Public Records Request

The USPS verified delivery of my 12/20/06 PRR to the Governor's office on 12/21/06 requesting copies of all my letters to Gov. Bush, including Petitions, and the Governor's replies. I also requested any documents accompanying the referrals to the FDLE and any FDLE replies.

Florida OAG Public Records Request

When I still hadn't received USPS confirmation of delivery yesterday, I filed an email Public Records Request for my closed file with the FL Office of Attorney General. The OAG should forward my request to the State Attorney's Office. The heavy volume of Christmas mail probably slowed delivery.

Public Records Request

Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis wrote that his "inquiries" failed
to substantiate any of my claims (remember, this statement is in
response to a Public Records Request). I charged Florida law
enforcement officers with illegal electronic surveillance and provided
the Hon. Steve Meadows with a VHS tape proving my charges. I've
requested a copy of my "closed file" to see if Mr. Lewis pulled the
answers to his inquiries out of thin air or some place else. Once again, Mr. Lewis, did you or didn't you view the videotape? It's a simple question.



CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT # 7006 0810 0005 0531 0903

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

December 16, 2006

State Attorney’s Office
421 Magnolia Avenue,
Panama City, FL 32401,
Attention: Erica Field.
Fax: 850-747-5863

Pursuant to Article I, section 24, of the Florida Constitution, and Chapter 119,
F.S, I am requesting a copy of my entire closed case file, which Mr.Lewis referenced in his letter, dated December 6, 2006. In his letter,dated December 6, 2006, Mr. Lewis wrote: “Dear Mr.Keegan , All inquiries by this office have failed to substantiate any of your claims. Absent any credible evidence this office is closing our file.” I am requesting any and all documents, records,memoranda ,correspondence, Internet emails, and notes and records from any telephonic discussions related to Mr. Lewis’ “inquiries.” I am requesting any and all records andmemoranda regarding the State Attorney Office’s review and findings of the VHS videotape that I submitted as evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by Florida law enforcement. In addition, I am requesting a check of the State Attorney Office’s public contact databases, including Internet email, and requesting printouts of these records, i.e., intake forms, Internet email, and tracking documents for postal correspondence.

I will contact your office within one week to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of my request, and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Joe Keegan

Yes or No

Florida 14th Judicial District Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis' letter, dated December 6, 2006, disappointed but did not surprise me. I asked him a simple question: Did you view the videotape that you referenced in your letter in response to my Public Records Request? He answered my question by refusing to answer it. Electronic surveillance experts have stated that the audio phenomenon recorded in that videotape is indicative of electronic surveillance. The audio/video devices are mounted on the utility poles servicing the house and grounds and can “bug” anywhere from 20 to 40 square acres. The SAO is aiding and abetting Florida law enforcement in their continuing and on-going cover-up of this egregious violation of a citizen’s most basic rights as guaranteed by both the Florida and US Constitutions. Unaccountability and being “above the law” makes this arrogance possible and truly is the sign of a police state.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis replies

Yesterday afternoon I received a glassine faced envelope letter, dated 12-6-06 and postmarked 12-07-06 (anniversary of Pearl Harbor), from the office of the Hon. Steve Meadows, FL 14th judicial circuit, signed by Chief Assistant State Attorney William A. Lewis. I've posted a copy of its text below in its entirety.

Dear Mr. Keegan,

All inquiries by this office have failed to substantiate any of your claims. Absent any credible evidence this office is closing our file.

signed, William A. Lewis

First, I didn't make any claims. I filed a simple Public Records Request with the SAO, which the Hon. Steve Meadows ignored until I asked the Hon. Charlie Crist (now Gov. elect Crist) if I should file my PRR with his office.

Secondly, I asked Mr. Lewis a simple question:
Did you view my videotape? Yes or no? Simple enough question for a simple public servant to anwer. However, Mr. Lewis answered my question by not answering it. Again, this was a simple PRR followed by a simple question.

Mr. Jim Ross and possibly Mr. G. Gordon Liddy can verify my credibility, along with two Presidents, one VP, and numerous US congressmen, including former US FL Rep. Joe Scarborough, and US FL Reps. Miller and Boyd.

The following is an open and public question to Mr. Lewis:

Did you view my videotape? You can answer "yes" or you can answer "no." Again, Mr. Lewis, did you view the evidence that I sent to the Hon. Steve Meadows (FL 14th judicial district) since he won't answer. Surely an honorable public servant such as yourself shouldn't have any difficulty answering this simple question?

internal authentication error

When I booted up this morning, the message "internal authentication error" appeared on the screen, so I tried again and had no problem. I've had my share of weird computer messages and unique experiences before, but this is a first. I wonder if it's just a glitch?

Garden Shrub & Tree Planting Mix

For the last two weeks, it's been unusally quiet around here. No low flying aircraft vibrating the house (A number of congressmen, including Rep. Boyd and former Rep. Scarbourough as well as a Pentagon JAG can verify my familiarity with helicopters). No police escorts when I go to town. No crank calls. Even the frequency of hang-up calls decreased significantly. There was some vandalism to a family member's car within the last few days, but that just could have been random and not some cop stooge. So I was curious as to why some helicopter at approximately 9:55 a.m. this morning would "break the truce." I heard one coming in low and fast, so I went out to take a look. It sounded like a military one, but not quite. It certainly wasn't one of the state whinny engined ones. I then saw it flying just above tree top level about 100 yards south of the house in a south south-east direction. It wasn't military or one of the regular state ones, but possibly one of the new medical emergency ones or some police helicopter that I didn't recognize. The pilot was quite good. But why 100 yards south of the house just beyond a small copse of oak and over an open area? They usually buzz the house. It couldn't possibly be the bag of Garden Shrub and Tree Planting Mix that I left there Friday? I intended to plant a tree there later that afternoon, but I didn't get around to it. Surely, "they" couldn't be looking at this package of garden mix with some fertilizer as a "drop," which would serve as a pretext for another raid? According to a knowledgeable neighbor, the appropriate recipient of any such "drop" might be some local law enforcement officer. Of course, this all sounds silly, but what was this morning's daring do all about? Take a closer look at the package (video freeze frame)?

I am concerned in light of one of the FDLE stooges saying that next time "they'll shoot first and ask questions later." Of course, he was joking, that is if remembers that comment, but I'm concerned nonetheless. I don't want any more SWAT raids or late night helicopter visits. So what was it about? Couldn't possibly be anything to do with my letter to Assistant State Attorney Lewis? I asked him a simple question: Did he see the videotape that he copied in response to my Public Records Request? The Honorable Steve Meadows refused to even reply to my PRR. Only after I asked AG Charlie Crist's office where do I send Public Records Requests for public records in the possession of State Attorneys did Mr. Lewis contact me. I don't want any family member, pet, or myself being just another "tragic and unfortunate incident" in the so-called war on drugs. At any rate, that little incident motivated me enough to hurry up and plant that persimmon tree shortly afterwards.

William A. Lewis, Chief Assistant State Attorney

The Florida Office of Attorney General (OAG)replied to my Public Records Request indicating that they had a copy of my letter (see May 13, 2006 post in this blog entitled "Government Spying") to AG Charlie Crist charging Florida law enforcement officers with illegal electronic surveillance and requesting an investigation of my charges. However, the OAG indicated that there were no associated documents, such as an FDLE referral or any memoranda, in the case file. I don't know if AG Charlie Crist even reviewed my charges. Jamie McLaughlin, the top cop that I charged with covering up this scandal, suddenly and unexpectedly resigned the day after the USPS confirmed delivery of my letter, presummably based on an anonymous tip regarding a charge that could be related to sexual harassment (If you resigned before being charged, you get to keep your pension). Since State Attorney Stever Meadows (Florida 14th Judicial Circuit)never replied to my Public Records Request to his office, I emailed Crist's OAG and asked if I should mail all PRR's regarding State Attorneys to the OAG instead of the respective State Attorney Offices (SAO's). I didn't identify the particular State Attorney or Judicial District. Shortly afterwards I received an email from an employee within SA Meadows office telling me that Mr. Lewis, the Chief Assistant State Attorney, ordered her to contact me regarding my PRR. I did and in response to my PRR received a copy of the video (evidence) and accompanying lettter that I sent the Honorable to prove my charges of illegal electronic surveillance by FL law enforcement.

Recently I received a letter from Mr. Lewis who questioned my credibility, refused to answer my reasonable questions, but nonetheless encouraged me to continue to write to him. Okay, so per Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis' request, I wrote him a letter, a copy of which I pasted in below. I asked Mr. Lewis a simple question: Did you see the videotape? The USPS confirmed delivery of my letter.


CERTIFIED MAIL # 7006 0810 0005 0531 5502


Nov. 21, 2006

William A. Lewis, Chief Assistant State Attorney
State Attorney’s Office
421 Magnolia Avenue,
Panama City, FL 32401

Dear Mr. Lewis,

Thank you for your October 2, 2006 letter. When the Hon. Steve Meadows didn’t reply to my inquiries, I wrote US Rep. Jeff Miller and included a copy of the same videotape that I sent to SA Meadows. The tape was compelling enough for Rep. Miller to suggest that I contact FL Rep. Don Brown. I did, but I didn't hear from him, until a retired FDLE Special Agent researched some news articles at our local library one morning regarding a bungled FDLE drug bust. Brad Drake, Rep. Brown's assistant, emailed me later that very same day suggesting that if I feel "harmed" by any state agency to send evidence to the IG's at the Governor’s office and the FDLE IG. I contacted both IG's. Dawn E. Case, Director of Investigations, Office of the Chief Inspector General notified me that she forwarded my inquiry to FDLE IG Al Dennis. I received a phone call later that same day from FDLE OIG Inspector Keith Wilmer. When he suggested that I take actions that I've already taken and quoted my earlier correspondence verbatim while denying that he knew anything about this matter, it became clear that he was being disingenuous.

Did you view the videotape that I sent to SA Meadows while you were copying it in order to comply with my Public Records Request? It’s quite compelling, isn’t it? Did you show it to Mr. Tunnel? What did he say? He has 30+ years experience as a professional in law enforcement and is familiar with such surveillance devices and should recognize it. Surely you relied on his considerable expertise in this matter? Please reply to this inquiry by December 13, 2006. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Keegan

cc: Governor-Elect Charlie Crist
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Political Activism Cause & Effect

A NYC political activist friend called me yesterday afternoon to recruit me for a very worthwhile project. I declined and explained to her that I don’t have the time now, but that I will in about two to three months when an on-going situation is resolved (I may have been premature and overly optimistic regarding the time frame). This morning I encountered some young trespassers walking down the driveway when I returned home. Last trespassers that I encountered along the driveway were Holmes County law enforcement officers. It was dark and my dogs were barking, so I put them in the car and drove up front to see what they were barking at. Just around the bend, I encountered two figures with flashlights. I stopped and asked them who they were and what they wanted. The older and heavy one identified himself as Chief Inspector Aubrey Carroll. He said that a neighbor had run off with some evidence and they were looking for it. He said that he heard my dogs barking and thought that it might be my neighbor. I drove up front and when I returned they were on the other side of the fence. I later learned that the Chief Inspector was looking for 3.5 pounds of meth, which is still “missing (I’ve been threatened not to talk about this, so I won’t).” Later that evening an FDLE helicopter returned to assist in the purported apprehension of my neighbor who had escaped earlier in the day and supposedly returned home that evening. The FDLE helicopter didn't go anywhere near my neighbor's house, but instead hovered over my residence for over one half an hour in a thinly veiled attempt to provoke a violent incident and remove their illegal “bugs” afterwards. Incidentally, the helicopter incident as well as some “cut deals” concern the cops as much as their illegal bugs.

A Florida political activist called me Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006. We talked and might possibly meet after the elections. Shortly afterwards I received a call from a woman who said, “This is a neighbor. Can I speak to Laurie?” I said, “Wrong number and hung up.” I thought it strange that this “neighbor” didn’t identify herself and I don’t even know a “Laurie.” I dismissed it as another wrong number. However, I noticed that wrong numbers or unusual incidents follow calls from political activists, but not a friend in a western state who’s involved in a significant scandal that so far law enforcement there has successfully covered-up. I wonder if there’s any cause effect relationship here and, if so, what is it?

Florida L.E.O.'s

Returning home this morning about 8:55 a.m. I encountered 3 young trespassers with their black and white dog walking up the driveway by the open field. They had apparently entered from the neighbor’s side where the fence was down. My neighbors’ dogs weren’t around, which would allow them access through their yard. I had my dog with me and stopped only long enough to tell them that it was private property and then drove back to the house. I told a family member that some kids were walking along the drive. My family member said that explains why the dogs were barking just a short time before. We drove up front and my family member told the kids that this was private property and warned them that if they trespass again the Sheriff will talk to them. The kids pointed to the trailer that was just put up across the street and said that they lived there.

Florida law enforcement officers please be advised that all those plants around the bend as you approach the house and in the yard are Washingtonian, Canary Island, and other palms, Pampas Grass, azaleas, etc. and the plants in the concrete urn are ornamental cabbage. The plants in the plastic containers are grapes, hazelnuts, persimmon, and some bald cypress for transplanting later this fall or early spring. Your helicopters and other aircraft fly low and frequent enough to have identified all these plants by now. I don't want any more late night helicopter visits.

William A. Lewis, Chief Assistant State Attorney

I received a letter from Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis advising me that the SAO's response to my Public Records Request consists of 2 pages and 1 VHS tape. I filed my PRR with State Attorney Meadows office to see what, if anything, he had done. In any case, there's usually at least a file and some notes. Meadows did absolutely nothing, except possibly "delete" my two earlier letters, even though I sent him more than enough evidence for a preliminary investigation. At any rate, I mailed his Assistant State Attorney a thank you note and asked him directly: Does the SAO have a legal duty to address my charges? I've pasted in my letter below.

September 26, 2006

William A. Lewis, Chief Assistant State Attorney,
State Attorney's Office
P.O. Box 1040
Panama City, FL 32402
Fax: 850-747-5863.

Dear Mr. Lewis,

Thank you for your September 21, 2006 letter. The $3.38 fee suggests that the SAO’s response to my Public Records Request will consist of the 2 pages of my Sept. 26, 2205 letter and a copy of the accompanying videocassette and no other records whatsoever. As a reminder, I requested the following in my FL Public Record Request:

Pursuant to Article I, section 24, of the Florida Constitution, and Chapter 119,F.S, I am requesting the following regarding my letters, dated May 13, 2005, June 18, 2005, and September 26, 2005 (which also included a videocassette), to Florida State Attorney Steve Meadows reporting Florida law enforcement misconduct and supplying evidence as advised by Gov. Jeb Bush:

1) Copies of the above referenced letters retained by your office and any and all case files, documents, and records related to or associated with my letters, including emails; and,
2) Copy of any referrals, inquiries, or discussions regarding my above referenced letters to and with any other state agency, such as the FDLE, or federal agency; and,
3) Copy of any replies, including emails or any telephonic references, to any referral or inquiry by you or your office from any other state agency, such as the FDLE, or federal agency regarding my above referenced letters and videocassette.

The USPS verified that your office received both my certified May 13, 2005 and June 18, 2005 letters; yet, a search of your records apparently didn’t reveal them or any case related documents. For your convenience, I’ve enclosed both copies of these letters as well as the email associated with my June 18, 2005 one. Unfortunately, I still haven’t received any reply from the SAO regarding my charges or evidence that I supplied per Gov. Jeb Bush’s suggestion. Does the SAO have a legal duty to address my charges? Please respond by Oct. 11, 2006. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Joe Keegan

Reply from the FL OAG

Since I hadn't heard from the Hon. Steve Meadows, I asked the FL OAG if I file a Public Records Request with the OAG or the State Attorney's Office for records. As previously posted, I filed my Public Record Request with State Attorney Meadow's office and according to the AG that was correct. At any rate, I've pasted the Attorney General's Office reply to my inquiry below.



AG to me
Hide options 11:05 am (6 hours ago)
From: AG
To: joe.keegan@gmail.com
Date: Sep 5, 2006 11:05 AM
Subject: In reply to your email
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Add sender to Contacts list | Delete this message | Report phishing | Show original | Message text garbled?
The Florida Attorney General's Office is in receipt of your inquiry asking
how to submit a public records request for records held by a state
attorney's office, as described in your email. Attorney General Crist
asked that we respond.

Based on the information in your email, it appears that you should submit
such a request directly to the state attorney's office. Generally, you
should submit any request to view or obtain copies of public records to
the custodial agency of the records in question, in this instance,
directly to the state attorney's office.

The elected state attorneys in each of Florida's twenty judicial circuits
operate independently and are not a part of the Attorney General's Office.
The Governor's website provides a list of addresses and phone numbers for
the state attorneys' offices at:

http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/publicsafety/justiceadmin.html

The Attorney General's Government in the Sunshine Manual provides general
information relating to public records and sunshine law. An abridged
electronic edition of the Sunshine Manual is available in a searchable
format on the Attorney General's website:

http://myfloridalegal.com/sun.nsf/manual

Thank you for contacting Attorney General Crist's Office. We hope this
proves helpful. If you would like to keep current with news on Attorney
General Crist's efforts to fight fraud please follow this link and
subscribe to the Attorney General's weekly and monthly electronic
newsletters:

http://myfloridalegal.com/NewsBrie.nsf/Subscriber

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL. THIS ADDRESS IS FOR PROCESSING ONLY.

INTERNET COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON 09/01/2006
05:49:53 AM

Joe Keegan

Bonifay, FL 32425
Holmes

joe.keegan@gmail.com


Subject/Category: To whom do I send a PRR for records in a State Attorney's
possession?

Questions/Comments:
Do I send a Public Records Request to the FL Office of Attorney General for
records in the possession of a State Attorney or to the State Attorney's
office? Does the OAG or State Attorney's Office assign the Public Records
Request number with a PRR to a State Attorney's Office?

FL State Attorney Steve Meadows PRR

I still haven't heard from the above Honorable, so I emailed him a Public Records Request to see what's up. Since Steve doesn't type (no shit, he's quoted as saying he deleted some email because he doesn't type),I also faxed him a copy (The Hon. ignores certified mail, so maybe I'll have more luck with a fax?). Gov. Bush suggested that I bring any evidence to my State Attorney, so I sent Meadows a videocassette which proves very sophisticated government surveillance (some TSCM experts verified my suppositions). The Governor also sent my correspondence to then FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell, who like Steve also tends to ignore official misconduct. Incidentally, after Commissioner Tunnell (Republican) resigned without any explanation, State Attorney Steve Meadows (Democrat) promptly hired him and then after only 3 months on the job increased Guy's salary by 75%. That's the 14th judicial circuit for you! At any rate, I've pasted in my PRR below (I still haven't heard from the Honorable, ie. Steve Meadows and not Guy Tunnell- I don't want to get my "Honorables" mixed-up.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

August 28, 2006

The Honorable Steve Meadows
State Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 1040
Panama City, FL 32402
Fax: 850-872-4680

Pursuant to Article I, section 24, of the Florida Constitution, and Chapter 119,F.S, I am requesting the following regarding my letters, dated May 13, 2005, June 18, 2005, and September 26, 2005 (which also included a videocassette), to Florida State Attorney Steve Meadows reporting Florida law enforcement misconduct and suppling evidence as advised by Gov. Jeb Bush:

1) Copies of the above referenced letters retained by your office and any and all case files, documents, and records related to or associated with my letters, including emails; and,

2) Copy of any referrals, inquiries, or discussions regarding my above referenced letters to and with any other state agency, such as the FDLE, or federal agency; and,

3) Copy of any replies, including emails or any telephonic references, to any referral or inquiry by you or your office from any other state agency, such as the FDLE, or federal agency regarding my above referenced letters and videocassette.

Should you deny my request, or any part of the request, please state in writing the basis for the denial, including the exact statutory citation authorizing the denial, as required by s. 119.07(2), F.S.

I will contact your office within one week to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of my request, and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees. If you have any questions in the interim, you may contact me at 850/547-2254 or by email at joe.keegan@gmail.com. Please acknowledge receipt of this Public Records Request. Thank you.


Sincerely,



Joe Keegan

FDLE Executive Investigations Assistant Director Rick Lober

When former Director McLaughlin resigned suddenly and unexpectedly, Assistant Director Lober became the acting Director until appointed the new Chief Inspector, replacing Director McLaughlin as the new Director (Chief Inspector). Coincidentally, McLaughlin resigned the day after AG Charlie Crist's office received my formal complaint regarding Florida law enforcement officers, including former Director McLaughlin. AG Crist, however, apparently hadn't referred my complaint to Executive Investigations as his predecessor had done previously. Unfortunately, the former AG referred my letter to the FDLE just as he literally was going out the door and about one week before AG Crist's first day in office. Simply put: a slam dunk by Lober into the wastepaper basket with my complaint from the outgoing AG. The then new AG, Charlie Crist, never referred my subseuent letter- or at least there's no FDLE record of any such referal- that I sent to him just before former Director McLaughlin's sudden and unexpected resignation

Reviewing the records produced in the FDLE response to my recent PRR, I noticed a Related item #69 associated with FDLE Case # EI-73-4557, which had been closed earlier. Item # 69 is my letter to the former AG, which resulted in lot of commotion and off-the-books inquiries and explanations at the time. At any rate, then Assistant Director Lober "reviewed said correspondence" and determined that it "lacked substance." A copy of my letter related to the above case, which Lober based his decision, was maintained "for information purposes only as Related item #69."

Earlier today I submitted another Public Records Request for the above case file, item #69, and all records related to Lober's earlier decision and reply to the OAG if any. This isn't as complicated as it may seem. Lober is now Executive Investigation's Chief Inspector (formally called Director) and Inspector Wilmer is his subordinate. When Wilmer phoned me on July 3, he made a point to tell me that he knows nothing about this case. I'm just detailing the process of an officially sanctioned cover-up.

FDLE Case # 2006-CC-11 selectively edited by FDLE Executive Investigations to cover-up

As previously posted, the Director of Investigations, Office of the Chief Inspector General, forwarded by letter dated July 3, 2006 my June 26, 2006 letter to FDLE IG Al Dennis and advised me on July 3, 2006 that she had forwarded my letter. Suspiciously FDLE Inspector Wilmer first contacted me in the late afternoon of that same day. Although material to the FDLE's so-called "investigation," neither was contained in the FDLE's response to my previous Public Records Request for the case file for FDLE Case # 2006-CC-11. So, I pasted in this mornings new PRR to see what FDLE IG Dennis did with them.



FLORIDA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

Pursuant to Article I, section 24, of the Florida Constitution, and Chapter 119,F.S, I am requesting the following:

1) Any FDLE case file or record containing a copy of Dawn E. Case's letter, dated July 3, 2006, by which she forwarded my earlier letter to Gov. Jeb Bush, dated June 26, 2006, to FDLE IG Al Dennis. My June 26, 2006 letter specifically refers to a videocassette that I wished to present as direct evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by Florida law enforcement officers. Althougth both these letters are material to FDLE Case #2006-CC-11, neither one is contained in the documents that you provided in response to my PRR # 2006-641 requesting a copy of FDLE Case # 2006-CC-011. I am requesting a copy of these letters forwarded to FDLE IG Al Dennis by the Director of Investigations, Office of the Chief Inspector General, and any and all files, reports, documents, memorandum, and e-mails associated or releated to these two letters.

and,

2) A copy of any document, transcript, computer print-out or record which indicates the date that FDLE Case #2006-CC-11 was assigned its case number by the FDLE and the corresponding dates that FDLE Cases #'s 2006-CC-09, 2006-CC-10, and 2006-CC-12 were assigned their case numbers.

Should you deny my request, or any part of the request, please state in writing the basis for the denial, including the exact statutory citation authorizing the denial, as required by s. 119.07(2), F.S.

I will contact your office within one week to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of my request, and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees. If you have any questions in the interim, you may contact me at 850/547-2254 or by email. Thank you.


Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Bonifay, FL 32425

Florida PRR 2006-641

I received the FDLE Office of General Counsel's response to my Public Records Request for Case #2006-CC-011 in yesterday's mail. In his cover letter, dated August 16, 2006, Assistant General Counsel, James D. Martin, advised me that he had provided a copy of Case #2006-CC-011 documents and waived the copying costs as de minimus.

The "case file" contained a MEMORANDUM, dated July 24, 2006, and initialed by Inspector Wilmer regarding: "Email complaint by Joe Keegan." In it he wrote that he was assigned a complaint forwarded by the FDLE OIG. Wilmer also wrote the he reviewed eight AIMS Investigative Reports concerning similar complaints. Wilmer briefly recapped our July 3, 2006 afternoon phone conversation (Dawn Case, Director of Investigations, Office of the Chief Inspector General, notified me earlier that morning that she was forwarding my letter to the Governor to FDLE IG Dennis). The only errors that I noted in the little that he did write was that I said that the FDLE threatened only one TSCM expert with the loss of his Florida PI license and not all three as Wilmer wrote, and that he referred to my inquiry as a "complaint" regarding only an illegal tracking device. Wilmer also wrote that he inspected my July 4, 2006 email which recapped our July 3, 2006 conversation. Wilmer wrote that the recap was from "Mr. Keegan's perspective" and placed in the record. He concluded that "...Mr. Keegan's allegations are without basis in fact." During our July 3 phone conversation, Inspector Wilmer said that he did not know anything about this case other than what was contained in the email that the OIG forwarded, didn't know anything about my recent letter to Governor Bush (which not too surprisingly was missing from this case file), and didn't have any prior knowledge. Wilmer then went on to quote me verbatim from my earlier correspondence when he advised me what to do.

Neither Inspector Wilmer nor Chief Inspector Lober have replied to the following direct questions contained in my July 4, 2006 email: "Finally, if I did supply you with direct evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by FL law enforcement, what action could you take as an FDLE Criminal Investigator (Inspector)? And, what action would you take as an FDLE Criminal Investigator regarding illegal electronic surveillance and official misconduct by certified Florida law enforcement officers?"

The case file also contained Chief Inspector Lober's letter, dated July 24, 2006. I posted the text from his letter previously. The file also contained some internal data printouts, including references to prior complaints with brief histories. Basically, they used former FDLE Executive Director Jamie McLaughlin's initial refusal to investigate my detailed charges by claiming that there "didn't appear to be any criminal predicate," and morphed it to "lacks substance" and "no basis in fact" so as not to investigate my subsequent well documented and detailed complaints and charges.

I suspect that Wilmer's and Lober's July 24, 2006 respective MEMORANDUM and letter were written and backdated following my inquiries regarding the status of the interim FDLE Director. My letter to the Governor, which Director of Investigations Case forwarded to FDLE IG Dennis, did prompt Wilmer's July 3, 2006 afternoon phone call.

like a bolt from the blue

Earlier this afternoon the cell phone miraculously turned itself on at the same time that something tripped a neighbor's car alarm. I live in a rural area where cell phone reception is very poor. Hmmm, I wonder who's testing what now and why?

FL Public Records Request 2006-641

I received a letter, dated Aug. 8, 2006, from James D. Martin, FDLE Assistant General Counsel, this afternoon regarding my PRR # 2006-641 for the complete file for FDLE Case #2006-CC-011. Mr. Martin advised me that a records search is now being conducted and when completed that he will advised me if I'm entitled to it under FL Public Records Law, Chapter 119, FS. Surely there shouldn't be any material contained therein to which I'm not entitled per the FL Statutes. The case is closed per FDLE Director Executive Investigations Loeber and the interim acting FDLE Commissioner. FDLE Case #2006-CC-011 concerns me and should contain my emails and letter to Governor Bush as well as the FDLE Inspector's records and documentation, but I want to see what the FDLE put in the "record," which Loeber and the FDLE "Royal We" based their decision on.

FDLE Interim Acting Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey

The July 24, 2006 FDLE letter that I posted earlier was from both acting Comm. Bailey and Executive Investigations Chief Inspector Lober. However, only Lober signed it.

Florida Public Records Request

I was curious to see just what Inspector Wilmer, IG Dennis, and Executive Investigations Chief Inspector Lober "reviewed." I only sent them two emails. I wasn't even aware that I had filed a complaint, but only attempting to resolve this matter. At any rate, I called the FDLE General Counsel's office and they told me that I could email my PRR to Toshia Butler. I've pasted in the text of my PRR below:

Pursuant to Article I, section 24, of the Florida Constitution, and Chapter 119,F.S, I am requesting a complete copy of the case file for FDLE Case # 2006-CC-011. FDLE Chief Inspector Lober recently notified me that he closed out this case in which I am involved. Should you deny my request, or any part of the request, please state in writing the basis for the denial, including the exact statutory citation authorizing the denial, as required by s. 119.07(2), F.S.

I will contact your office within one week to discuss when I may expect fulfillment of my request, and payment of any statutorily prescribed fees. If you have any questions in the interim, you may contact me at 850/***-**** or by email. Thank you.


Sincerely,
Joe Keegan

FDLE Executive Investigations Chief Inspector Richard E. Lober

After former Executive Investigations Director Jamie McLaughlin resigned the FDLE changed the title from Director to Chief Inspector. Yesterday I received a letter, dated July 24, 2006 (postmarked Aug. 1, 2006) from Chief Inspector Lober, which may also explain yesterday's police helicopter visit. What follows is the text from Lober's letter:

July 24, 2006

RE: FDLE Case #2006-CC-011

Dear Mr. Keegan:

We have recently completed our preliminary review in reference to possible misconduct by members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. During the course of this review, we reviewed the information that you provided the Office of the Inspector General and reviewed applicable documents.

As a result of our review, we have determined tht there are no administrative violations of FDLE's policies or procedures by any FDLE member. Therefore, we are closing this matter without further investigation.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Should you have any questions concerning this review, please feel free to contact Inspector Wilmer at 850-410-0000.

Sincerely,

Gerald M. Bailey
Commissioner

Richard E. Lober, Chief Inspector
Executive Investigations

REL/kdw

* * * * * * * * * * *

Former Director McLaughlin wouldn't even "review" the case claiming that there didn't "appear to be any criminal predicate." Lober acted as the Director when McLaughlin "suddenly and unexpectedly" resigned following FL OAG's receipt of my letter calling for an investigation. The reason for Lober's back dated CYA letter, signed by Lober, is my July 31, 2006 email to the Governor's office asking if Bailey is the new FDLE Commissioner or just acting. Even if appointed the new FDLE Comm, Bailey probably would just cover-up as did former Comm. Tunnell, but as acting Commissioner there isn't a snow ball's chance in hell of him doing anything. I wonder what these clowns reviewed anyway? I only sent them two emails.

I still haven't received any reply from either FDLE IG Dennis, Inspector Wilmer, or Lober as to what they would do if I did present them with evidence. And, oh yes, yesterday's visit by the big spiffy new police helicopter, unlike the junks they usually dispatch,is their way of sending me an FU message.

FDLE Commissioner Bailey

The FDLE's email reply to a recent inquiry follows:

Dear Mr. Keegan,

At this time, Commissioner Bailey remains "interim." A permanent commissioner has not yet been determined.

Sincerely,
FDLE Public Information Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If the police helicopter wasn't out here to check out the grapes, was it because of my inquiry regarding whether or not Commissioner Bailey was acting as the interim FDLE Commissioner? Hey, it was only a question.

FOP FOP FOP FOP FOP FOP

FOP FOP FOP....Helicopters almost sound like that. Hey, has this morning's visit anything to do with not contributing to the FOP- Florida Chapter- fund drive?

FDLE "sources/witnesses" & Helicopters

The FDLE's top secret "reliable source/witness" received a mandatory life plus 25 year sentence in federal court recently. I didn't know the guy very well. I spoke to him, usually only during a confrontational situations, briefly 3 or 4 times for less than 5 minutes each time since I've lived here. Whenever the FDLE or Holmes County Sheriff's Department needed a false statement or possibly even an affidavit to initiate yet another investigation they just suborned him for one. Apparently his information didn't carry the same weight it once did. Seems like everybody else, including some self-righteous, self-serving, hypocritical stooges, were privey to these reports, but I wasn't. Numerous FL Public Record Requests, however, revealed no reports of any investigations related to me directly or indirectly. This practice is referred to as "off the book investigations" or else "informal inquiries," and they are used to harass, slander, and discredit any charges of official misconduct. They also tend to scare the crap out of any normal upright average citizen and intimidate witnesses. A tip to some well meaning people: Whenever any law enforcement officer or federal agent approaches you regarding someone, ask them directly: Have you spoken with this person? And, is this an official investigation? If they say no, then ask them, "Why?" Also, if one of their stooges approaches you regarding anyone, especially revealing personal knowledge about this person, ask the stooge: Have you talked to this person yourself? I think that you'd be surprised at some of the answers.

This morning about 9:57 a.m., I heard what sounded like a military helicopter. At first, I ignored it, but decided to take a look as I heard it approach. It was a large black and white police helicopter with what appeared to be a electronic surveillance device mounted on the front (I have photos of Navy hueys mounted with these hoovering over a former residence). The chopper was flying fast in a southwesterly direction at around 100 feet, and I could see it at the tree line. This police helicopter wasn't one of the usual small whinny birds, but more military like.

Yesterday private contractors bush hogged the area beneath and surrounding the utility power lines servicing the house and grounds, so there's now a clear cut "alley" beneath the lines. When I walked the dogs [repeat: dogs and not illegal immigrants, terrorists, or WMD disguised as dogs, but dogs]earlier this morning, I noticed what appeared to be a spotter plane, but dismissed it as someone from the utility just checking yesterday's bush hogging as the plane was following the powerline. Also, those plants in the containers in the backyard? They are grape vines planted from cultivars. Barring any unfortunate and tragic "accident" in the so-called "war ond drugs," I'll plant them this spring.

FOP-Florida State Lodge

The Fraternal Order of Police's most recent solicitation for donations was this past Friday, July 28, 2006. The cops don't call you themselves,but hire someone that does it for them. A Tom Crosby from one such firm in Tallahasse called this past Friday. Mr. Crosby was polite and professional and advised me that he was recording our conversation for my protection. I interrupted Mr. Crosby before he began his "pitch" and asked him if he could give me a number to call to verify his company's legitimacy. Mr. Crosby said that he didn't have a personal number, but to call 888-268-8029, which was his company's toll-free number. I then asked him for the FOP's URL and told him that I wanted to check out the organization and that I'd get back. Mr. Crosby gave me the following website: http://www.floridastatefop.org . Mr. Crosby was polite, professional, and most importantly above board. When you ask someone that is honest and above board a direct question, they'll give you a direct answer. What I didn't ask Mr. Crosby was why was he calling me since this number is on the no-call list?

FDLE OIG

I still haven't received a reply to my email from either FDLE OIG Inspector Keith Wilmer or his boss, IG Dennis. I wonder if these gentlemen, unlike State Attorney Steve Meadows, save their emails? Meadows said that he didn't because he doesn't type and thought that the server in Tallahassee would save his emails. At any rate, I guess that Inspector Wilmer didn't find any material misrepresentations or misstatements in my recap of our conversation. I also asked Wilmer (and Dennis) what would they do if I supplied them with direct evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by the FDLE? That's not a trick question. It's simple enough, especially since they're supposed to be investigating my charges or something. For that matter, Inspector Wilmer could just ask some FDLE officials if I'm bugged or not. They know because they're covering-up. Another way is just do a simple accounting of their "bugs." Most law enforcement "bugs" have serial numbers and they're inventoried. Just check the records. If they are investigating anything, I wonder what or rather whom? Hmmm, I could I be under another double secret investigation? They'll have to find another secret witness, because the last one they used as needed is away for awhile.

FDLE OIG Inspector Keith Wilmer

A Kim Likens from the Governor's OIG left a message sometime Monday (July 3rd)morning to call her. I returned her call around 1:00 p.m. Central. A Mr. Fred Wollet answered. Ms. Likens wasn't available. Wollet said that she was with the Chief Inspector's office. I left a message. Ms. Likens called back within an hour. She told me that her boss, Dawn Case, wanted her to call me and tell me that she had forwarded my letter to the Governor to FDLE OIG Al Dennis earlier in the day. Ms. Likens said that this matter belongs with the FDLE. FDLE OIG Inspector Keith Wilmer called me a short time afterwards. Inspector Wilmer said that his call was in response to an earlier email to IG Dennis and that he didn't know anything other than that or about my letter to Gov. Bush. Yesterday morning (July 4th) I emailed Inspector Wilmer with a courtesy copy to IG Dennis a recap of our conversation from the day before and I asked him to advise me regarding any material misrepresentations or misstatements in my message. I've pasted the text of my email to FDLE OIG Inspector Wilmer below.


Mr. Wilmer,

This is a follow-up to your phone call yesterday afternoon. I'll briefly recap our conversation. You said that you were calling about an email that you received from IG Dennis regarding a Dodge minivan. I asked you if you were a Criminal Investigator and you replied that you were. You stated that you were not recording our phone conversation. I asked you what OIG you were affiliated with. You said that you were with the FDLE OIG and calling about my email to IG Dennis regarding a remote transponder in a Dodge minivan. You denied that you saw any other correspondence, such as my letters to Gov. Bush or FL AG Crist or had any other prior knowledge of my complaint. You said that your inquiry just involved the email concerning the minivan. You asked me who the vehicle belonged to, why would law enforcement put a remote transponder in it, and who verified that there was a tracking device in it? I told you that the minivan belonged to a family member, I didn't answer your question regarding why, and I told you that I would have to check the record to see the expert who verified its presence. I did tell you that the expert said the FDLE had a warrant and would have to tell me about it and the bugs on the pole within 30 days. I told you that it's been more than 30 days.

I asked you directly if there were any Florida law enforcement "bugs" on the utility poles servicing the house and grounds. You said that you didn't know. You added that you didn't know anything regarding this matter other than what was contained in the email that you received from IG Dennis. Again you said that you didn't know anything about my letter to Gov. Bush.

You asked me for the names of the three experts that verified the bugs on the utility poles and why they didn't supply reports. I told you that I'd have to check the records and that they didn't supply reports because they were tampered with by the FDLE and perhaps some other state agencies. You asked me a question concerning the dates involved. I told you that the first incident to best of my recollection was either 2001 or 2002 following the bungled drug bust of my neighbors. I said that an FDLE agent disguised as a FedEx driver delivered 3.5 lb. of meth to my neighbor's wife. I told him that my neighbor arrived home as the bust was going down and ran off with the 3.5 lbs. of meth. I told you that an FDLE helicopter returned later that evening on the pretext of picking up my neighbor who ran off earlier with 3.5 lbs.of meth, but that I was the intended target. You didn't allow me to finish and interrupted repeatedly saying that this has nothing to do with your investigation. I told you that it has everything to do with it.

You asked me if I had looked for the tracking device in the minivan. I told you that I didn't. You advised me that I'd have to have some certified mechanic inspect the minivan and verify that there's a bug in it. When I asked you again if there were FL law enforcement bugs on the utility poles, you said to contact the power supplier and ask them to do a search for "illegal attachments" and supply you with their "report of findings." I told you that I had already requested that and that with the protection of the FDLE the utility later removed the original bugs and replaced them with the next generation. You told me that I'd have to pay for the experts to verify the presence of "attachments" and to supply their "reports of findings" to you. I told you that the FDLE kept threatening the experts with loss of their PI license or else they had conflicts of interest. You cut me off before I could discuss any expert's conflicts of interests, although I said that they'd lose their licenses or else go to jail. You said that's not possible.

If you believe that I misrepresented or misstated any of the above, please advise me as to what statement(s) you specifically disagree with and why.

Finally, if I did supply you with direct evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by FL law enforcement, what action could you take as an FDLE Criminal Investigator (Inspector)? And, what action would you take as an FDLE Criminal Investigator regarding illegal electronic surveillance and official misconduct by certified Florida law enforcement officers?

Regards,
Joe Keegan

FDLE Office of Inspector General

I just got off the phone a short time ago (within the last hour or so)with FDLE Inspector Keith Wilmer who called about an email that he said he received from IG Dennis regarding a Dodge minivan. I asked Mr. Wilmer if he were a Criminal Investigator and he replied that he was one. I asked Criminal Investigator (Inspector) Wilmer if he were recording our phone conversation. Inspector Wilmer replied that he wasn't. I was keeping a contemporaneous record of our phone conversation just as I supposed that Mr. Wilmer was keeping one. This post is based on that record and serves as an extension of it. Mr. Wilmer caught me at an inopportune time as I was making preparations for the 4th of July holiday and wasn't prepared to answer his questions. Wilmer's call followed shortly after a phone call from Kim Likens at the Chief Inspector's Office at the Office of the Inspector General at the Governor's office. Ms. Likens told me that her superior, Ms. Dawn Case, told her to call me and tell me that they were sending some letters that they received to FDLE IG Dennis because my complaint belongs there. I asked her if these letters were from the Governor and she replied that they were. I thanked her and wished her happy 4th.

I asked Mr. Wilmer what IG office he was with because the distinctions and hierachies confuse me. Mr. Wilmer said that the hierchary confuses him, too. He said that he was with the FDLE OIG and calling about my email to IG Dennis regarding a remote transponder in a Dodge minivan. I asked him if he saw any other letters, such as to AG Crist or the Governor. He said that he was replying to an email to FDLE IG Dennis regarding a Dodge minivan and denied that he saw any other correspondence. I asked Mr. Wilmer if his call just involved the minivan and he replied that his call just concerned the minivan. I expanded the scope of Mr. Wilmer's call. I told him that I was being direct and Mr. Wilmer replied that he was being direct. I was courteous, respectful, and polite as was FDLE Criminal Investigator Keith Wilmer, who appeared to have a southern accent. I have a yankee accent.

To summarize: Mr. Wilmer concentrated on the minivan and asked me who it belonged to, why would law enforcement put a remote transponder in it, and who verified that there was a tracking device in it. I told him that the minivan belonged to a family member, I didn't answer his question regarding why, and I told him that I would have to check the record to see the expert who verified its presence, although I told him that the expert said that the FDLE had a warrant and would have to tell me about it and the bugs on the pole within 30 days. I told FDLE Criminal Investigator Keith Wilmer that it's been more than 30 days.

When Mr. Wilmer's questions grew increasingly silly, I asked him directly if there were any Florida law enforcement bugs on the utility poles servicing the house and grounds. Wilmer said that he didn't know. He also said that he didn't know anything other regarding this matter than what he received in an email from his boss. He said that he didn't know anything about any letters to Governor Bush.

He asked me what experts verified the bugs on the the utility pole and why they didn't supply reports. I told him that I'd have to check the records and that they didn't supply reports because they were tampered with by the FDLE and perhaps some other agencies.

He wanted dates and as I said he caught me off guard because of holiday preparations. After continued questioning, I told him that the first incident was to the best of my memory either 2001 or 2002 following the bungled drug bust of my neighbors. I said that an FDLE agent disguised as a FedEx driver delivered 3.5 lbs. of meth to my neighbor's wife. I told him that my neighbor arrived home as the bust was going down and ran off with the 3.5 lbs. of meth. FDLE Criminal Investigator Wilmer didn't allow me to finish and interrupted repeatedly saying that this has nothing to do with his criminal investigation. I told Wilmer that it has everything to do with it.

Long and short of it was that Wilmer's "investigation" didn't last more than 25 minutes. Inspector Wilmer asked me if I had searched for the tracking device in the minivan. I told him no. Wilmer advised me that I'd have to have some certified mechanic inspect the minivan and verify that there's a bug in it. When I asked him if there were FL law enforcement bugs on the utility poles, Inspector Wilmer said to contact the power supplier and ask them to do a search for "illegal attachments." I told Wilmer that I had already done that and that with the protection of the FDLE they removed the orginial bugs and replaced them with the next generation. Wilmer told me that I'd have to pay for the experts to verify the presence of "attachments" and to supply their "reports of findings" to him. I told Wilmer that the FDLE kept threatening the experts with loss of their PI license or else they had conflicts of interest. Wilmer cut me off before I could discuss any experts conflicts of interests, although I said that they'd lose their licenses or else go to jail. Wilmer said that's not possible.

0.150.111.115

Someone at the above referenced IP address just tried to hack into my computer. It's a little different than the other attempts. Long and short of it is that it's an "Invalide Source IP Address." My attempt to trace the address resulted in the same old same old: "No results found." If the monkey had any brains, he'd use a false address. Probably just some monkey that the monkeys are using.

Illegal electronic surveillance & harm evidence

I've pasted in below a copy of the email that I sent earlier this morning to Inspector General Harper of the Office of the Governor. I sent a courtesy copy to FDLE IG Dennis. I also sent a personal email to FDLE IG Dennis with a cc to IG Harper.

Mr. Harper,

State Rep Don Brown's office suggested that if I felt harmed by an agency to bring a copy of the evidence to you and to the Inspector General of the agency (FDLE) involved. I'd like to schedule a meeting with both you and Mr. Dennis to present evidence regarding illegal electronic surveillance and misuse of official position by the FDLE and other FL law enforcement officials and the resulting harm. I have some questions, such as what to do with a Dodge mini-van whose electrical system was ruined by a remotely activated hard-wired tracking device law enforcement officers installed (I haven't attempted to locate the device because I don't want to destroy its evidentiary value), and I'm sure that you will have some questions yourself. I believe that a personal meeting with both you and Mr. Dennis either individually or preferably together would be the best way to resolve this matter. Please advise.

Thank you,
Joe Keegan

FL State Attorney Steve Meadows hires Guy Tunnell

The national media appears to have lost interest in the story, but it's still an issue in the FL Panhandle. First, it took a court order for the FDLE to release the videotapes of the beating of Martin Anderson by drill instructors at the Bay County Sheriff's Boot Camp, and then there were those untoward remarks by then FDLE Commissioner Tunnell just before his resignation regarding some black civil rights leaders. Now there's criticism of State Attorney Steve Meadows (a Democrat) hiring former FDLE top cop Guy Tunnell (a Republican). While Tunnell and some other public officials may have had some problems with emails, Meadows didn't. He deleted them. He thought that the server in Tallahasse would retain them. Besides, he doesn't type and didn't have that many emails.

Although not related in any way, I remember the sudden and unexpected resignation of FDLE Director of Investigation Jamie McLaughlin. The TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT described McLaughlin as "the cop who policed the police." Tunnell was on the job as FDLE Commissioner for only 8 months at the time. According to an FDLE Executive Investigation's report, McLaughlin may have been guilty of what could be considered a form of sexual harassment. At any rate, no criminal charges were filed.

Besides suggesting that I supply my state attorney with any evidence of illegal FDLE electronic surveillance, Gov. Bush forwarded copies of my communtications to FDLE Commissioner Tunnell. I also filed verifiable complaints with Tunnell, but never received any replies. After SA Steve Meadows didn't reply to my first letter and evidence, I sent him a second follow-up letter. Meadows didn't reply to that one, either. By Florida statute, Tunnell was required to investigate my charges against Florida law enforcement officers. I guess State Attorneys get to pick and chose not only what they investigate, but who they hire. I've pasted in a copy of my second letter to FL State Attorney Steve Meadows below.



CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT # 7004 2510 0001 0583 6352

June 18, 2005

The Honorable Steve Meadows
State Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 1040
Panama City, FL 32402

Dear State Attorney Meadows,

I’m disappointed that I still haven’t received a reply to my May 13, 2005 letter (copy enclosed). It was a reasonable request inquiring as to what sort of evidence you would consider necessary to investigate my charges. My credibility isn’t the issue; however, the FDLE’s credibility is, especially in light of the deal that they cut with drug dealers to cover-up their official misconduct. Two US Presidents, one US VP, numerous US Reps and Senators, and a Pentagon Judge Advocate General have all found me credible regarding other matters. Gov. Jeb Bush finds me credible regarding this one. As I wrote in my earlier letter, three electronic surveillance experts all confirmed the presence of illegal law enforcement surveillance devices, yet refused to supply signed written reports of their findings. You don’t have to be a state prosecutor to know that some official authority threatened or tampered with all those expert witnesses.

So why haven’t I at least received the courtesy of a reply from your office? Is it because of the deal that the FDLE cut with the drug dealers to cover up this scandal? It’s an open secret in the community here and may help explain why so many of the Sheriff’s drug arrests have been kicked out of court. I’ve enclosed a copy of an email from one of the parties involved, which tends to support my version of events. Is this evidence? Is this email sufficient for your office to investigate my charges? The late night FDLE helicop-ter visit plays a central although embarrassing role in this fiasco. The pretext was to apprehend my neighbor who escaped earlier in the day with 3.5 lbs of drugs. However, he hadn’t returned home that evening and the FDLE knew it. The actual purpose was to provoke a violent confrontation with me. I’m sure that you do not condone these tactics, so the question now arises: Is there any accountability?

The party involved mistakenly blames me in the enclosed email for “…making our life a living hell…I didn’t, but rather law enforcement did. I witnessed one such example myself. On Monday morning, Jan. 3, 2005, around 9:15 a.m., I observed a deputy driving very slowly south down Will Lee Road. About a minute or two later, I saw my neighbor drive by behind the deputy and turn into his yard across the road. Shortly afterwards I saw the same deputy return driving north up Will Lee Road pass my neighbor’s house. No sooner than the deputy had passed by, I heard a female hollering from my neighbor’s sister-in-law’s home across the road from him, “I saw that! I saw that!” My neighbor was hollering back and they both appeared extremely agitated. In my opinion, that was a blatant attempt to provoke my neighbor, who others have told me has a volatile temper. But why? A deal’s a deal, isn’t it?

What can I expect as a result of this letter? More threats? More slander and defamation in an attempt to discredit me, thereby discrediting my charges? Is the purpose of Florida law enforcement to use their official position to cover-up their misconduct?

I’ve never authorized anyone to be my representative or given anyone my P.O.A. If you have any questions, talk to me directly.


Sincerely,


Joe Keegan

Message?

The helicopter arrived at the same time that a family member arrived home just a short time ago. The helicopter flew just to the north of the house in a northwesterly direction at about 400 feet altitude. It wasn't like the others, but rather looked like the photos of the new medical emergency one that I saw in the local paper. Another coincidence or does this have anything to do with my earlier post this morning? It's certainly not like the FDLE helicopter that hovered over the house one evening for over 1/2 hour.

Government Spying

I still haven't received any replies to my letters to FL Attorney General Crist or FDLE Commissioner Tunnell regarding government spying. They both received my verifiable complaints against Florida law enforcement officers. Recently Tunnell was forced to resign as FDLE Commissioner as a result of his remarks regarding civil rights leaders and handling of the beating death of a teenager in a Bay County bootcamp. A copy of my letter to Crist is pasted in below. The USPS confirmed delivery on April 23, 2004.
Incidentally, former FDLE Executive Investigations Director Jamie McLaughlin resigned suddenly and unexpectedly the next day as a result of a just as sudden and unexpected investigation regarding charges that could be considered a form of sexual harassment. McLaughlin had also ignored all my veriable requests for an investigation of my charges against Florida law enforcement officers, which he was legally required to investigate.


April 21, 2004

Office of Attorney General Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Dear Attorney General Crist;

Notice of official misconduct and interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications

Pursuant to Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4, I’m notifying you in your official capacity as Florida’s Attorney General of official misconduct and illegal interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Holmes County (HC) Sheriff’s Department. In addition, I’m charging FDLE Director of Executive Investigations Jamie McLaughlin, FDLE Professionalism Program Director Rod Caswell, HC Sheriff Dennis Lee, HC Deputy Christopher Wells, and former HC Chief Deputy Aubrey Carroll with violations of the moral character standards as defined under Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code. These Florida certified law enforcement officers either knew about or were involved in the illegal interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications, misuse of official position, threatening witnesses, conducting so called “investigations” under the color of law, covering up misconduct, falsifying official records, and obstruction of justice. This pattern of misconduct, which continues to this day, violates the most basic principles of the US and Florida Constitutions and demonstrates the abuse of power by arrogant and seemingly unaccountable Florida law enforcement and state agencies.

Request for formal investigation

I’m also requesting that Florida’s Office of Attorney General independently investigate my above charges against both the FDLE and HC Sheriff’s Department because both these law Florida enforcement agencies have proven that they are incapable of policing themselves. Both have an inherent conflict of interest and both not only refuse to investigate my charges but also are in fact covering up.

County and state law enforcement arranged for the bugs’ installation on the utility poles servicing the house and grounds. Officers also arranged for the installation of a remotely activated transponder in one of the vehicles and supplied neighbors with a remote to activate the device whenever they saw me leave. By letter, dated January 4, 2001, I requested that West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) Association’s V.P. and CEO, William S. Rimes, help in identifying any authorized or unauthorized devices on or connected to any of their lines, poles, transformers, or equipment servicing my residence. I based my suspicions on an echo effect that I heard. By letter, dated January 5, 2001, Mr. Rimes advised:

We take your concerns seriously and have taken the following actions based on your letter and telephone conversation with my Executive Assistant:
First, the appropriate employees have been briefed and assure me that WFEC is not involved.
Second, we have forwarded this correspondence to the Sheriff of Holmes County for appropriate action.

The Sheriff’s first contact was on the evening of January 17, 2001 about 10:30 p.m. when he hovered over the house for more than ½ hr in an FDLE helicopter purportedly search-ing for my neighbor, Freddie Padgett, who they attempted to pickup at his home that evening. A large infrared device mounted under the helicopter assisted in their late night “search.” Earlier in the day, an FDLE Agent disguised as a FedEx driver delivered a 3.5 lb. package of methamphetamines to his wife, Lisa Padgett, during an apparent drug bust. Padgett arrived home as the sting was in progress, saw what was going on, grabbed the package that his wife signed for, and escaped with the evidence. The FDLE returned later that evening on the pretext of apprehending him at his home. However, they knew that he hadn’t returned home. No rational person would believe that someone who ran off with 3.5 lbs of drugs earlier that day would return home later that evening. I was the actual target and not my neighbor. The entire event was contrived in an attempt to provoke a violent incident and then remove their bugs in the aftermath. When I didn’t react as my “profilers” anticipated, the Sheriff who was in the FDLE helicopter piloted by his first cousin ordered the agents to storm the grounds in hot pursuit of my imaginary fleeing neighbor. I asked the FDLE Agents as they stormed the grounds, “Isn’t this a lot of effort for one guy?” One Agent replied, “Yeah, it is.” I lingered outside with them until they left around 11:35 p.m.

The HOLMES COUNTY TIMES reported in its January 24, 2001 edition that agents of the FDLE arrested my neighbor, Lisa Padgett, on drug and theft charges on January17, 2001 and that she was out on $75k bond. The paper reported in its January 31, 2001 issue that they arrested my neighbor, Freddie Padgett, on January 23, 2001 on the same charges. They mentioned that he fled his home when authorities arrived to serve a search warrant on January 17, 2001. Following a first appearance hearing, he was released from jail on a surety bond, the paper reported, but did not say when he was released. The weekly paper later reported in its March 14, 2001 edition that the FDLE arrested Lisa Padgett again on new drug related charges, and additional arrests followed.

The FDLE wasn’t through with us yet, however. When my sister, Bridget Keegan, returned home from work on the evening of January 29, 2001, she told me that two late model sedans followed her from nearby Carmel Church Road when she left for work that morning. My sister said that a third sedan was waiting on the side of the road as she turned onto Rte. 160 and also followed her. Without telling my sister, I followed her the next the morning when she left for work. She drove north up Will Lee Rd without turning left onto Carmel Church Rd as she had done the day before. I turned left on Carmel Church Rd and as I approached Mt. Carmel of Assembly God Church I encountered a number of white and blue sedans like the FDLE used. They seemed to be trying to coordinate a “tail,” and my appearance confused them. I turned around in the Church’s parking lot and headed home, stopping in front of one car that was parked alongside a building so that you wouldn’t see it as you drove west on Church Rd as my sister would have on her way to work. When I saw the driver was female, I continued without stopping to question her. I notified a public official later that morning that I don’t want some SWAT raid picking up where the helicopter left off. The FDLE stakeout and “tail” ended the following morning.

Since neither WFEC nor the Sheriff’s Department would search the utility poles and equipment for illegal law enforcement electronic surveillance devices, my sister hired Florida licensed Private Investigator, Diop Kamau to conduct a “sweep” of her home and property, locating the monitoring station, activating any deactivated bugs, and identifying any bugs discovered.

On March 14, 2001, Kamau’s employee, Mr. Underwood, arrived late for the scheduled “sweep” and with no testing equipment. He walked around the house and inspected the utility pole in the backyard. As he left, he said, “It’s time for the cameras.” On March 23, 2001, Mr. Kamau’s employee, Doug Jones, showed up with test equipment and was surprised by the off the scale readings he got verifying electronic surveillance. However, he refused my sister’s request for his report and when I asked him for it, he said that the police would arrest me if he supplied it. I told him to let them and I would sue for false arrest. I told him that I do not have the FDLE’s drugs that my neighbor, Freddie Padgett, ran off with and which are still supposedly missing to this day. 3.5 of dope disappears and the FDLE doesn’t formally investigate. Jones still refused to supply his report. When I told him that the cops were harassing my sister as well, he appeared incredulous and had a pained expression. Jones called my sister later at work to discuss installing cameras. She told him no cameras and to supply the report. When she later demanded her report from Kamau, he told her to get a lawyer and he would provide it to him, although that was not part of the original agreement. He also told her that he would fax her a list of lawyers at work, but never supplied the list.

Neither one of us could get a lawyer. Some did not even return our calls and about the only legal advice we got from any was to get a lawyer but someone else. One Panama City criminal lawyer told me to try Pensacola or Tallahassee, which I did with the same results. A Tallahassee attorney told me that I would have a hard time getting any lawyer to sue the county, never mind the state. They all knew that state law enforcement was involved even though I never told them.

By letter dated, March 26, 2001, I notified WFEC VP and CEO, William S. Rimes, that the Sheriff still hadn’t contacted either my sister or myself regarding the electronic surveillance. I requested that he arrange for his WFEC to check their equipment during the week of April 2nd to determine if there are any illegal devices on the lines providing service and to supply a report of their findings. I told him to schedule the inspection for the afternoon so that my sister can be present, and to notify me of the date and time. I told Kamau that when Rimes gives me a date I’ll tell him and he can be present.

Neither one of us had received any prior written notice, however, when on Tuesday morning, April 3, 2001, I observed two utility company pickups with lift baskets pass by. Sometime later, I saw that they had returned and were parked at the front gate and one employee was trying to pick the lock. I went over and asked the one who appeared to be in charge if he’s here to remove the bugs. He said that he was here to remove the bugs. He identified himself as Doyle Short. The other three refused to identify themselves. I told him that he can’t come in and to return when my sister was home. He had mistaken me for a utility worker from another area. He insisted that he was going to enter the property. I told him that he wasn’t, left, and returned with a cell phone and camera.

Mr. Short threatened to call the Sheriff if I didn’t let him enter. I told him to go ahead. He did. He dialed a number on his cell phone and I heard him say, “Dispatcher.” When the deputy arrived. Short said that he’s here to change the lights on “their property (the utility poles)” and that I won’t let him in. He changed that story when he remembered that we don’t have any pole lights and said that he’s here to read the meter, then qualified that reason by saying to verify meter readings because the radio remote meters are too far and they can’t read them. When I said that he did that last month, he then said that he’s here to do a “safety inspection” and waved some piece of paper saying, “they requested it.” I told the deputy that I wrote that letter and requested an inspection for any illegal attachments and insisted on advance notice. I told Short to show the deputy the letter. He didn’t, but that ended the letter argument.

The deputy’s nametag identified him as Wells. I told Deputy Wells that Short is trying to cover-up. Short sarcastically replied that the deputy is here. I remarked that it was probably the Sheriff’s Dept. that installed the bugs. Mr. Short then made an issue that they’re there to inspect their property and that I wasn’t the property owner. I learned afterwards that Short had called my sister at her office in Panama City to notify her that he was at the gate and requested her permission to enter and inspect. She told him no, that she wanted to be present, and that she can’t talk any longer because she has a meeting. He then told her that he saw someone coming and hung up. He neither told Deputy Wells that he had called my sister and that she had told him not to enter her property without her being there nor did he tell me that he had spoken to her. Wells then asked my name and DOB I answered his questions because I was afraid that he’d arrest me under some pretext, even though the gate was locked, I was on private property, and I requested the “bug” inspection in the first place. The deputy then asked Short if he wanted to enter the property. I suggested that Short reschedule the inspection for Friday afternoon. Deputy Wells asked if that’s okay with him and Short agreed. The deputy then called in on a cell phone- not his squad car radio- and asked for Aubrey Carroll. I asked, “Is that HC Investigator Aubrey Carroll?” He replied, “Yes sir, it is.” Before he left, the deputy asked Mr. Short if he wanted back up for the rescheduled inspection, Mr. Short said yes and that he wanted this same deputy back. The deputy agreed and left. The others lingered for a while before leaving. My sister later canceled that Friday appointment.

In an attempt to get Kamau to finish the sweep and supply his report as well as to disassociate myself from any possible link to the “missing” drugs, I mailed my petition, dated April 12, 2001, to Gov. Jeb Bush. I requested an investigation of my charges and related the above incidents in addition to describing my strained relations with my immediate neighbors on the south, Mathew and Janice (nee Padgett) Connors, which I attributed to law enforcement officers’ instigation. Janice Connor is the sister of Freddie Padgett, who lives with his wife, next door to them. Foey (“Junior”) Padgett, another sibling, lives across the street. I don’t have any personal, social, or business relations with any of them.

My neighbors had previously filed two false reports against me. I was concerned that they might try to either implicate me in their relatives’ drug dealing to use as a “bargain-ing chip” or else say that I had the missing drugs, which would serve as a pretext for another raid. In my petition, I described the two previous false complaints that my neighbors filed against me. The first complaint stemmed from an incident in which Mathew Connor tried to bury about 8 cubic yards of scrap metal on my sister's land just across the property line. When I saw what they were up to, I went over and told Janice (nee Padgett) Connor to move the junk. She told me, “To get out,” and threatened, "I'm going to call the law on you." I told her to go ahead. She did. I saw the deputy’s car pull in her drive. I waited for him to come over, but he never did even though he spent about an hour and half there. Her cousin who was there said that the deputy said it would have to be a criminal matter before he talked to me and told her to move the junk. She later offered to move the junk if I gave her the photos that I took of the incident. During my fourth attempt to secure a copy of the Deputy’s Incident Report, the Sheriff’s office filled up with deputies. I left without securing a copy. Sometime later after a local licensed engineering firm surveyed and staked the southern property line between my sister’s property and my neighbor’s, Mathew Connor approached me as I walked my dog by his residence one morning and said, “You don’t know what you started by that!” I was surprised and asked him, “By what?” He pointed to the staked property line, and said that you can see where it’s off and waved his arm to indicate that it wasn’t straight. The surveyors used a laser transit to measure the property line. Before I got the chance to install a fence along the line, they installed a barbed wire fence on their side.

The second false report was criminal in nature and demonstrates not only the Sheriff Department’s awareness of my neighbors’ false reports but also that they encouraged them by accepting them. Shortly after taking some photographs of the surrounding area, I observed a HC Deputy vehicle pull into my neighbor’s yard. I opened the front gate and waited for the inevitable. Within a short time, the squad car zoomed in. There were two deputies. One was in uniform and one in civilian clothes. I asked them, “What's the charge this time?” Hamilton, the uniformed one and driver, replied, "Stalking." I then asked Hamilton, "Does the Sheriff know about this? He replied, "He's available."

I wanted to end my neighbors’ practice of filing false reports once and for all, so I excused myself, left, and returned with a tape recorder. I wanted a record of this incident, since I still could not obtain the report from the last one. Both deputies consented to being tape-recorded. I then asked Hamilton to repeat the allegation. He refused. After having them identify themselves and asking a few questions, the plainclothes one took a bullet from his shirt pocket and started playing with it. A neighbor told me earlier that the deputies would beat me up and leave me and then later told me that they'd kill me if I kept "playing with them.” I asked the deputy if that bullet was for me. He folded his hand and asked, "What bullet?" After additional banter, I ended the conversation. They left. I thought that they might come back, so I shut and locked the gate, and hid the recorder. They returned within 10 minutes. I went to the gate. Deputy Hamilton got out. He asked some additional questions, including my DOB. I answered his questions and, unlike Deputy Wells in the April 3rd incident, he left without calling in to any Inspector.

Coincidentally, on April 13, 2001, FDLE Agent Dallas Herring left a message, which consisted only of his name, phone number, and “FDLE,” on my sister’s answering machine at work. I assumed that WFEC CEO Bill Rimes had contacted the FDLE to resolve this matter since the Sheriff’s Department appeared unwilling, and that was the reason for Herring’s call.

The Governor’s office forwarded my April 12, 2001 petition to FDLE Executive Investigations for review. In his reply, dated April 26, 2001, FDLE Executive Investigations Director Jamie A. McLaughlin wrote:

Your letter wherein you complained of electronic surveillance of your home, has been reviewed by this office. We have determined that the subject matter of your allegation does not fall within the purview of FDLE.

There does not appear to be a criminal predicate which would warrant investigation by the Office of Executive Investigations. The subject matter of your complaint may involve judicial or civil issues that necessitate you seeking legal counsel and/or advice. Such issues must be addressed in the courts, not by FDLE.

In order to be specious, a reason must at least sound good. Director McLaughlin’s statement does not even pass the specious threshold. Instead of encouraging Kamau to supply his report, my petition- or rather McLaughlin’s refusal to investigate my charges- had the opposite effect. My sister could no longer even contact Kamau and Jones by phone or fax, as they appeared to have disconnected them.

My sister notified Doug Jones on May 29, 2001 that she scheduled an inspection for June 8, 2001 at 1pm and instructed him to arrive early. She also sent Sheriff Dennis Lee a letter, dated May 29, 2001, requesting that the Sheriff’s Department search the utility poles and lines for any illegal listening devices and to supply a report, and she scheduled him for the same time. Jones canceled shortly before the scheduled day claiming that he has to go to Louisiana on a case. If memory serves, the Sheriff supposedly went on vacation and was also unavailable. A Tim Brown from the HC Sheriff’s Department left a message June 7, 2001 on her answering machine at work for her to deal with WFEC and not them. WFEC CEO Rimes referred this matter to the HC Sheriff’s Department in the first place and now the HC Sheriff’s Department was referring it back. The purpose of requesting the Sheriff’s presence was to reassure both Kamau and WFEC that the bugs were illegal. My sister canceled the inspection by WFEC since the other two parties were unavailable.

After my sister sent a certified letter, dated June 18, 2001, demanding that Kamau either complete the sweep and supply his report or else refund her money, Doug Jones called her at work a few days later. He told her the illegal bugs were on the pole, instructed her to schedule an appointment with the utility for “safety reasons” so that the utility couldn’t go after us for tampering with their property, and suggested that she get an injunction against the police. My sister eventually scheduled an inspection by WFEC for July 27, 2002, notified the Sheriff and requested his presence, and notified both Kamau and Jones.

In the interim, the Sheriff finally responded to one of my record requests, but he only sent a copy of Deputy Wells’ 4-3-01 Incident Report, case #2001041393, Report #9842. Wells’ narrative read:

ON 4/3/01 DOYLE SHORT WITH R.E.A. STATED THAT JOE KEEGAN WAS REFUSING ACCESS FOR THEM TO CHECK THEIR METER AND CONNECTIONS. HE SAID MR. KEEGAN’S SISTER OWNS THE PROPERTY AND HAD GIVEN PERMISSIIN BUT SHE LIVES IN HOSTON, TEXAS. MR. KEEGAN SASID HE DIDN NOT WANT THEM TO CHECK ANYTHING UNTIL HE COULD HAVE SOME PEOPLE THERE. HE BELEIEVES R.E.A.* HAS LISTNEING DEVICES ON THE WIRES AND IS COMING TO REMOVE THEM. MR. SHORT AND MR. KEEGAN AGREED FOR R.E.A. TO RETURN ON FRIDAY, 4/6/01 AND HE WOULD ALLOW ACCESS.
*Rural Electric Association (REA) is the WFEC.

In my letter to Sheriff Lee, dated June 9, 2001, I accused Deputy Wells of lying and submitting a false report to cover up law enforcement’s involvement and requested an internal review by the HC Sheriff’s Department. At no time during the April 3, 2001 incident at the front gate did Mr. Short even refer to my sister while Wells was present, never mind saying that she’s the property owner lived in Houston, TX, and gave permission to inspect the lines without her being present. He only said that I wasn’t the property owner. If Mr. Short had made any of these statements, I would have corrected him. I said that my sister insisted on being present during any inspection. As I learned later, Short called my sister at work from the front gate before I approached them. I didn’t refer to any other people and other than answering Wells questions and asking him if that was Chief Deputy Aubrey Carroll I didn’t get into any conversations with the young deputy. Deputy Wells also lied when he wrote in his report that I said that the electric cooperative had listening devices on the wires and is coming to remove them. I said that it was probably the Sheriff’s Department that installed the bugs.

In his June 28, 2001 letter, Sheriff Lee wrote:

I have talked with Deputy Wells about the report and have learned that Deputy Wells wrote his report after the incident had occurred and he did a summary of all the information he had gathered. Deputy Wells would have no reason to lie in his report and I have no reason to believe that Deputy Wells would lie about your or anything else. I would also like for you to know that we would love to have electronic surveillance equipment like you were talking about. But, we do not own any or have access to any such equipment. We are a small rural department with a very limited budget. Our primary responsibility is responding to the needs of the people in Holmes County. Unless there is something I do not know about you that you would like to share with me, I have no reason or desire to set up any kind of surveillance on you. Your correspondence has been filed.

In my June 30, 2001 letter, I wrote the Sheriff that other than what I stated in my June 9th letter, I didn’t talk any further about electronic surveillance equipment. Either the Sheriff or his former Chief Deputy helped Wells concoct that story for the rookie deputy. I also requested copies of the two earlier Deputy Incident Reports. The Sheriff did not supply them because they would serve to discredit any other false charges by my neighbors, which apparently served as a pretext to investigate either one or both of us.

Deputy Wells listed Doyle Short’s work phone number in his report as 263-3231. I believe that was Mr. Short’s mobile phone number. If that’s the correct number of the cell phone that he had with him that day, then a check of the phone records would reveal that Short called my sister at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, FL, contradicting what Wells wrote in his report.

The bugs were not just on the poles on my sister’s property, however, but on the ones in my surrounding neighbors’ yards as well. On July 17, 2001 I videotaped two WFEC employees working on a utility pole in the Connors’ front yard. I filmed Bowers (sp?) in the truck’s lift basket removing the ceramic fuse mounted on the pole. There was no other equipment on the pole at this time. Once he removed it, he lowered the basket to ground level and handed the fuse to Gillie (sp?). Gillie opened it, stopped what he was doing, and approached me. He agreed to be videotaped. Gillie said that they were installing a lightening resistor, but did not answer my questions regarding the fuse that Bowers removed and handed to him.

Bowers first removed what he later identified as a fuse from the utility pole, handed it to Gillie who worked on it and then returned it to Bowers along with what Bowers iden-tified as a lightning arrester. Bowers then installed a bracket and mounted both devices on it and made the necessary connections. When he finished, he lowered the basket, approached me, and consented to be videotaped. When I asked Bowers what he removed from the hollow fuse, he replied, “a broken bolt.” He also said that they’re installing the lightening arrester to prevent any problems resulting from a tree limb falling on the line even though there are no trees in the area around the pole and there were fuses and lightening arresters already mounted on both transformers on my sister’s property.

Bowers wanted to cover for his employer. He volunteered that he was out here when lightening knocked a tree branch down dislodging the live wire to the transformer at the house, but that he didn’t come back to the house, which would contradict what I wrote in my letter, dated 1-4-01, to WFEC CEO & VP Rimes:

The first incident, which suggested that some WFEC employees might know something about this matter, occurred about 1:30 am one Sunday morning. A WFEC pickup zoomed up by the side of the house and two men got out. They had cut the chain on the front locked gate to gain access and drove the ¼ mile back to the house. The previous evening a lightning bolt knocked off a tree limb that dislodged the line to the transformer, knocking out power to the house. Since it was then early Saturday evening, I figured that I call the next morning. I asked them how'd they know power was out? They said that they were in the neighborhood, so stopped by to fix it. I asked again, “How'd you know the power was out?” The driver asked me, “Why didn't you call?” I replied that that I intended to call in the morning. They repeatedly refused to answer my question.

Bower’s actions are indicative of an attempted cover up. The tree limb falling knocked out power only to my residence whose lights could not be seen from the road or my neighbors. I wanted to know who called WFEC and instructed them to come out and repair the problem, since whoever did was either the one monitoring us in real time or knew who was. Utility employees install many of the legal and illegal bugs and taps used by law enforcement agencies. When those monitoring us realized that they could no longer hear us, they called or had someone call the utility to investigate. The two WFEC employees cut the chain on the locked front gate to access the property around 1:30 am and installed one of their own locks on the chain.

Shortly after Bowers and Gillie left, I observed an old white van with WFEC lettering whited out in front of my neighbors. The driver was carrying something that looked like stereo components. I went back to the house and returned with the camcorder, but by then the van was gone.

WFEC showed as scheduled on July 27, 2001, but not Kamau or Jones. When WFEC foreman Doyle Short first saw my camcorder, he turned and headed back to his truck, but then returned. I ignored him, which seemed to calm him down. The WFEC employees present, including Short, agreed to be videotaped. Short’s superior made a point to say that Bowers who I videotaped on July 17th working on my neighbors pole was not out here the night the tree limb knocked out power to the house. They completed their “safety inspection” and found no “safety hazards.” They did not search for any illegal listening devices. Jones showed up later. He denied that either he or Kamau said that I would be arrested or that the bug was on the pole. He detected another bug on the northeast side of the house, but said that he could not pinpoint it. He refused to try to activate the remote transponder in one of the vehicles, which they said that they could do. He again refused to supply his report. Incidentally, although Kamau represented himself as a licensed and expert witness, I learned later that he only received his Florida Private Investigator's license the month before in June 2001. Under the circumstances, in my opinion, the timing raises some disturbing and troubling questions. Jones also said that he was working under Kamau’s license.

I filed an August 16, 2001 complaint, pursuant to Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code, with the FDLE against Deputy Wells for filing a false report. In his August 27, 2001 reply, Michael D. Crews, Bureau Chief Bureau of Standards Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, wrote:

Your verifiable complaint regarding the above individual has been forwarded to me for response. The Officer Discipline Section does not have investigators who go out and investigate allegations of misconduct by an officer. Whenever a complaint is received alleging an officer has committed a moral character violation, the complaint is forwarded to the officer’s employing agency with a request for them to investigate the matter.

Our records indicate that Mr. Wells is presently attending officer training school and has not, as of yet, been certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Therefore, the Commission has no authority to discipline him at this time. Also, according to the correspondence you forwarded with you complaint, it appears the agency has already looked into this matter and did not sustain a moral character violation by Mr. Wells.

The above is disingenuous at best. The agency didn’t sustain a moral violation because Deputy Wells was acting under their direction. Chief Deputy Aubrey Carroll sent a rookie who had not even been certified yet because he would do anything to get a permanent job with the Sheriff’s Department.

