Dear Governor Crist;
I am respectfully requesting that your office investigate criminal misconduct, including illegal interception of wire, oral, and electronic communications by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. In addition, I am charging FDLE Executive Investigations Chief Inspector Richard E. Lober, Inspector Ken Wilmer, former Director of Executive Investigations Jamie McLaughlin, 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, F. A. C.. They 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 official misconduct, falsifying official records, ob-struction of justice, and conspiracy to deny me my civil rights. This pattern of criminal misconduct, which continues to this day, violates the most basic principles of the US and Florida Constitutions, including simply “to be let alone,” and demonstrates the abuse of power by arrogant and seemingly unaccountable Florida law enforcement officers. Both these Florida law enforcement agencies have proven that they are incapable of policing them-selves. Both have an inherent conflict of interest and both not only refuse to investigate my criminal charges but also are in fact covering up their criminal activity.
County and state law enforcement illegally arranged for the bugs’ installation on the utility poles servicing the house and grounds. Officers also arranged for the illegal installation of a remotely activated transponder in one of the vehicles and supplied my 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 listening devices on or connected to any of their lines, poles, transformers, or equipment servicing my residence. By letter, dated January 5, 2001, Mr. Rimes advised me that he took my charges seriously and forwarded my letter to HC Sheriff Dennis Lee for action. Unfortunately, Florida law enforcement immediately proceeded to “circle their wagons.” I’ve provided a chronology of this illegal misconduct and cover-up under TSCM EXPERTS AND DATES beginning on page 9 of this Petition.
Since the Florida state law enforcement agencies involved refused to investigate, I sent a copy of a VHS tape, which TSCM experts said was indicative of electronic surveillance, and my charges to US Representative Jeff Miller, who found the VHS tape to be compelling evidence of my charges. In his November 14, 2005 letter, US Rep Jeff Miller wrote:
“…Although this appears to be a federal issue, I believe that it is state related. You may contact your State Representative, Donald Brown…..I am confident he will able to help you.”
I contacted State Representative Brown, but I never received any reply until late in the afternoon of November 30, 2005. Earlier that morning retired FDLE Agent Betty Romminger visited our local library to research some articles regarding a bungled FDLE drug bust. This drug bust and subsequent arrests are in part responsible for the FDLE’s refusal to investigate my charges. The judge declared a mistrial in that case because the SA and FDLE withheld evidence and testimony. I suspect that this withheld evidence and testimony would prove my charges.
The retired FDLE Agent visited the library in the morning and later that afternoon I received an email from State Representative Brown’s assistant, Brad Drake, who wrote:
“ If you feel harmed by an agency, send a copy of evidence to the Inspector General’s of that agency and Governor’s officer.”
This sudden and unexpected solution to an on-going problem caught me off guard and I mistook it for another example of “passing the buck.” The evidence that Mr. Drake re-ferred to is the VHS videotape. I contacted the respective I.G.s. On June 20, 2006, I emailed IG Harper and courtesy-copied IG Al Dennis offering to meet with them together or separately. Before I mailed copies of the VHS videotape, however, I asked them how to present evidence of the Florida LEO remote tracking device installed in my sister’s Dodge mini-van without destroying its evidentiary value. Repeated activation ruined the vehicle’s electrical system leaving the mini-van inoperable. Since I could not “bring” it to them, I wanted to know how best to present this evidence. I told them that I had not attempted to locate the device because I did not want to destroy any evidentiary value. IG Dennis replied that he forwarded my inquiry regarding the tracking device in the mini-van to FDLE Executive Investigations for review. He indicated that Inspector Keith Wilmer would handle it. Various other FDLE officials had referred me to Mr. Wilmer previously, so even though I had never contacted him before I was familiar with the name. I replied to IG Dennis’ email that I had no confidence in FDLE Executive Investigations. Moreover, former FDLE EI Director Jamie McLaughlin officially sanctioned the initial cover-up by his repeated refusals to investigate my verifiable complaints, which by law he was required to do. He also refused to investigate a family member’s verifiable complaint.
Then Assistant Director Lober summarily dismissed former AG Butterworth ‘s referral of these same charges (see Related item #69, FDLE Case # EI-73-4557) by stating "review-ed said correspondence" and determined that it "lacked substance." Assistant Director Lo-ber lied to cover-up for his boss. He was later selected as the new Chief Inspector after Director McLaughlin resigned. I mailed a certified letter to you as Florida State Attorney General on April 21, 2004 charging Director McLaughlin, among others, with official misconduct. Coincidentally, FDLE Executive Investigations began an investigation on Director McLaughlin on April 22, 2004 based on an anonymous tip. Director McLaughlin resigned suddenly and unexpectedly on April 23, 2004 coincidentally the same day USPS confirmed delivery of my letter to your office. Executive Investigation’s investigative report revealed that the dates covered by their investigation were from Oct. 1999 to April 22, 2004. However, General Counsel Ramage and Assistant Director Richard Lober advised the investigators, Special Agent Pritt and Chief Metz, on April 22, 2004 of the receipt of the anonymous allegation of potential sexual harassment. After their briefing (remember this was on April 22, the day after I mailed my letter to you), Pritt and Metaz conducted a preliminary fact-finding inquiry into an ongoing course of conduct “that could be considered a type of Sexual Harassment.” They used Oct. 1999 as the start date of their investigation purportedly because that’s when the Director and another EI employee began their consensual affair and April 22, 2004 as the end date. So FDLE began their investigation the same day Lober receives an anonymous allegation and Director McLaughlin resigns the next day, which is the day the USPS verified that the OAG received my complaint. No rational person would find that coincidental. Any reasonable and rationally minded person could easily conclude that this “anonymous tip” served as a cover story for Director McLaughlin’s role in sanctioning and covering the official mis-conduct that I describe in my April 21, 2004 letter to you.
I advised IG Dennis that I had sent this VHS videotape evidence along with my charges to SA Meadows who still had not acknowledged either. I suggested that either he or Inspector Wilmer obtain a copy of the VHS tape from SA Meadows. I reiterated that I had no confidence in FDLE Executive Investigations. I also asked both IG Dennis and Inspector Wilmer a simple question: What would you do if I did present evidence of my charges? I never received an answer from either one. Recently, I asked Chief Assistant SA Lewis a simple question: Did you view it (the VHS videotape)? By refusing to an-swer a basic question, Mr. Lewis answered it by writing that he doesn’t have to answer my questions. I also suggested that Chief ASA Lewis show the VHS videotape to Mr. Guy Tunnel , who could easily answer all his questions. I have yet to receive a reply from any of these public officials regarding this evidence.
By letter, dated June 26, 2006, I notified Governor Bush that I had contacted both IG Harper and FDLE IG Dennis per my State Representative’s suggestion and shared my concerns with the Governor regarding FDLE Executive Investigations’ sincerity in in-vestigating my charges. Ms. Kim Likens from the Governor's OIG phoned and left a message Monday (July 3, 2006) morning to call her. I returned her call around 1:00 p.m. Central. A Mr. Fred Wollet answered. Ms. Likens was not available. Mr. 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 IG Al Dennis earlier in the day. Ms. Likens said that this matter belongs with the FDLE. Later that same afternoon (July 3, 2006), FDLE OIG Inspector Keith Wilmer called me. Inspector Wilmer said that his call was in response to an earlier email to IG Dennis and that he did not know anything other than that or about my letter to Gov. Bush. Director of Investigations Case’s early morning referral to the FDLE IG apparently prompted Inspector Wilmer’s call later that afternoon.
Inspector Wilmer said that he received an email from IG Dennis regarding a remote transponder (tracking device) in a Dodge mini-van. Mr. Wilmer said that he was an FDLE Criminal Investigator and said that he was not recording our conversation. He said that he was replying to an email to FDLE IG Dennis regarding a Dodge mini-van and denied that he saw any other correspondence regarding this matter and his call just in-volved the mini-van. However, Inspector Wilmer went on to quote my earlier corres-pondence that Gov. Bush had forwarded to FDLE Executive Investigations verbatim, stressing my phraseology. Inspector Wilmer then asked me who the mini-van belonged to, why would law enforcement put a remote transponder in it, and who verified that there was a tracking device in it? Inspector Wilmer also asked me if I had searched for the tracking device in the mini-van. I told him that I had not searched for the tracking device. Inspector Wilmer advised that I would have to have some certified mechanic inspect the mini-van and remove the tracking device.
Criminal Investigator Wilmer’s questions and suggestions were disingenuous at best and revealed a complete lack of good faith on his part. First, he attempted to limit his inquiry to my sister’s mini-van ignoring the issue of the “bugs” on the utility poles. Moreover, these “bugs” and tracking device have serial numbers, are inventoried, and required war-rants. Inspector Wilmer simply just had to check inventory listing to see what was still out or just ask Chief Lober. Moreover, a state certified mechanic is not qualified to con-duct a TSCM vehicle search and, assuming that he did not damage or lose the tracking device, would be threatened with loss of his license if he should testify. When FDLE Criminal Investigator Wilmer’s questioning became increasing silly, I asked him directly: Are there FL law enforcement bugs on the utility poles? Inspector Wilmer said that he did not know and to contact the power supplier and ask them to do a search for "illegal attachments," quoting verbatim from my earlier correspondence forwarded by Gov. Bush to Executive Investigations. Inspector Wilmer told me that he was being direct with me and then suggested that I let the electric utility company come in and remove the “bugs” as they had done at least one time before without supplying a “report of their findings.”
