed jobs. Of course, that meant Hines could count on those people's votes on Election Day, for whomever candidate Hines deemed should be the winner, no matter what District that candidate was running in.

Every year Hines sponsored an annual "June Walk and Picnic" in Central Park, which drew as many 25,000 people, mostly children. On one such occasion (The 22nd Annual Walk), Hines, after carrying a kid on piggyback, then depositing him by a table brimming with a huge spread of the finest food, Hines wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "Kids who came to the first of these things are voters now. They're not all voting my district, but they're voting somewhere. In politics, the thing to do is build yourself an army."

To supplement his income, and with no experience at all, Hines, along with his brother Philip, started a trucking company, and then a construction company. Almost immediately, the Hines brothers were able to garner the best and the biggest city trucking contracts and state construction projects, which they subsequently subcontracted out to people who actually knew how to do those jobs.

Even though Hines was the biggest player of his time in Democratic politics, he had very little future in running for elective office. Hines was an unskilled public speaker, and was more adept at back room dealings, where a mere nod of his head, would signify which person was getting elected, or appointed to a political job. As generous he could be with his friends, if someone crossed Hines, as far Hines was concerned, that person may as well have been dead.

During Prohibition, Owney "The Killer" Madden and "Big Bill" Dwyer were running the biggest bootlegging operation in the entire United States of America. However, both bootleggers knew their business could never thrive if they didn't have the police in their back pockets. And the man who controlled the all police promotions at the time was none other than Jim Hines. Dwyer and Madden paid Hines, and they paid him well, to take care of the police, judges, prosecutors, and bail bondsmen. By taking care of Hines properly, Madden and Dwyer knew if any of their men did have the misfortune of being arrested by a cop, who either wasn't getting paid, or was just being plain disobedient, Hines would arrange for that person's immediate release.

Tammany big shot George Washington Plunkitt, a man who schooled Hines when Hines first started out in politics, said that is was a good thing for a crooked politician like Hines to be associated with known gangsters. The idea being, if anyone was stupid enough to either report Hines to the authorities, or refuse to play ball with him, they'd think twice, knowing someone like Owney "The Killer" Madden was waiting in the wings to correct them if they did.

Plunkitt once explained exactly what a District Leader like Hines was expected to do. He said, "As a rule a District Leader has no business or occupation other than politics. He plays politics every day and night of the year, and his headquarters bears the inscription 'Never Closed.'"

Madden and Dwyer met often with Hines at his Monongahela Democratic Club on the Upper West Side to discuss business. Some of this business concerned which politician, looking to advance their career, were the best for the business of the "Combine," as Madden and Dwyer's operation was called. In 1925, it was decided by all that ex-Tin Pan Alley songwriter Jimmy Walker would be the perfect pick for Mayor of New York City. With Hines' backing, and Madden controlling the polling places, Walker won by a landslide.

In 1929, Walker was reelected again, this time defeating reformer and future mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. But Walker was as crooked as they came, and spent very little time actually being Mayor of New York City. Once, after he was questioned by a political opponent after he gave himself a raise from $25,000 to $40,000 a year, Walker quipped, "Hell, that's cheap. Imagine what I would be worth if I worked full time."

But all good thing must come to an end. In 1932, after Walker was grilled by the Seabury Committee, which was looking into police and political corruptions, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, working hand-in-hand with Hines, pressured Walker to retire. Walker took the cue, and quit his office immediately. Walker took the first boat available and sailed, with his girlfriend Betty Compton, to the more friendly confines of France. Walker remained in France for four years before he deemed it safe to return to New York City.

The Presidential election of 1932 was an even bigger coup for Hines. In 1928, New York Governor Al Smith, a man who had tried to take control of Tammany Hall from Hines, ran unsuccessfully for the President of the United States against Republican Herbert Hoover. Under Hoover, the stock market crashed in 1929, and by 1932, America was in the throes of The Great Depression. Smith wanted to run for President again, but he was opposed by Roosevelt, who had taken Smith's place as Governor in 1928.

Hines had a long memory concerning Smith, and he threw all his weight behind Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination for President. Roosevelt won the Democratic Nomination against Smith quite easily, and also the Presidential election against Herbert Hoover. With his man Roosevelt snugly in the White House, Roosevelt rewarded Hines for his unyielding service by giving Hines the job of awarding all federal patronage in Manhattan, to whomever Hines deemed fit for the jobs.

