Bieber Facing $15,191 Fine For Attempting To Smuggle Pet Monkey Into Germany

Justin Bieber and Mally

Photo: Instagram/lastkingmm

Bieber detained and pet capuchin monkey seized by German Customs at Munich's airport.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 30, 2013

Munich, Germany - Custom and health authorities confirmed that Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 19, was detained on Thursday for attempting to smuggle his pet capuchin monkey named Mally into Germany without exotic animal health authorization permits. Mally was placed on quarantine and care until Bieber could get the required health permits to regain custody of the pet. He has four weeks to recover Mally or the monkey will be placed at an animal care facility permanently.

Bieber is facing exotic pet smuggling charges and a fine of $15,191.00 U.S. (£10,000) in Germany. He smuggled the monkey in his private rental Cessna Citation X, according to German Customs. Bieber flew from Los Angeles to Germany and landed at Munich's Franz Josef Strauss Airport where authorities discovered the monkey in Bieber's possession.

He flew to Germany for his scheduled concert at the Olympiahalle on Thursday.

Body Of New Year's Day Missing Man Found In Milwaukee River

Nick Wilcox

Wilcox's body was removed from the downtown section of the Milwaukee River.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 29, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the body of Nick Wilcox, 24, who went missing on New Year's Day was recovered from the Milwaukee River. Wilcox's body was found floating in the 1000 block of N. Old World 3rd Street section of the river by police around 6:00 p.m., just several blocks near the downtown section of the river where he went missing, according to police.

A driver's license found with the body and dental records positively identified the body as Wilcox. The Milwaukee coroner ruled his death as accidental drowning.

Christians Celebrated Good Friday With 29th Annual Via Crucis In Milwaukee

José Manuel Hernández, portrayed Jesus Christ during this year's Via Crucis. 

Photos: HNG

Hundreds of Christians attended the 29th Annual Via Crucis in the south side of Milwaukee as passover began.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 29, 2013

Milwaukee - On Friday, the beginning of passover began for hundreds of Latinos and non-Latino Christians during Holy week that observed Good Friday with a Via Crucis, which is a re-enactment of the ritual that commemorates Jesus Christ suffering in the hours before his crucifixion. In Milwaukee, the Via Crucis began just after 1:00 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 2114 W. Mitchell St. and will end at St. Josaphat Basilica, 2333 S. 6th St. around 4:00 p.m. The event was sponsored by the Hispanic Ministry Office and Cultural Ministry of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Parishioners and volunteers during the Via Crucis take up roles and undergo a mock crucifixion. This year, José Manuel Hernández from Jalisco played the role of Jesus Christ. While other volunteers read bilingual segments of the crucifixion at each station stop. 

Archbishop Jerome Edward Listecki joined the Via Crucis at the IX Station at St. Hyacinth Church.
This month, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, of Buenos Aires, Argentina became Pope Francis the First after being elected as the 266 non-European Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis I became the first cardinal from South America to be selected as Pope in 20 centuries (nearly 1,300) and is seen as a reformer, an advocate for democracy and representing the poor. Catholics are also celebrating Pope Francis I as their new leader of the Catholic church.

The Stations, or Way of the Cross, are a traditional method of meditating upon Christ's Suffering and Death. In the Catholic church, you will find 14 images usually hanging on the wall. It is customary before each station to pray. The stations are, I. Jesus is condemned to death. II. Jesus takes up his Cross. III. Jesus falls the first time. IV. Jesus meets his sorrowful Mother. V. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross. VI. Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus. VII. Jesus falls a second time. VIII. Jesus meet the Women of Jerusalem. IX. Jesus falls the third time. X. Jesus is stripped of his garments. XI. Jesus is nailed to the Cross. XII. Jesus dies on the Cross. XIII. Jesus is taken down from the Cross. XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make in spirit, as it were, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death, and this has become one of the most popular of Catholic devotions. It is carried out by passing from Station to Station, with certain prayers at each and devout meditation on the various incidents in turn. It is very usual, when the devotion is performed publicly, to sing a stanza of the "Stabat Mater" while passing from one Station to the next.

On Sunday, is the observance of Easter by Western Christians. This years cost of the Via Crucis was estimated at more than $5,000, which included permits, and police escort throughout the south side route, according to the Hispanic Ministry Office.

José Manuel Hernández from Jalisco portrayed Jesus Christ during the 29th Annual Via Crucis/Live Stations of the Cross in Milwaukee, WI. Hundreds of people of all ages attended the annual procession event marking the beginning of Passover for Christians around the world. (Photo: HNG/HNNUSA)

2013 Via Crucis, A Milwaukee Live Stations Of The Cross

Jesus wants to know, if we are going to meet today at 1:00 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul for his annual 2013 Via Crucis/Live Stations of the Cross in Milwaukee, WI.
Archbishop Listecki will join us during the IX Station at St. Hyacinth.
Click on image flyer for more info., courtesy of Hispanic News Network U.S.A. Facebook at link: http://bit.ly/XKqQf4

Starts at: St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 2114 W. Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, then will finish at: St. Josaphat Basilica, 600 block of W. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee,  WI.

Event sponsored by the Archdiocese Intercultural Ministry and Hispanic Ministry

Lawsuit By 49 Plaintiffs Against MC Multiservicios Tax Service Dismissed

Multiple lawsuits dismissed, including 49 plaintiffs v. MC Multiservicios Tax Service.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 28, 2013

Milwaukee,  WI - Multiple civil lawsuits that were filed in Milwaukee County by various parties involving the owners of MC Multiservicios Tax Service and the MG Income Tax have been dismissed, according to court records. The legal battle ended when local Attorney Thomas M. Bartell, Jr. from the law firm of Stupar & Schuster, S.C. representing 49 plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit for money judgement (Luis Gomez v. Jenny Contreras) filed on January 29, against Jenny Contreras and Juan Contreras, owners of MC Multiservicios was dismissed on February 18.
The case fell apart for Attorney Bartell Jr. when Attorney Victor Arellano who represented the Contreras claimed that one of Bartell's plaintiffs, Juan Vasquez Diaz denied "having any attorney/client relationship with your (Stupar & Schuster, S.C.) firm...Mr. Vasquez denies making any such claims against MC Multiservicios." Arellano claimed that other plaintiffs against his client were dismayed "about the actions you have taken without proper authority;" therefore, Arellano asked for copies of all legal retainers that have been signed by the plaintiffs, which some retainers were not available and later forced Bartell to submit a dismissal request of the case that he filed for 49 plaintiffs against the Contreras and MC Multiservicios, according to court records.
In the case, the Contreras will receive an undisclosed amount of money by the law firm of Stuphar & Schuster, S.C. who represented 49 plaintiffs,  including Miguel Garza, owner of MG Income Tax Service. 

In this case, the plaintiffs had alleged that MC Multiservicios had not refunded a part of their 2009 federal tax refunds, but multiple irregularities in the lawsuit resulted in an erupt dismissal of the lawsuit by Bartell Jr. in favor of the Contreras and MC Multiservicios. Bartell Jr. has not responded to an e-mail request by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) to comment on the merits and his decision to dismiss the lawsuit against the Contreras. 

Another lawsuit for intentional tort (Jenny Contreras v. Miguel Garza) was filed by Attorney Victor Arellano on behalf of the Contreras on November 16, 2012 against Miguel Garza, owner of MG Income Tax Service, but was later dimissed on March 11. In that lawsuit, the Contreras claimed defamation allegations. The Contreras decided to dismiss their lawsuit under a settlement agreement. In that case, Bartell Jr. who represented Garza removed himself from the case, court records show. When contacted, Garza would not comment citing nondisclosure agreement with the Contreras. 

In the third lawsuit filed for intentional tort on February 27, by the Contreras (Jenny Contreras v. Miguel Garza) against Miguel Garza, Bartell Jr. and Stupar & Schuster, S.C., was also dimissed by the Contreras on March 14, after a settlement in favor for the Contreras was reached. 

Attorney Arellano released an undated statement signed by Garza concerning the Luis Gomez v. Jenny Contreras case. (See attached image, click on image to enlarge)

Community organizers, Luis Urdaneta from United We Stay; Felix Martinez from Centro de La Causa Org. in Chicago; Rosa Yañez from the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation in Chicago and Ivan Flores, who held public meetings to get plaintiffs for the Luis Alvarado Gomez v. Jenny Contreras case, which was dimissed could not be reached for comment.
In an unrelated case, Attorney Arellano was reprimanded on March 21 by the Wisconsin Supreme Court for lying and soliciting a client. He was fined $10,000 and must pay the fine within 60 days. Arellano's law license was not revoked, which the Office of Lawyers Regulation was seeking in the complaint.