Criminal Investigator Wilmer continued that I would have to pay for the experts to verify the presence of "attachments" and to supply their "reports of findings" to him, which again were among other terms that he quoted verbatim from my previous Petitions, which Gov. Bush forwarded to FDLE EI. In his reply, dated April 26, 2001, to my April 12, 2001 Petition then 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.
FDLE EI Director McLaughlin dismissed all later referrals and complaints, including one from a family member, with his stock pretext:
There does not appear to be a criminal predicate which would warrant investigation by the Office of Executive Investigations.
In order to specious, a reason had to at least sound good. Director McLaughlin’s pretext did not even meet the specious threshold. At any rate, I filed a verifiable complaint, which by law the FDLE was required to investigate. In addition, a family member also filed a complaint, which Director McLaughlin also refused to investigate.
Inspector Wilmer then asked me what experts verified the bugs on the utility pole and why they did not supply reports, which again I explained in my earlier correspondence Gov. Bush forwarded to Executive. Inspector Wilmer wanted dates and experts’ names (I provided both below in this Petition). I told the Inspector that the first incident was to the best of my recollection around early 2001 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 coincidentally arrived home as the bust was going down and ran off with the 3.5 lbs. of meth, which is still “missing.” The DEA refused to get involved in this case although during testimony one FDLE agent compared my neighbors to Noriega. FDLE Criminal Inspector Wilmer became increas-ingly agitated, did not allow me to finish, and repeatedly interrupted saying that this has nothing to do with his investigation. I told him that it had everything to do with it. I told Mr. Wilmer that the FDLE threatened the experts or else they had conflicts of interest. Wilmer cut me off before I could discuss any conflicts of interests, although I said that one Florida licensed PI said that he would lose his license if he supplied his report. Wilmer said that is not possible. Inspector Wilmer's call did not last more than 25 minutes. In my follow-up emails to Inspector Wilmer and IG Dennis, dated July 4, 2006, I asked them directly what he would do if I supplied evidence of illegal electronic surveillance by FL law enforcement. Neither one replied.
On Wednesday, August 2, 2006, the FDLE replied to my August 1, 2006 email inquiry as to whether or not Commissioner Bailey is the “interim” or permanent commissioner. The FDLE answered:
Dear Mr. Keegan,
At this time, Commissioner Bailey remains "interim." A permanent commissioner has not yet been determined.
Sincerely,
FDLE Public Information Office
On August 2, 2006, I received a letter, dated July 24, 2006 (postmarked Aug. 1, 2006) from Chief Inspector Lober. What follows is the text from that 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 that 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
Chief Inspector Lober signed on behalf of Commissioner Bailey. Presumably, Chief Inspector Lober is referring to Inspector Wilmer’s so-called Report of Investigation (ROI), coincidentally dated July 24, 2006, which I suspect that my email inquiry regard-ing Commissioner Bailey’s status prompted as a CYA maneuver. I suspect that if it had not been for my inquiry, no report with appropriate backdated documents would have been generated. Inspector Wilmer’s "case file" contained a MEMORANDUM, dated July 24, 2006, and initialed by Inspector Wilmer regarding: "Email complaint by Joe Keegan." First, it was not a complaint. It was an inquiry regarding presentation of evi-dence. Former FDLE IE Director McLaughlin never managed to find any criminal pre-dicate to investigate nor did Assistant Director Lober, yet now Chief Inspector Lober and Inspector Wilmer regarded an email inquiry as a complaint criminally predicated enough to “investigate.” No rational person would believe either one.