By 1933, Hines was riding high in New York City politcs. Money was flowing in in bushels from the mobsters, and Dwyer was known as a "King Maker" — a man who could influence any election he chose to, throughout New York State, and even if need be, throughout America.

The start of Hines' downfall was when Hines was introduced by his fellow gangsters to the only gangster in New York City that Hines wasn't doing favors for: Dutch Schultz (real name Arthur Flegenheimer). The meeting was supposed to be so secretive, it started with Hines waiting surreptitiously under the elevated trains, on a street corner on Sixth Avenue, in Greenwich Village, far away from Hines' domain on the Upper West Side. Minutes later, Schultz picked up Hines in a bulletproof Cadillac. In the car was Schultz's associate George Weinberg, and Schultz's lawyer, and master fixer — Dixie Davis.

In 1938, when Hines was a defendant in the first of his two trails for political corruption, George Weinberg testified in court for the prosecution. Weinberg spoke in detail about the pivotal conversation which took place in the Cadillac amongst himself, Hines, and Schultz, on that fateful day in 1933.

Weinberg said, "I explained to Hines, that in order to be able to run our business and bring it up the right way, we would have to protect the controllers that are working for us. We would have to protect them from going to jail, and if we got any big arrests that would hurt our business, we would want them dismissed in Magistrates' Court, so that they wouldn't have to go downtown (that meant the sometimes tougher three-judge Court of Special Sessions). I explained to him that we did not mind the small arrests, but if we got any large arrests we would want them dismissed in Magistrates' Court, to show the people in Harlem that are working for us that we had the right kind of protection up there, and that we would want to protect them from going to jail."

In the bulletproof Caddy, Hines, and Schultz also came to an agreement that Schultz would give Hines, as a measure of his good will, one thousand dollars on the spot. Also, Schultz told Hines that Dixie Davis would be the go-between to funnel Hines another $500 per week, to keep Schultz' various enterprises free from law enforcement intervention.

In 1937, when Davis himself was tried for policy rackets involvement, he testified in court, "I cultivated Jimmy Hines right from the beginning. I soon learned that to run an organized mob you've got to have a politician. You have heard about the suspected link between organized crime and politics. Well, I became the missing link."

Davis also testified that Schultz's policy banks kicked in the $500 a week for Hines, but that Davis, "Tossed in another $500 himself to Hines without even telling Schultz." Davis said that he put up the extra money, so that the big spender (Hines) had the cash he needed for the "Friday night fights and whatever else Hines needed to do when Mr. Hines did the necessary entertaining–judges, officeholders, big businessmen — that kept his political power mower oiled."

Because of his cooperation, Davis was sentenced to a mere one year in prison, plus he was disbarred.

Hines also controlled the appointments of the various New York Judges, and when he did appoint a judge, he made it clear that judge now worked for him, and was compelled to do anything Hines said needed to be done. On one occasion, Weinberg and his boys were caught with the goods, when an enterprising detective busted an apartment they used for business, which contained over $20,000 worth of policy racket receipts. Weinberg told the arresting detective that he was making a very big mistake, and if he insisted on arresting Weinberg and his men, the detective would soon be busted back to a plain uniformed cop, walking a beat somewhere in Harlem.

After he was released on bail, Weinberg immediately ran to Hines. After hearing Weinberg's story, Hines told Weinberg he would take care of the situation.

That same night, Hines took Weinberg to a steak dinner at the Andrew B. Keating Democratic Club where, they met a Hines appointee, the very honorable (not) Judge Hulon Capshaw. Hines told the judge, "I have a policy case, a very important one, coming up before you that I'd like you to take care of for me. "

The Judge replied, "I haven't failed you yet. I'll take care of it."

And that the judge did, when he ruled that the policy slips found in the apartment could in no way be connected to the men who were in that same apartment. The case was dismissed and the detective who did the aborted bust was soon busted himself, back to patrolman, by Police Commission James Bolan, also a Hines appointee.

The wheels started spinning off Hines' gravy train when Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey began investigating Dutch Schultz's many illegal business activities. The Dutchman didn't like the heat too much, so he told the other men on the National Crime Commission, of which he was a member with gangsters like Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and Frank Costello, that he wanted Dewey hit, and hit right away.