The lawfirm of Arellano & Phebus, S.C. released the following undated statement by Miguel Garza from MG Multiservicios and Income Tax Service, regarding to Jenny Contreras and Juan Contreras from MC Multiservicios and Income Tax Service retracting any claims of misconduct against the Contreras" and their business "because the allegations were/are not true."

Click on image to enlarge. (Photo: HNG/HNNUSA)

More Than 55 People, Including Children Presumed Dead in Tamaulipas

The Gulf Cartel faction that took over the cities of Reynosa, Miguel Aleman and Camargo have allegedly cleansed their fueding counterparts as a result of their internal fighting to take control of the region.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 28, 2013

Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas,  Mexico - On Thursday, Valor por Tamaulipas (VpT),  a local Facebook social page whose administrator has been marked for death and a reward of $47,000 dollars has been offered for his head is reporting that at least 60 people, including entire families with children has been killed. The victims were rounded up (kidnapped) by a faction of the Gulf Cartel (GC) on Saturday as a result of a three to four months long feuding battle between factions of the same GC.

The victims apparently were family members of those who were killed by the rival GC faction who have now taken over the cities of Reynosa, Miguel Alemán and Camargo. The winning GC faction began to cleanse the region of anyone left from the rival faction. 

Last, Saturday, gunmen went to homes and kidnapped victims who were taken to secure location to get dispose off. Their vacant homes have now been taken over by families of the winning GC faction, according to a VpT Facebook posting. No addresses or actual locations were provided by VpT.

VpT is alleging that the GC killed the victims that were kidnapped and their bodies were then burned. 

No local, state and federal police action was ever initiated to locate the missing victims that are now presumed dead, VpT reported. There is also no indication that anyone ever filed a missing report or contacted the authorities to investigate the kidnappings and the disappearances of 60 people in the area. Most likely the missing reports were never made for fear of reprisals. 

VpT has become one of the main sources to post news and alerts about the current violent activities of organized crime and feuding drug cartels in the region. The local main stream media have been forced to censor all organized crime activity for fear of death threats, actually making VpT the only news source for people in the region to get their updates of criminal activity in the area.

In the last six years, the Mexican government reported that more than 50,000 people have been killed in relation to the drug cartel wars. More than 26,161 people including children have disappeared without a trace in Mexico. Another 70,000 undocumented immigrants from Central and South American have been reported either lost or have disappeared in Mexico making their way to the U.S. border, according to Ruben Figueroa, from the Mesoamerican Immigrant Movement organization. 

Figueroa is one of the few who attempts to locate the immigrants, but has only found or located 80 of them. The Mexican government has done almost nothing to locate immigrants. Mexico is under siege by the proliferation of criminal organizations associated with drug cartels whose influence and corruption has reached all levels of the government.

Today, at least one member of a family living in Mexico knows of someone who has been killed, kidnapped, extorted, robbed, raped, disappeared or involved in drug trafficking and smuggling. President Enrique Peña Nieto and his administration have become almost helpless in eliminating the major drug cartels that are gaining control of Mexico.

Colorado Mara Salvatrucha Gang Member Voluntarily Returns To U.S. To Face Homicide Charges

Edwin Ernesto Rivera Gracias

Three other suspects were also convicted in connection with the homicide.

By H. Nelson Goodson

March 27, 2013

Denver, CO - On Wednesday, FBI Denver Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Olson announced the return of FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Edwin Ernesto Rivera Gracias to Denver, Colorado. Rivera Gracias, a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) was sought for murder in Colorado. He fled to El Salvador to elude capture and a $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.
Rivera Gracias, wanted in Jefferson County, Colorado, for the August 17, 2011 brutal beating and stabbing homicide of Richard Limon, 68, of Denver, a long-time family acquaintance of his girlfriend. Rivera Gracias told acquaintances that he killed Limon because he had molested his girlfriend who is the daughter of Limon's wife, but no relation to him.

Rivera Gracias attempted to suffocate Limon by wrapping duct tape around his head, but finally stabbed the victim nine times because he wouldn't die.

Rivera Gracias voluntarily returned to the United States to face charges, according to the FBI. In coordination with Salvadoran authorities and the FBI's San Salvador Legal Attaché Office, the United States sent an aircraft to transport Rivera Gracias to Denver where he was turned over to local authorities for processing.

Three other suspects were also convicted in connection with Limon's murder, Tina Moya, 38, her daughter Nena and Raul Nunez-Soto, 46. Moya was convicted of second-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. Nunez-Soto was also convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a 40-year prison term. Nena Moya was convicted of accessory to commit murder and is serving a two-year prison term.