In his ROI, Inspector Wilmer wrote that he was assigned a complaint forwarded by the FDLE OIG. Wilmer wrote the he reviewed eight AIMS Investigative Reports concerning similar complaints (Petitions forwarded by the Governor). Inspector Wilmer briefly re-capped our July 3, 2006 later afternoon phone conversation (remember, Dawn Case, Di-rector of Investigations, Office of the Chief Inspector General, notified me earlier that day that she was forwarding my letter to the Governor to FDLE IG Dennis). Inspector Wilmer incorrectly wrote that I said that the FDLE threatened all three TSCM expert with the loss of their Florida PI license. I said that Florida law enforcement officers only threatened one with loss of license. Inspector Wilmer referred to my inquiry as a "com-plaint" regarding only an illegal tracking device. Inspector Wilmer also wrote that he in-spected my July 4, 2006 email, which recapped our July 3, 2006 conversation. Inspector Wilmer wrote that the recap was from "Mr. Keegan's perspective." He concluded: "...Mr. Keegan's allegations are without basis in fact." Apparently both he and Chief Inspector Lober found criminal predicate enough in an email inquiry to “investigate” whereas for-mer FDLE EI Director McLaughlin could not find any in multiple detailed complaints forwarded by the Governor. Furthermore, West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) CEO and VP Bill Rimes earlier found enough basis in fact to forward my charges of illegal attachments on his company’s transformers to the Sheriff, which I will explain in greater detail later. Finally, neither Inspector Wilmer nor Chief Inspector Lober has replied to the following questions that I asked 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?"
Again, they answered my questions by not answering them and demonstrated a willing-ness to continue the cover-up, which shows the necessity to remove the FDLE from any investigation of my charges due to an inherent conflict of interest.
On September 5, 2006, I received an email from the FL OAG replying to my inquiry if I should file a Public Records Request with the OAG or the SAO for records in possession of the SAO. I sent an earlier Public Records Request to SA Steve Meadows’ office for a copy of everything in his files regarding this matter, but I never received any reply. The OAG in their reply wrote:
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.
So, I had properly forward my Public Records Request to the 14th Judicial District SAO, which SA Meadows ignored. However, following my September 5, 2006 email to the OAG, I received my first response from SA Meadows’ office to my Public Records Request on September 8, 2006:
Mr. Keegan,
This is in response to your public records request. Mr. Lewis, Chief Assistant State Attorney, asked me to respond to you. Unfortunately, I haven’t received a public records request from you. If you would, please let me know what it is that you are in need of and I will ensure your request gets filled. I apologize again for any miscommunication. If you need to contact me by phone, my number is 850-872-4473 ext. 433. Thank you.
Sincerely, Erica Field
I suspect that my inquiry to the OAG prompted this belated reply.
I later received a letter, dated October 2, 2006, from Chief Assistant State Attorney Lewis in which he questioned my credibility and refused to answer my reasonable questions, but nonetheless encouraged me to continue to write to him. So, I wrote him that I sent a copy of the same VHS tape to US Rep. Jeff Miller, who found it compelling enough to suggest that I contact FL Rep. Don Brown. I did not hear from my State Representative, until a retired FDLE Special Agent researched some news articles at our local library one morn-ing regarding the FDLE bungled drug bust and trial mentioned above and created quite a stir. 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 wrote Mr. Lewis that I contacted both IG's and that 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 from my earlier correspondence verbatim while simultan-eously denying that he knew anything about this matter, it became clear that FDLE In-spector Wilmer was not acting in good faith.
I concluded by asking ASA Lewis: Did you view the videotape that I sent to SA Mea-dows while you were copying it in order to comply with my Public Records Request? He replied that he does not have to answer my questions.
I received a glassine faced envelope letter, dated 12-6-06 and postmarked 12-07-06, 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
The VHS videotape convinced US Representative Jeff Miller among others. Furthermore, the FDLE improperly obtained copies of other tapes, but not all of them, which prove my charges. I asked ASA Lewis if he discussed my charges with Mr. Tunnel in his office. Again, by not answering my question, he answered it. At the very least that tape is com-pelling enough that ASA Lewis would check FDLE inventory and discuss my charges with Mr. Guy Tunnel if he genuinely intended to resolve this, instead of continuing the officially sanctioned cover-up. Furthermore, in response to my December 16, 2006 Public Records Request seeking all records, email, and documents related to his “inquiries,” ASA Lewis only supplied: a copy of my PRR, my September 26, 2005 letter to SA Meadows; November 21, 2006 letter to ASA Lewis; and emails from SAO employee, Erica Field, regarding my PRR. One obvious omission from his “inquiries” file is the enclosed email, dated Fri, Dec 3, 2004, from “COWGIRLSKICKAZZ” which was Lisa Padgett’s screen name. I personally observed some of this harassment against her and her surrounding family, including her brother-in-law, who recently was sentenced to life plus a mandatory 25 years. Like FDLE Inspector Wilmer, ASA Lewis does not want to touch the FDLE “deal” with my neighbors.
TSCM EXPERTS AND DATES
Inspector Wilmer asked me what experts verified the bugs on the utility pole and why they did not supply reports. Inspector Wilmer knew the answers to his questions. In the event, however, that the FDLE destroyed my Petitions that Governor Bush forwarded to them and are not available to you, I have answered his question below.