When the Commission voted down his request, Schultz said, "I still say Dewey should be hit, and I'm going to do it myself."

The Commission didn't like hearing that too much, so on October 23, 1935, to save Dewey's life, Schultz was shot in the bathroom of the Palace Chophouse, at 12 East Park Street, in Newark, New Jersey. Schultz lingering for a few hours at the hospital, in a delirious state, before he finally passed away.

With Schultz now eliminated, Dewey now turned his attention to Hines. Dewey claimed that Hines was "a co-conspirator and indispensable functionary of the Schultz organization."

Things started looking mighty bad for Hines, when George Weinberg suddenly turned canary and testified against Hines at Hines' first trial in 1938. With Weinberg talking non-stop on the witness stand about Hines' involvement in Schultz's rackets, Hines seemed doomed to be convicted. However, on September 12, 1938, four days into the trial, a mistrial was declared on a technicality. by New York General Sessions Court Justice Pecora.

As Hines was waiting to be re-tried by Dewey, George Weinberg suddenly became overcome with grief for turning rat against Hines. Down and depressed, Weinberg committed suicide by firing a single bullet into his own brain.

With Weinberg out of the picture, it looked like Hines was in the clear. However, Hines took a roundhouse right to the jaw, when the new judge ruled in Hines' second trail (which took place in 1939), that Weinberg's testimony from the first trial could be admitted into evidence.

With corroborating testimony from men like Police Commissioner James Bolan, and crooked Tammany Hall politician John Curry, Hines was found guilty on all thirteen counts of the indictment; one of which was accepting more than $200,00 in bribes from Dutch Schultz.

As Hines left the courthouse he was asked by a snotty reporter if Hines felt "tired." Hines snapped back, "How would you feel if you were just kicked in the belly?"

Hines was sentenced to 4-8 years on his convictions, but he was released on parole on September 12, 1944, after serving a little more than five years of his term.

Alone with his wife in their home on the beach in Long Island, Hines spent the rest of his years in relative obscurity. On March 26, 1957, James Hines died of natural causes at the age of 80.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Joe Bruno on the Mob– This has nothing to do with the mob, but — My daughter Nancy Cason, a law partner at the law firm Syprett, Mishad, Resnick and Lieb in Sarasota, Fl, was just appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to a four-year term on the Twel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lane Wright

AUGUST 16, 2011 (850) 488-5394

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Five to

Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

***UPDATED APPOINTMENT DATES***

Tallahassee, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today announced the following reappointments and appointments to the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission:

Nancy E. Cason, 33, of Sarasota, is the managing partner of the Syprett Meshad Law Firm. She succeeds Lisa Bell and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Cason's practice focuses on real estate law, including transactional and litigation, foreclosure defense, general commercial litigation, probate litigation and appellate advocacy. She also volunteers with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as a pro bono foreclosure defense attorney. She is a member of the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and a past president of the organization's Young Lawyers Division.

Ronald J. Filipkowski, 42, of Sarasota, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Brent McPeek and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending

July 1, 2015.

He previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the Justice Department, as an assistant state attorney in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and as an assistant director of the Sarasota Police Academy. From 1986 to 1990, he served in the United States Marine Corps.

Kathi B. Halvorsen, 55, of Sarasota, is a sole practitioner. She is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Halvorsen's law practice specializes in Social Security and marital and family law and has previously served on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She received her bachelor's degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College, her master's degree from Bowling Green State University, and her law degree from Stetson University.

Halvorsen is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Henry "Roger" Lutz, 62, of Holmes Beach, is the president of Lutz, Bobo and Telfair P.A. He is reappointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2015.

Lutz's practice focuses on commercial and personal injury civil trial work. He has previously served on the Twelfth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Previously, Lutz served as an assistant state attorney and chief assistant public defender in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. He received a bachelor's degree from Marshall University and law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Lutz is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.

Anthony "James" Rolfes, 53, of Osprey, is a shareholder with Dickinson and Gibbons P.A. He succeeds Gary Larsen and is appointed for a term beginning August 16, 2011, and ending July 1, 2014.

Rolfes practices primarily in civil litigation, both plaintiff and defense, and he previously served as chairman of the Grievance Committee of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Rolfes received his bachelor's degree from Stetson University and law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Rolfes is appointed from the list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar.