http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/04/11/news/top_stories/1topstory4.11.txt
http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/04/11/opinion/1opinion4.11.txt
On the front page, they reveal what we've covered days ago - that Capt. Wesley Walker is on paid administrative leave (paid vacation) to the tune of $51,000 annualy, plus benefits. Say, is he still driving a county car? Oh, but the front page is just the set-up for the editorial on page 4A. It is revealed that while Walker is on "administrative leave" there IS NO INTERNAL INVESTIGATION OF WALKER GOING ON! They go on to ask, and I quote, "Sheriff, why have you not altready fired Capt. Walker? How can you justify keeping him employed." They then go on to allude to the very reason that we all suspect Smith is scared to death to move on Walker. This week's cartoon even attacks the crooks, not one of their competing messengers. You might want to check later to see if they've updated their site at: http://www.tribune-georgian.com/ Good job, T&G. Welcome back! And speaking of Gordon Jackson....... Here is Gordon's dispatch to the GTU on the matter, not yet two hours old: Anonymous said... Here's the latest from the GTU....Just In--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Camden Sheriff’s Office captain on paid leave after Cisco testimonyPosted: Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 9:43 amBy GORDON JACKSONThe Times-UnionKINGSLAND — A Camden County Sheriff’s deputy who testified last week about three Camden County service stations shut down for shorting customers on fuel purchases has been placed on paid administrative leave.Testifying under immunity in hearing on a civil racketeering suit, Capt. Wesley Walker said he was told about payoffs as high as $20,000 to a state inspector to give advance notice of surprise inspections of gas pumps. Walker testified he never told anyone until he was questioned by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation the following week.Walker also testified he checked the pumps for fingerprints after inspectors with the Georgia Department of Agriculture on Feb. 12 shut down the Cisco Travel Plazas at Exit 1 and Exit 6 off Interstate 95 and the Cisco Express service station, also at Exit 6.Investigators said customers were shorted about one quart of fuel for every five gallons pump gauges indicated was dispensed. During testimony in last week’s trial, attorneys representing customers who were overcharged for fuel purchases estimated as many as one million customers may have been affected.Sheriff’s officials did not return calls to say how long Walker will remain on leave or why he was placed on leave.Walker is the son-in-law of Fairley Cisco, the original owner of the businesses. Cisco was called to testify in last week’s hearing but cited rights against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions. His and the assets of others in his family remain frozen. BOB-BOB Thanks to friend "Bob-Bob," whom I do indeed know personally, for alerting me to this. The original is posted under "How You Can Help Clean Up Camden,' (or somehting close to that.)
Added at 6:36 P.M.
Here's the link to the above Gordon Jackson piece.
It's worth a click to read the citizens' comments which follow the article. Some are from Camden, including our own "Huddle House Reporter."
9 comments:
Here's another story Jay. This one is on the TV news.
Camden Sheriff's Lieutenant Suspended Over Testimony
POSTED: 1:07 pm EDT April 11, 2008
KINGSLAND, Ga. -- Camden County Sheriff's Office Capt. Wesley Walker was placed on administrative leave with pay following his testimony in the civil racketeering case against the owners of the Cisco Travel Plazas.
Walker testified that he had a conversation with Robert Clark, one of the co-defendants, about the bribery of a Department of Agriculture inspector.
Walker testified on March 31 that he did not report the conversation until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began an inquiry into alleged shorting of fuel during gasoline purchases at Cisco's two gas stations at Interstate 95 exits in Camden County.
Walker is married to the daughter of the owner of the Cisco Travel Plazas, Tammy Cisco Walker, who is also a co-defendant in the case.
Walker is in charge of administrative services for the sheriff's office.
The civil complaint filed in early March by Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen Kelly in accuses 12 people affiliated with Cisco Travel Plaza of conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, including fraud and theft.
In addition to complaints that the Cisco pumps were "intentionally altered" to short customers on fuel purchases, the court filing also says customers who paid for premium-grade gasoline were actually dispensed lower-octane fuel.
Chief Superior Court Judge James Tuten ordered the assets of the 12 defendants frozen pending the outcome of the case.
Kelly said the GBI investigation into Cisco's practice is continuing and criminal charges could be filed.
The Georgia Agriculture Commissioner ordered the pumps at the two Cisco truck stops locked in February after state inspections indicated that customers were shorted one quart of fuel for every 5 gallons of fuel pumped.
The businesses were allowed to resume gasoline sales two weeks later after Cisco agreed to pay $250,000 of a potential $500,000 fine.
BOB-BOB
To Alan Nesmith and Jill Hilton -
GREAT JOB !!
I'll second that.
I'll third that......
Way to go Tribune & Georgian
Did Fred Sutton actually participate as the Foreman in the Smith case? Did the Grand Jury really commend the Sheriff on saving taxpayers money with the trusty program? Whats really happening in the judicial process in Camden County?
Maybe that's what Sandy is talking about in his blog today - the Camden grand jury.
I know damned well that the federal grand jury did no such thing.
In fact, I'm hearing from my sources that the federal gand jury is looking at indicting Smith on 17
separate charges.
I'ver heard that name Fred Sutton before. Did someone say he was a big time, longtime Thuggie?
Someone fill us in and refresh my memory, please.
The information on Fred Suttons relationship to BTW was once posted on Ricks Blog. Rick even asked the DA if Sutton would be allowed to serve in this capacity and if my memory serves me correctly the DA told Rick, Sutton would not act as Foreman in the Smith case. Seems like when all of that was being reported it was also reported that Gina Evanson (person who used county credit card at Wal-Mart) also serves on the Grand Jury now.
Rick can enlighten you more. Thats all I remember about the situation.
Fred is the son of Jack Sutton. Jack served on the county commission with BTW and is a long time supporter. Fred is a former deputy and his wife is a current deputy. Another member of this grand jury was Mrs. Coffel the mother of one of the crew of the USS Willie.
Reading the grand jury presentments, the section on BTW and the trustys looks like it was adopted exactly as Terrell wrote it.
Oops!
Thank you. I almost missed that. I just fished my T&G out of thje trash. Without your comment, I would have completely missed the gran jury presentments on page 10A.
Yep, you're right. It reads just like a Simper Fido press release. You know damned well it was written for the grnad jury by Smith & Co. I wonder which one of the grand jurors actually carried it in?
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