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, trans-formers, or equipment servicing my residence. 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. In addition to a powerful searchlight, a large infrared device mounted under the helicopter assisted in their late night “search.” Earlier in the day, an FDLE Agent dis-guised as a FedEx driver delivered a 3.5 lb. package of meth to his wife, Lisa Padgett., Freddie Padgett arrived home as the sting was in progress, saw what was going on, grabbed the package that his wife signed for, and escaped. The FDLE returned later that evening on the pretext of apprehending him at his home. No rational person would be-lieve that someone who ran off with 3.5 lbs of drugs earlier that day would return home later that evening. I was the target that night and not my neighbor. The entire event was staged in an attempt to provoke a violent incident and remove their bugs in the aftermath. When I did not react as my “profilers” anticipated, the Sheriff, who was in the FDLE he-licopter 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.
According to my neighbor, Lisa Padgett (“COWGIRLSKICKAZZ”), some of the agents involved that day tested positive for drugs. However, despite losing 3.5 pounds of meth, some of the agents involved in the raid testing positive, and no official investigation regarding the missing 3.5 pounds of meth, all the FDLE agents present that evening at my residence were subsequently promoted.
The FDLE arrested my neighbor, Lisa Padgett, on drug and theft charges on January17, 2001 and later arrested Freddie Padgett on January 23, 2001 on the same charges. They subsequently arrested her on additional drug-related charges. A family member and I somehow became suspects in this “missing” drug drama. On the evening of January 29, 2001, my sister, Bridget Keegan, told me that two late model sedans followed her from nearby Carmel Church Road when she left for work that morning. She said that a third sedan was waiting on the side of the road as she turned onto Rte.160 and also followed her. I checked the next morning and observed the stakeout and “tail” that she told me about. I notified then US Rep Joe Scarbourough that morning that I don’t want some SWAT raid picking up where the helicopter left off. The FDLE stakeout and “tail” ended.
My sister hired Florida licensed Private Investigator, Diop Kamau to conduct a “sweep” of her home and property, locate the monitoring station, activate any deactivated bugs, and identify the origin of any devices discovered. On March 14, 2001, Kamau’s em-ployee, 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, which verified 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 Mr. Jones to let the clowns arrest me and I will sue for false arrest, but supply the report. Mr. Jones refused to supply the report. He later called my sister at work to discuss installing cameras to film anyone trying to remove the illegal surveillance devices. My sister told him no cameras and to supply the report. When she later demand-ed her report from Mr. 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 did.
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 sur-veillance. I requested that he arrange for his WFEC to check their equipment during the week of April 2nd and to supply a report of their findings.
On Tuesday morning, April 3, 2001, I observed two WFEC trucks parked at the front gate and one employee trying to pick the lock. I went over and asked the one who ap-peared to be in charge if he was here to remove the bugs. He mistook me for an Alabama utility worker and replied 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, which upset him. Short threatened to call the Sheriff if I didn’t let him in. 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 told the deputy that he is here to change the lights on “their property (WFEC 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 did not, but that ended the letter argument.
I learned later that Short had called my sister at her office in Panama City, told 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 approaching (me) and hung up. He didn’t tell De-puty Wells that he had called my sister. Wells asked for my name and DOB. I answered his questions because I was afraid that he’d arrest me if I did not. The deputy then asked Short if he wanted to enter the property. I suggested that Short reschedule the inspection. Deputy Wells asked if that’s okay and Short agreed. The deputy then called in on a cell phone- not his squad car radio- and asked for Aubrey Carroll. I asked Wells, “Is that Holmes County Investigator Aubrey Carroll?” He replied, “Yes sir, it is.”
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. Glenn (“Red”) Riley told us that the Sheriff’s Department was using my neighbors to supply statements to investigate us and would discard them when they were no longer useful. 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. Both the Sheriff’s Dept. and FDLE used these people when-ever they needed a statement to serve as a pretext for one of their on going and never ending investigations. However, numerous FL Public Record Requests never once produced any record of any investigation. Not too long ago, a judge sentenced one of these star “witnesses” to mandatory life plus 25 years.
Gov. Bush forwarded my April 12, 2001 petition to FDLE Executive Investigations for review. In his reply, dated April 26, 2001, former 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.
Following Director McLaughlin’s letter, my sister could no longer contact Kamau and Jones by phone or fax, as they appeared to have disconnected them. She 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. The Sheriff supposedly went on vacation and was also unavailable. A Tim Brown from the Sheriff’s Department left a message June 7, 2001 on my sister’s an-swering machine at work for her to deal with WFEC and not them. My sister canceled the inspection by WFEC since the other two parties were unavailable.