My sister eventually got a lawyer to help secure Kamau’s report, but Kamau’s lawyer refused to hand over his client’s report to my sister’s lawyer. Her lawyer then instructed her to copy the next expert’s web page, listing equipment used and report provided, to leave no possible questions regarding the scope of the sweep and report of its findings.

In his letter, dated Oct. 1, 2001, replying to my letter to the governor, Jamie A. McLaughlin, FDLE Director of Executive Investigations, wrote:

Your letter, wherein you requested assistance in obtaining copies of two Holmes County Sheriff’s Office incident reports, was forwarded to the Office of Executive Investigations by the Executive Office of the Governor for review and response. Based upon our review, the subject matter of your request does not fall within the purview of FDLE and would be more appropriately handled by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.

Therefore, by copy of this letter your complaint has been forwarded to Sheriff Dennis Lee for review and any action he may deem appropriate. Should you have further questions concerning our review, please feel free to contact our office at (850) 410-8240.

I reminded Director McLaughlin in my Oct. 9, 2001 reply that last time someone forwarded a letter to Sheriff Dennis Lee for appropriate action that the “Honorable” hovered over the house in an FDLE helicopter and I didn’t want an encore performance.

Lisa Padgett’s arrest, pending trial, and the missing drugs had been big news in the local papers from the time of her arrest. However, interest intensified when the HOLMES COUNTY ADVERTISER February 20, 2002 headlines read: FDLE MADE NO FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO MISSING METHAMPHETAMINES. Journalist Bill Pate asked in his article why the FDLE had not investigated their disappearance. People wanted to know what happened to the missing drugs and why the FDLE refused to formally investigate.

About a week earlier, I went out one night around 11:00 p.m. to see why one of my dogs was barking. As I stood on the deck, someone hidden in the woods about 100 yards away fired a shot. The house is surrounded by trees and is about ¼ mile off the road. You either have to be lost or looking for me to find the place. Whoever fired the shot was looking for me. I didn’t see any point calling the Sheriff’s Department. In the past, someone hidden in the bushes would fire shots as I walked along the ¼ mile driveway to open or close the front gate in the evening. These shots were threats and always followed some informal inquiry resulting from one of my letters to a public official reporting police misconduct.

This time, however, I was infuriated. The more egregious, vicious, and vile law enforcement’s official misconduct, the more they sought to defame us. We’ve been repeatedly threatened, slandered, harassed, subject to endless secret investigations based on secret charges by secret witnesses under the color of law designed to slander and discredit us, but that was not enough for them. Now someone felt confident enough to trek back to the house to threaten us. I decided to answer Bill Pate’s question why the FDLE did not formally investigate their missing dope.

I contacted Bill Pate on March 5, 2002 and answered his question: the FDLE will never allow any formal investigation into the “missing” drugs because the FDLE would have to explain why Sheriff Lee hovered over my residence in an FDLE helicopter piloted by his cousin for over ½ hour on the evening of Jan. 17th and left as FDLE agents stormed the grounds. The FDLE is covering up their official misconduct involving both the FDLE and Sheriff’s Dept. and doesn’t want a fully developed record, which would have to address charges listed in my April 12, 2001 petition to the Governor. Just as WFEC VP & CEO Rimes took my earlier charges of illegal electronic surveillance seriously, so did Bill Pate take my charges of FDLE official misconduct. As a result of Pate’s investiga-tion, they forced the Chief Deputy to retire early for his role, but he was just the patsy.

Later on or around March 20 or 21, 2002, Lisa Padgett drove her All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) from her home to where I was working on fence along the southern property line. This was the first time that I ever spoke to her since moving here. She talked about her upcoming trial and apologized for the helicopter incident because she worried what kind of people we thought they were. She said that she knew that the entire area was bugged.

The HOLMES COUNTY TIMES reported in its April 24, 2002 edition:

On Thursday, April 4, a retirement party was held for Aubrey Carroll, who spent nearly 15 years with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department.
Everyone from State Attorney Jim Appleman to Carroll’s grandchildren attended the event, kicked off by Kim Durden singing the national anthem.

Following the above announcement, Lisa Padgett, as well as others, shook my hand and congratulated me for getting Carroll “fired.” I corrected her by saying that they forced him to retire early so that he would keep his pension. Lisa Padgett also told me that the reporter, Bill Pate, questioned her about me after I contacted him and he kept asking her, “What did he do?” because he could not believe that the cops would do what they were doing without some reason. Lisa Padgett told me that she kept repeating, “Nothing.” “He didn’t do anything.” She later told me that her husband was ashamed for what his family said about me, but did not elaborate. She said that one of the FDLE Agents compared them to Norriega and that some FDLE Agents tested positive for drugs. She said that the DEA did not want to become involved in this high profile case because the FDLE screwed it up. Shortly afterwards she stopped talking to me.

Law enforcement officers gave my neighbors carte blanche to do or say whatever they wanted. Others referred to “jealous neighbors” and locals remarked that “they all have criminal records.” Glenn (“Red”) Riley told us that the Sheriff’s Department was using them and would discard them when they were no longer useful. He related one incident in which his niece, Janice (Padgett) Connor tried to get him to falsely accuse someone with her that she disliked for trespassing. He refused to do so. He later told me that a deputy threatened to place him at the scene of a crime if he should ever “talk” about any of this. He has good reasons to take that threat seriously.

When FL licensed P.I. Diop Kamau’s lawyer continued to refuse to turn over his client’s report, my sister’s lawyer suggested hiring another electronic surveillance expert and instructed her how to copy the website detailing what equipment used, services performed, and report provided.

My sister hired her second electronic surveillance expert, Florida licensed PI Jim Toth and explained the situation regarding illegal electronic surveillance by law enforcement. She followed her lawyer’s instructions and copied the appropriate pages from his website. Toth said that he would be happy to help with any legal or illegal intercept problem. He agreed to do the sweep and supply a written, signed report. However, when he arrived here in to do the sweep on April 15, 2002, he said that he cannot talk about any FDLE or any other law enforcement electronic surveillance devices or he will loose his license. He tried too hard to be our friend and even dropped the names of some celebrity clients, such as Mick Jagger and Rosie O’Donnell. He tested for video as agreed and said that he picked up some signal and that there is a camera nearby, but he could not pick up a clear image. When I asked him if there are any law enforcement listening or video surveillance devices on the utility pole in the backyard, he said that any device on the pole would have to belong to law enforcement because there are too many easier places to put one. Toth repeatedly refused to check the pole although that is what he came here to do and said that he would have to climb up it and plug his equipment (an OSCOR) into it and that he does not intend to do that. He then instructed us how to install an array of speakers on the deck to create a “white noise” if I think that there is a listening device on the pole.

When we drove up front, I repeatedly asked him why he didn’t bring equipment to test poles because that’s what my sister hired him to do. I bothered him enough that at one point he said that “you’re pissing me off.” I asked him if he wanted me turn off my camcorder and he said no. He had also agreed earlier to being videotaped. On the drive back to the house, he pointed to about 300’ of bright yellow hose along the driveway used to water the plants indicated that was “probable cause.” When I asked Toth if the FDLE would not allow these charges to be proven, he nodded in the affirmative. When I asked him if the police intend to “debrief” him when he leaves, he said, “Possibly.” He also insisted that the police put a GPS device in the minivan and not a police transponder as I suspected.

Toth also said that the police have a warrant and have to tell us about the bugs in thirty days. Toth had a conscience and what the FDLE was forcing him to do troubled him. He said that if he lost his license that he would have to do menial labor. Before he left, he said that the bugs on the poles came from Audio Intelligence Devices (AID) and to check them on the Internet. He said that he would do some more research himself. AIDs (www.aid-nia.com) sells only to government and law enforcement. AID also has a training branch, the National Intelligence Academy (that is the NIA in the URL). He still has not supplied a signed written report of his findings. He told my sister that he would mail his report in three days. She insisted on the signed hard copy. He said that it would take ten days. She told him that she would wait. He said that he would send the report to her lawyer. She told him to send it to her. He said to have her lawyer call him.

Toth emailed my sister his report replete with lies and omissions and addressed it to MRS. Koegan. And finished it with extra large bold type to call if she has any questions regarding the report. He still has not provided a signed written report. My sister notified her lawyer of Toth’s “sweep” and supplied him with a copy of the video.

Since Florida law enforcement’s position was that our charges were just “allegations” without an expert’s written signed report,, my sister hired Technical Surveillance Counter Measure expert Jim Ross from out of state to conduct a sweep and supply a signed written signed report of his findings. Again she explained the circumstances including law enforcement’s involvement. I also spoke to him and said that his predecessor identified Audio Intelligence Devices as the supplier of the device.

Ross and his wife left Virginia by car on July 17 and we had power outages at the house on July 17, 18, and 19. I believe that they managed to deactivate the bugs during these outages because I noticed that the echo effect either diminished or disappeared altogether during these outages which lasted between one and three hours, but always returned when the power returned.

Ross appeared as scheduled on July 19, 2002. He said that he had been out the night before to check. The echo was quite pronounced that evening. He had a word of wisdom that he wanted to share with us before he began: “Don’t trust hotels.” I thought, uh-uh, here we go again. His story was that he rented hotel space for his expos and the last one billed him 7k for services they didn’t provide. He was still upset. He walked around the house and insisted that any echo that I heard was from my voice bouncing off the house and not from the open air. When we went inside, he played with his equipment and then stunned me by saying that he can’t do what we want him to do. He didn’t say that he didn’t detect any bugs at the time or the evening before, but only that he can’t do what we want him to do, which was sweep and supply a report of his findings. He also confided, “They want to be in charge.”

Instead of doing a sweep and supplying a signed written report, he offered to get my sister on the G. Gordon Liddy show to discuss her blacklisting. He also said that she would have to move. My sister declined. The reason why they us want both to move is that some locals are blackmailing the cops with their knowledge of our illegal surveil-lance and the cops cut deals with others. Ross also told her to have her lawyer sue Toth, who was the apparent fall guy.

If Ross had disclosed his conflict of interest, which he was ethically bound to do, my sister would not have hired him. I did not tell Ross that I knew that the G. Gordon Liddy took over the NIA’s greater school mission after Hurricane Andrew destroyed its Homestead facilities and renamed it the Liddy Institute, with AID retaining the name. I suggested that I go on Liddy’s show, instead. Ross wanted more money and said that he couldn’t guarantee that I’d get on Liddy’s show. I told him to forget it. Like the two before him, he still hasn’t supplied a signed written report.

The above clearly proves a pattern of threatening and tampering with witnesses to cover up official misconduct. Apparently without a report our charges are just allegations and therefore they’re taking the position that they don’t have to investigate allegations. They have not said this, but how else would you explain the above? I know that Florida law enforcement officers threatened the first two expert witnesses, but I am not sure what influenced Ross other than a misguided sense of loyalty to Liddy. Ross also runs his own TSCMP school and is well connected. When my sister filed complaints against the two Florida P.I.s with the Florida Licensing Board, he began badgering me with inane
e-mails, including soliciting me for his TSCM school.

By letter, dated August 1, 2002, I petitioned the governor to investigate the FDLE for threatening the two Florida electronic surveillance expert witnesses as well as Director McLaughlin.

Around 8:30 a.m. on August 15, 2002, I walked up front to investigate what sounded like construction work. I observed two WFEC trucks working on the poles in my neighbors’ yards. As I watched them, a WFEC pickup drove up, stopped, and Doyle Short- the WFEC employee that called the Sheriff on April 3, 2001 when I refused to let them enter- got out and told me that he wants to talk to me by the front gate. When I reached the gate, Mr. Short and his superior, Russell Dunaway, were waiting. They both consented to be videotaped. They said that they were upgrading service and would have to replace the two transformers on the property within a month or else disconnect power. I asked Mr. Dunaway if he knew anything about any illegal electronic surveillance devices on their poles. He said that he had no knowledge and that they’re not in the electronic surveillance equipment business. My questioning appeared to irritate Mr. Dunaway as he turned beet red (visible in the video). He then added that I put the device on the pole myself. He appeared quite serious. One crewman told me later that Dunaway decided which transformers were to be replaced. It was not too surprising that my sister’s relatively new transformers were among the chosen.

My sister notified her lawyer on August 16, 2002 about Ross and requested he contact him to get a copy of his report. Her lawyer contacted him and Ross later emailed my sister a copy of what he sent to her lawyer telling him about his offer to get her on
G. Gordon Liddy’s show. Ross never supplied a written report. A decided chill in the attorney client relationship ensued at this point. Her lawyer never replied to her request to get an injunction to block any utility upgrade until after an official state investigation.