A few days 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. 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 could not 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 Public Record Requests, but he only provided 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.
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 his Department. 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 reply, 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 concoct that story for the rookie deputy. I also requested copies of the two earlier Deputy Incident Reports resulting from my neighbors calling “The Law” on me. I tape-recorded one of incidents with the deputies’ permission and photographed the other. Sheriff Lee did not supply the reports 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 identi-fied 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 a cover up. The tree limb falling knocked out power only to my residence whose lights could not be seen from the road. 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. 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.
WFEC showed as scheduled on July 27, 2001, but not Kamau or Jones. 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 the minivan, 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 In-vestigator's license the month before in June 2001. In my opinion, the timing raises some disturbing and troubling questions. Jones also said that he was working under Kamau’s license.
Lisa Padgett’s arrest, pending trial, and the missing drugs had been big news in the local papers from the time of her first arrest on January 17, 2001. However, interest intensified when the HOLMES COUNTY ADVERTISER February 20, 2002 headlines read: FDLE MADE NO FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO MISSING METHAM-PHETAMINES. Journalist Bill Pate asked in his article why the FDLE had not investi-gated their disappearance. People wanted to know then and still want to know now what happened to the missing drugs and why the FDLE refused to formally investigate.
I contacted Bill Pate on March 5, 2002 and answered his question. The FDLE didn’t formally investigate 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 official misconduct involving the FDLE, Sheriff’s Dept, and the Sheriff, and don’t want a fully developed record, which would have to address my charges. As a result of Pate’s investigation, they forced the Chief Deputy Carroll 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 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 (strikingly similar to McLaughlin’s sudden and unexpected resignation). 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. Later she confided that the FDLE offered her a “deal” if she’d implicate Sheriff Dennis Lee in their drug dealing, but she declined that offer. Shortly afterwards she stopped talking to me. I suspect on law enforcement’s orders. They subsequently offered her another deal, which she couldn’t refuse.
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. Following any “sweep,” the electronic surveillance expert provides the client with a signed written report of his find-ings. He either finds bugs or does not. In either case, he supplies the client with a report. 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. On her lawyer’s instructions, my sister then hired her second elec-tronic surveillance expert, Florida licensed PI Jim Toth, and she explained law enforce-ment’s role to him. 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. How-ever, 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 tested for video as agreed and said that he picked up some sig-nal and that there is a camera nearby, but he could not pick up a clear image. I observed him scramble the image on the screen on his OSCOR. 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 into it and that he does not intend to do that.
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 remotely activated transponder.
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 as illegally threatened that he would have to do menial labor. Before he left, he said that the bugs on the poles came from Audio Intelligence Devices. That company sold only to government and law enforcement at the time and has since been sold. AID’s training branch, the National Intelligence Academy, was spun off. Toth never supplied a signed written report of his findings.
My sister hired a third electronic surveillance expert, Jim Ross, who lived in Virginia at the time. 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 surveillance shows 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. Liddy and he are friends. Actually, friends doesn’t accurately describe the relationship: It’s was more like hero worship on Mr. Ross’ part. Mr. Ross didn’t disclose his obvious conflict of interest. He also said that she would have to move. My sister declined. They want us both to move because some locals were black-mailing law enforcement with their knowledge of what I’ve described here and the cops cut deals with others, which may explain why so many of Sheriff Department’s drug arrests were either thrown out or else failed to result in convictions. Ross also told my sister to have her lawyer sue Toth, who was the apparent fall guy. The problem was that her lawyer who instructed her to hire a new expert later refused to sue Toth. I have suspicions that FDLE officials threatened him.
I didn’t tell Ross that I knew that the G. Gordon Liddy was affiliated with AID’s training branch, the National Intelligence Academy. I suggested that I go on the “G-Man’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. Ross never supplied a signed written report.
Around 8:30 a.m. on August 15, 2002, 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 the April 3, 2001 incident- 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 boss, 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 said that I put the device on the pole myself.
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 signed report. A decided chill in the at-torney 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. He later wrote that there probably was never a report in the first place and if there were it wouldn’t be any good.
After I wrote former AG Butterworth and FDLE Commissioner Moore requesting an investigation, 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. I suspect that law enforcement “squeezed” my former neighbor, Foyd Padgett who was recently sentenced to life plus 25 years, or one of his other family members for a statement to serve as a pretext to “investigate” my sister. I have filed multiple staggered Public Records Requests for any FDLE investigations pertaining to me and my sister has filed at least one. All FDLE responses indicated that there are no records on any investigations. However, although the FDLE went to her employer, why did no one question her? The FDLE certainly had no trouble slandering her by innuendo. The cops even brought a drug sniffing dog on base to check her vehicle, which was intended to be noticed. The FDLE even attempted to interfere with her Florida PE license. There is not one area of our lives in which Florida law enforcement has not either intruded or attempted to intrude.
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. As stated above, I believe that this withheld evidence- if it still exists- would prove my charges. That was about the last coverage of the case other than to report the mistrial.
In reply to my August 21, 2002 letter charging FDLE involvement with electronic surveillance, Director McLaughlin 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.
Former Director McLaughlin sanctioned the cover up.
On Oct. 28th my sister received a letter from Director McLaughlin in response to her petition 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. 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 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. 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.
By letter, dated February 2, 2004, I wrote the FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program’s Professional Compliance Section and charged Director of Executive Inves-tigations Jamie McLaughlin, Holmes County Sheriff Dennis Lee, Holmes County Deputy Christopher Wells, and former Holmes County Chief Deputy Aubrey Carroll 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 was covering up. I suspect that he was just following McLaughlin’s example and his “suggestion” was nothing more than an attempt to deflect and redirect attention away from FDLE’s involvement, especially with the deal FDLE cut with neighbors in exchange for their silence. It’s a typical reaction whenever an agency has such a blatant conflict of interest, but it’s the wrong thing to do. Director Caswell had the opportunity to do the right thing, but he didn’t. My complaint contained violations that the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission would have jurisdiction over, and certainly Executive Investigations. Director Caswell’s suggestion that I speak to Sheriff Lee is ludicrous. Both my sister and myself tried to speak to and get the Sheriff as well as the FDLE to come here for quite some time. The fact that this is now being pro-posed raises some disturbing and troubling questions. Under the circumstances, no rea-sonably minded person would talk with Sheriff Lee nor would any rational person expect someone to do so considering the following: 1. The Jan. 17, 2001 helicopter incident was a thinly disguised pretext to provoke a deadly confrontation, 2. The FDLE offered my neighbor, Lisa Padget, a deal if she’d implicate the Sheriff in her drug dealing, 3. When she didn’t accept the first deal, the FDLE offered her another one, which involved her knowledge of our illegal electronic surveillance and the Jan. 17, 2001 late night heli-copter incident, and she accepted it, 4. The 3.5 pounds of meth that the FDLE lost during my neighbor’s bust are still “missing” and the FDLE never officially investigated its dis-appearance, and, 5. Finally, let’s not forget that they arranged for the WFEC to install il-legal surveillance devices and then protected by the Sheriff and FDLE they removed the bugs and reinstalled next generation devices. There are other considerations as well, but that’s enough for the average person to question the motive behind Director Caswell’s suggestion and former Director Jamie McLaughlin’s refusal to investigate my criminal charges.
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.
How is it that the Director of the FL PSC’s Division Consumer Affairs can recognize criminal violations while FDLE officials can’t? Perhaps Director Caswell should spend some time at PSC to receive the necessary training in common sense? Or, perhaps, the FDLE gets to pick and choose the criminal violations of certified law enforcement officers that it investigates?
Conclusion: While Florida Attorney General, you wrote in your Feb. 18, 2005 newsletter:
In the right hands, modern technology can be a wonderful tool. But in the wrong hands, it can become weapon unleashed by aggressors against the most vulnerable among us.
The average citizen is vulnerable and seeming impotent against the formidable power and resources of an aggressor and there is no more powerful aggressor than the state. You continued:
Not only will the program educate victims, but it will also educate
those who can protect and aid those victims - such as law enforcement
officers, victim advocates and emergency care personnel.
and
Now law enforcement officers will receive training on how to identify
and hold perpetrators accountable for misusing technology to terrorize
victims.
What if Florida law enforcement officers are misusing technology to terrorize and torture and their victims are Florida citizens? Do the same laws that they enforce others apply to them?
I’m requesting that your office investigate my criminal charges above, which abound with criminal predicates, because those public officials charged with the legal responsibility refuse to do so because of an inherent conflict of interest. I’d appreciate your help in resolving this criminal misconduct and abuse of authority. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
May 11, 2007
Government spying on its citizens isn't limited just to NSA spying on oversea phone calls of suspected terrorists. The Patriot Act considerably expanded the definition of "terrorist" to include suspected everyday crimes not related to terrorism. Despite the hype, there are no checks and balances.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Office of Citizen Services
I pasted an email in below that I sent to the public servant that replied on behalf of Governor Charlie Crist. I still haven't received a reply to my email and I suspect that I won't.