I also contacted other state officials and requested that they investigate my charges. One of my letters appeared to have produced some sort of unofficial inquiry. My sister told me that two Colonels and a Master Sergeant at Tyndall AFB where she works as an engineer told her, when they could stop laughing long enough, that the cops said that she was a “pothead.” That was the pretext they gave for going to her workplace. Whatever stooge the cops suborned obviously had never even met my sister. Again, no officer had ever questioned her about anything. We both repeatedly tried to get Sheriff Dennis Lee, the FDLE, WFEC, and the Florida electronic surveillance expert witnesses together to conduct a simultaneous search. And, at various times we had police escorts, state, county, and locals follow us from the moment we got onto any of the main roads. They would also triangulate on our positions combining a training exercise with intimidation. The authorities spared no expense or manpower to stage their January 17, 2001 production to pickup Freddie Padgett at his home, so they sure could have stopped either one of us at any time on any pretext if they wanted. Or, they simply could have accepted one of our invitations or just call us to schedule an interview. However, we could not get them to talk to us. Instead, they attempted to discredit us by innuendo and slander masquerading as investigations. Only a letter to a public official would back them off and when they felt safe they would resume the harassment. One of my sister’s fellow employees alluded to some cops bringing drug-sniffing dogs on base to check some engineer’s vehicle. All of this was done under the color of law to cover up their misconduct.

Another result of my letters to public officials was they appeared to incite my neighbors. Public officials would supply copies of my complaints to the respective law enforcement officers, who in turn would share them with my neighbors. One incident, which followed my letters to the Attorney General and FDLE Commissioner, occurred on Sept. 3, 2002. When my sister left for work at 5:30 a.m., a neighbor, Foey (“Junior”) Padgett, who lives across the street made a point to pull up behind her in his gray pickup with an empty trailer attached as she drove by his house. He also drove by with his trailer loudly rattling along the bumpy dirt road as she pulled into the driveway that evening around 8:00 p.m. That was no coincidence. He wanted to send a message. Like his other siblings he has never met or talked to her, although he knew her schedule and could identify her vehicle. Realize that we do not know what any of the suspected “witnesses” may have said. I suspect that we both have been subject to endless secret on-going investigations based on secret suborned statements by secret witnesses, which served as the pretext for endless secret investigations. There are other recent incidents as well.

My sister has a reason to feel threatened. One of Junior’s relatives told me that he has a criminal record and the cops were trying to put him away as a chronic offender. Someone else said that he was messed up on drugs in high school, has an explosive temper, and I would have my hands full if I got into a fight with him. Why would I get into a fight with someone that I do not even talk to, unless someone is provoking him?

The judge hearing Lisa Padgett’s case tossed out some evidence and rescheduled the trial for June 2002 because the FDLE did not supply her lawyer with some statements that she made. That was about the last coverage of the case, including disposition of Lisa Padgett’s trial. The case destined for the story of the year mysteriously disappeared from both local papers. What was the headline story for months disappeared from the pages altogether. Why? I would like to know why the disappearance of 3.5 lbs methamphe-tamines ceased to be news worthy.

In reply to my August 21, 2002 letter charging FDLE involvement with electronic surveillance, Jamie A. McLaughlin, Director Executive Investigations, wrote in his September 11, 2002 letter:

Your past five letters/facsimiles to this office (April 12, 2001, May 3, 2001, May 4, 2001, August 30, 2001, and October 9, 2001) were also reviewed and indicate that you have continual concerns with electronic surveillance. Based on these concerns, it is suggested that you allow the utility to upgrade the transformers and insulators on your property as they deem necessary. In do doing, the West Florida Electric Co-operative will maintain your electric service using only the equipment necessary for that purpose.

Simply put: Director McLaughlin sanctioned the cover up.

By letter, September 14, 2002, my sister advised then FDLE Commissioner James T. Moore that she has requested that the WFEC conduct an inspection of their lines and equipment for illegal listening devices on September 27, 2002 at 1:00 pm and requested
That he arrange for FDLE also to be present to conduct their own search and provide her with a written report. He never replied.

By letter, dated October 6, 2002, my sister petitioned Gov. Bush to investigate law enforcement threatening her two Florida expert witnesses, Diop Kamau and Jim Toth.

I spoke with Cochran Keating, Senior Attorney Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) on the telephone on Oct. 8, 2002. Mr. Keating said that in his opinion the FPSC did not have jurisdiction to require WFEC to postpone its upgrades to further a criminal investigation. Mr. Keating said than he believed that the FDLE is the proper authority to ensure that its criminal investigation is not compromised by whatever actions WFEC might take. The problem was that the FDLE sanctioned the cover up.

On Oct. 28th my sister received a letter from Director McLaughlin in response to her petition to the governor in which she charged that Florida law enforcement officers tampered with two Florida electronic surveillance experts that she hired to sweep her home and property. McLaughlin wrote that he would not investigate because there did not appear to be a criminal predicate, which was the same excuse he refused to investi-gate my petitions. Coincidentally, the electric cooperative also notified my sister that same day that they would be out on Oct. 31st to either replace their two transformers on her property as part of an upgrade or else disconnect service. She faxed the utility’s CEO, with courtesy copies to their lawyer and two foremen that they would be only allowed onto her property on the condition that they conduct a search for illegal law enforcement surveillance devices before upgrading their equipment. She also notified Sheriff Dennis Lee. She attempted to contact her lawyer, but her email was rejected. She left messages for him on his answering machine and faxed him as well, but he did not reply.

On the morning of October 31, 2002, WFEC foreman Ty Peel from their Graceville office arrived before the others to “upgrade” services by replacing the two transformers, containing the illegal surveillance devices, with new ones. He agreed to allow us to videotape. Foreman Doyle Short and crews from the Bonifay and Graceville offices arrived shortly afterwards along with WFEC CEO & VP Bill Rimes, who oversaw the work from the road. Rimes became visibly upset when I recognized him from newspaper photos and videotaped him. My sister let them in after they again agreed to conduct a search, but once in they refused to search as agreed or even open the lightening arresters. Moreover, they insisted that the lightening arrester was solid and could not be opened, which was a lie. I had videotaped them earlier opening a similar unit on my neighbors’ pole, removing an object from it, and then replacing the unit on the pole. Although they agreed to inspect their equipment for illegal bugs before being allowed onto the property, I videotaped them refusing to do so once admitted and threatening to call the Sheriff and have me arrested if I searched their equipment myself. I asked Peel if he intended to reuse this transformer with the implication for surveillance purposes, and he replied that he had just the place for it. They replaced the existing transformers with new ones and left. The echo effect vanished.

A few days after WFEC’s “upgrade,” the FL Licensing Bureau in Tallahassee notified my sister that they closed out their investigation of her complaint against Diop Kamau. The Fort Walton office had already closed out her complaint on Jim Toth. Both offices refused to pursue any administrative action. The state said they investigated and that they did not uphold the alleged violations. The Tallahassee investigator requested copies of the checks she paid Kamau, but the bank failed to provide copies by the deadline at first insisting there was no record of them. The state investigator did not reply to my sister’s request for an extension. The bank finally provided a copy of one check, but said that the copy of the other was unavailable because the film had been cut off. After she contacted the bank’s CEO, she finally received transcripts of both accounts. The Walton Beach Licensing Bureau manager was openly hostile and did not appear willing to conduct any genuine investigation in the first place.

My sister’s lawyer finally called on November 7, 2002. He said he was on a federal case in Orlando, FL, his computer crashed, and he didn’t understand any of the problems with the electric company. When my sister called him later, he told her to email him and not call her anymore. I have suspicions that he was tampered with by state officials.

You would think that removing the evidence on the utility poles would end it, but it did not. It wasn’t too long before the echo returned. At first it was barely noticeable, but eventually it became even more pronounced than before. Someone had pre-installed remotely activated surveillance devices in the new transformers. They did not have to turn off power to activate these new ones as before. And, as before, their stooges began repeating parts of our private conversations.

To test my theory that they upgraded to remotely activated ones, I voiced my suspicion that my neighbor was involved in an illegal activity where he works. The echo stopped the next morning, but returned a few days later. They did not have to cut power as before to deactivate them, but only had to push a button. If they were acting in good faith, they would not have done that. It’s now more pronounced than before.

Gov. Jeb Bush held one of his Town Hall meetings in Bonifay on January 16, 2003, just one day short of the two years since the January 17, 2001 FDLE drug sting and arrest of my neighbor, Lisa Padgett. I was #8 in line to speak with the Governor. There were two female staffers present during our meeting, both with writing pads. He asked me what I wanted. I told him a sweep and for the cops to stop harassing my sister. He assigned staffer Peggy Kassess to help. She admitted that this was a very big scandal once we left the office and appeared genuinely eager to help at the time. Her enthusiasm waned, however. When I contacted her two weeks later, she emailed that if I believed that I was still subject to electronic surveillance to check with the local authorities.

For over the past two years, both my sister and I have tried to get the state and local authorities to safely resolve this without any success. I had hoped that my meeting with the governor would supply the solution. The state and local authorities are equally culpable and covering up for each other. I have no reason whatsoever to trust either the local or state authorities.

My sister left messages with her lawyer to contact the locals on her behalf, but he never got back to her on that. She originally hired him to secure Kamau’s report and when Kamau’s lawyer refused to turn it over, she followed his advice and hired Toth to do a sweep and supply a report and copied his web pages as he instructed. She told him that Toth identified Audio Intelligence Devices (AIDs) as the supplier of the bugs and later that the third expert, Ross, told her to have her lawyer sue Toth and that he would arrange to get her on Liddy’s show. Since Florida P.I.s only have to hold their reports for two years, she contacted her lawyer and told him to get it. He replied that he doubted that there ever was a report in the first place or if there is one that it is no good. He denied knowing that AIDs was even a company and questioned why Ross would tell her to sue Toth. He said that he would only sue Kamau and not anyone else. I have suspicions that high state officials tampered with and possibly threatened him. In my opinion, he abandoned her some time ago.

On the morning of April 25, 2003, about one week after contacting US Senator Bill Nelson for help, I coincidentally ran into a neighbor at the front gate as I was leaving. He said that there was a surveillance device on the pole up front. I know that there is one, including video, on the pole in the back. He said that the state cut a deal with my drug-dealing neighbors. I suspect that the state dropped its charges in exchange for their silence on the illegal electronic surveillance and the January 17, 2001 helicopter incident. I also noticed that the state returned Freddie and Lisa Padgett’s Blazer. I had not seen it since the state seized it when they arrested her and found drugs, photos, and an ammo box with $17k in it. I figured the state returned it as a part of their deal. He also said out of the blue that he never saw me climb over the two fences, which separate the properties, to talk to them. The last time that I stepped foot on their property was when I told Janice (Padgett) Connor to move the junk they tried to bury on my sister’s property.

By letter, dated February 2, 2004, I wrote the FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program’s Professional Compliance Section and charged them with the above violations. By letter, dated February 20, 2004, Professionalism Program Director Rod Caswell acknowledged my verifiable complaint and in his reply wrote:

The text of your letter does not articulate any violations that the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission would have jurisdiction over. We suggest that you speak with the Holmes County Sheriff regarding this complaint.

Director Caswell is covering up. My complaint does indeed contain violations that the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission would have jurisdiction over. The Director’s suggestion that I speak to the HC Sheriff is ludicrous. Both my sister and myself tried to speak to and get the HC Sheriff as well as the FDLE to come here for quite some time. The fact that this is now being proposed raises some disturbing and troubling questions. Under the circumstances, no reasonably minded person would “talk” with the HC Sheriff nor would any rational person expect someone to do so.

By letter, dated Feb. 3, 2004, I wrote Braulio L. Baez, Chairman of the FL Public Service Commission, and notified him of the illegal electronic surveillance and asked for the FL FL Public Service Commission, and notified him of the illegal electronic surveillance and asked for the FL PSC’s help. Beverlee S. DeMello, Director Division Consumer Affairs replied on behalf of the Chairman and Commissioners. In her letter, dated Feb. 13, 2004, Director DeMello wrote:

…Electric cooperatives do not fall under the authority of the PSC, except for the limited areas of rate structure and safety.

Federal law prohibits interceptions of telephone communications unless the person intercepting the call has received prior consent from one of the parties. Under Florida Statutes, both parties to the communication must agree to the interception. Violation of either Federal law or Florida statues may result in fine, imprisonment, or both. The Florida Public Service Commission has no authority to enforce criminal law.

The matter you have outlined does not come under the jurisdiction of the PSC. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your correspondence to the Governor’s Office of Citizen Services for review.

I still haven’t received any response from the Governor’s Office of Citizen Services for review. How is it that the Director of the FL PSC’s Division Consumer Affairs can recognize criminal violations while high ranking law enforcement officers can’t? Again, I’m requesting that your office officially and independently investigate my charges documented above as those charged with that legal responsibility refuse to do so. And, finally, if your office refuses to investigate my charges, I’d like to know the reason why.


Sincerely,


Joe Keegan