Joe Keegan
hide details May 13
to warren.davis@myflorida.com
date May 13, 2007 8:48 AM
subject May 9, 2007 letter
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Mr. Davis,
Thank you for your May 9, 2007 letter. I appreciate Governor Crist's concern and interest. When you spoke with the Governor, what did he say about the VHS videotape that I sent to him? Did you view the VHS tape? If so, what were your impressions? Finally, are you a lawyer? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Joe Keegan
hide details May 13
to warren.davis@myflorida.com
date May 13, 2007 8:48 AM
subject May 9, 2007 letter
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Mr. Davis,
Thank you for your May 9, 2007 letter. I appreciate Governor Crist's concern and interest. When you spoke with the Governor, what did he say about the VHS videotape that I sent to him? Did you view the VHS tape? If so, what were your impressions? Finally, are you a lawyer? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
5-11-07 Petition to Gov. Crist
The USPS verified receipt (# EB 401574338 US) of my 5-11-07 Petition to Gov. Crist yesterday requesting an investigation of my charges of official misconduct, including illegal electronic surveillance. This Petition is similar to my first one to Governor Crist, except I didn't request a special prosecutor to investigate my charges.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Office of the Governor Citizen Services
The body of the text from the letter, dated May 9, 2007, that I
received from the Governor's office in response to my Petition appears
below:
Dear Mr. Keegan
Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor. Governor Crist appreciates your concerns and asked me to respond on his behalf.
Florida law gives the Governor the authority to assign outside prosecutors in the interest of justice. This authority is appropriate in unusual situations, typically when the state attorney informs the Governor there is a conflict of interest within the office, and he or she cannot be impartial. This authority, however, is not designed to allow the Governor to review or second-guess the actions of the state attorney.
I understand your concerns have been reviewed by local law enforcement,your locally elected state attorney's office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of Inspector General and the Chief Inspector General's Office. I am sorry you are dissatisfied with their response.
The Florida Constitution limits the Governor's intervention in matters that should be resolved through the court system. The person who can best answer you legal questions is an attorney. If you need assistance in locating an attorney, please call the Florida Bar's Referral Services at 1-800-342-8011. For those unable to afford a lawyer, Florida Legal Services or you local legal aid office has information about theavailability of pro bono counsel. The main telephone number for Florida Legal Services is 850-385-7900.
Thank you again for writing. Governor Crist hopes you concerns can be resolved to your satisfaction.
Sincerely,
(signed) Warren Davis
Office of Citizen Services
received from the Governor's office in response to my Petition appears
below:
Dear Mr. Keegan
Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor. Governor Crist appreciates your concerns and asked me to respond on his behalf.
Florida law gives the Governor the authority to assign outside prosecutors in the interest of justice. This authority is appropriate in unusual situations, typically when the state attorney informs the Governor there is a conflict of interest within the office, and he or she cannot be impartial. This authority, however, is not designed to allow the Governor to review or second-guess the actions of the state attorney.
I understand your concerns have been reviewed by local law enforcement,your locally elected state attorney's office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Office of Inspector General and the Chief Inspector General's Office. I am sorry you are dissatisfied with their response.
The Florida Constitution limits the Governor's intervention in matters that should be resolved through the court system. The person who can best answer you legal questions is an attorney. If you need assistance in locating an attorney, please call the Florida Bar's Referral Services at 1-800-342-8011. For those unable to afford a lawyer, Florida Legal Services or you local legal aid office has information about theavailability of pro bono counsel. The main telephone number for Florida Legal Services is 850-385-7900.
Thank you again for writing. Governor Crist hopes you concerns can be resolved to your satisfaction.
Sincerely,
(signed) Warren Davis
Office of Citizen Services
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Governor Charlie Crist
The USPS verified receipt of the letter below by Governor Crist's office on April 30, 2007.
CERTIFIED MAIL # 7005 1820 0005 0366 0357
April 27, 2007
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Re: Joe Keegan Petition
Dear Gov. Crist,
A retired FDLE agent asked me, “Why is this (illegal FL LEO surveillance and harassment) still going on? Good question. I’m respectfully asking you the same question, Why is this still going on? The USPS verified that your office received my Petition over one month ago. I’d appreciate a reply by May 11, 2007. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Bonifay, FL 32425
CERTIFIED MAIL # 7005 1820 0005 0366 0357
April 27, 2007
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Re: Joe Keegan Petition
Dear Gov. Crist,
A retired FDLE agent asked me, “Why is this (illegal FL LEO surveillance and harassment) still going on? Good question. I’m respectfully asking you the same question, Why is this still going on? The USPS verified that your office received my Petition over one month ago. I’d appreciate a reply by May 11, 2007. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Joe Keegan
Bonifay, FL 32425
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