Bauer's Trial Postponed Until January In "Mule Smuggling" Heroin Case In The Dominican Republic

Jimmy Bauer's attorney failed to show up in court on Monday and the tribunal hearing was postponed and rescheduled for January 30, according to court records.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 12, 2011

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - On Monday, the Second Tribunal Court judges in Santo Domingo decided to postpone a trial hearing for Jaime Vargas, aka, "Jimmy Bauer," a local known bachata singer from New York City. Bauer's attorney failed to show up for the hearing and it was rescheduled for January 30. He is being held on charges for trafficking and trying to smuggle heroin into the U.S.
A hearing for Bauer on November 14, was rescheduled for Dec. 12, after prison (jail) authorities in Najayo failed to present him at court for the hearing. Court records indicate, Bauer is trying to make a plea agreement in the case and have a trial and sentencing hearing separately.
He has gone through a psychiatric evaluation for minor mental disorder behavior. Officials dispute his claim that he suffering from any mental stress or mild disorder after Bauer recently granted an interview with Nuria, who has a Televised program and answered questions without any difficulty.
Bauer has been held in jail since, November 1, 2010 after being arrested for trying to smuggle one kilo of heroin in his stomach, known as "Mule Smuggling." He collapsed at the Santo Domingo International Las Americas Airport when detained for suspicous behavior and minutes after a small pellet full of heroin ruptured inside his stomach. The rupture caused an overdose that almost killed Bauer.
After an x-ray, doctors at a military hospital later removed 88 pellets (small balloons) of 1.04 kilogram totalling 2.2 pounds of pure heroin that Bauer had injested. Bauer later admitted that he tried to smuggle the heroin, becaue he was broke, having financial problems and wanted some quick cash to make a bachata music video, according to authorities.
If Bauer would have made the flight to the U.S., most likely he wouldn't have survived the flight, according to authorities.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

VDLF Action Endorsement For Pérez In The 12th Aldermanic District Draws Allegations Of Racism

Robert Miranda

Pérez in early December claimed in Facebook that Voces de la Frontera Action, a political branch of Voces de la Frontera had endorsed him for alderman.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 12, 2011
(Updated)

Milwaukee - Since last week, José Pérez, a declared candidate for the 12th Aldermanic District has drawn criticism about an early December endorsement by Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) Action. VDLF Action, a political branch of Voces de la Frontera, a non-profit workers and immigrant rights organization has been labeled and accused as a racist organization for not supporting the current Alderman James N. Witkowiak. The allegations of racism were raised by outspoken Robert Miranda, the current Executive Director of Esperanza Unida, Inc., who has a column by line in the Spanish Journal "Taking Sides," an editor as well and who also airs a Sunday talk show on WJTI 1460 AM radio.
Miranda claimed that the Latino leadership had started to abandon Alderman Witkowiak. He didn't mention any names of who were the supposed called leaders of the Latino community. Some of them had sent a bad "bigoted kind of message," especially VDLF Action who endorsed Pérez, according to Miranda. Pérez on December 1st, posted on his Facebook that VDLF Action had endorsed him and thanked them.
Miranda became outraged that Voces endorsed Pérez who hasn't yet been placed on the ballot, but had declared his candidacy and is circulating nomination papers to get on the ballot.
Miranda asked, How is it that a group so dedicated to fighting racism seems to be practicing racism themselves? "But for the fact that Witkowiak is the White candidate in this election, racism is the only logical conclusion," Miranda wrote.
Miranda believes, that Witkowiak has done an honorable service for the community and hasn't done anything against the community or immigrants. Witkowiak has stood and supported Voces on workers and immigrant rights issues and now is being thrown under a bus by Voces and some unnamed Latino leaders, according to Miranda.
On the other hand people are asking, what has Pérez actually done for the community?, to get an endorsement by VDLF Action. Who knows?, but the community will have to wait and see how the election proceeds and turns out in the 12th Aldermanic District.
The Pérez campaign has been accused of posting up Pérez posters at several dozen places in the southside before December 1st. Susan Edman, the Executive Director for the City of Milwaukee Election Commission confirmed, that it was an election violation to post campaign signs before December. Edman failed to mention, if any penalties exist for candidates who violate posting rules.
Neither Pérez or Witkowiak could be reached for comment regarding Miranda's claim of racism.
Miranda in a second article published on Dec. 14, got too personal and called Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera "a hypocrite." VDLF Action "had no real intention of holding an honest endorsement of candidates," Miranda wrote. Witkowiak never received any notice about the VDLF Action endorsement process, thus disrespecting Witkowiak after he has actually stood by and helped Voces for the last four years as an proven alderman and has also shown his allegiance to the Latino community. Which Pérez has yet to achieve as an elected official. Which is "shameful" and Voces has practiced racism against Witkowiak, who is White, according to Miranda.
Joe Shansky, Communications Coordinator for Voces de la Frontera released the following statement concerning recent allegations that VDLF Action was racist. In behalf of VDLF Action, the Spanish Journal's claim that our decision to endorse José Peréz in Milwaukee's 12th Aldermanic District reflects racism is patently ridiculous. On the contrary, Spanish Journal editor Robert Miranda is racist to assume there are not qualified Latinos to run for elected office in the 12th aldermanic district, a majority Latino district.
Both Alderman James Witkowiak and José Pérez are allies of VDLF Action (c4 arm of Voces de la Frontera), and both are qualified candidates who would represent Voces' positions well.
VDLF Action has made the decision to endorse Pérez in this race because he is a long-time Voces member, has strong leadership qualities, and is qualified to move the city forward based on his many years of work with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, as a small business owner, community and labor organizer.
In addition, we believe that representation matters, and electing a Latino candidate is important to ensure that Milwaukee’s Common Council reflects our city’s diversity. VDLF Action is not interested in tokens or Latinos that do not support the civil rights of immigrants or the needs of working class families of all races and ethnicities.
Ultimately, we judge candidates based on their qualifications and whether they support Voces' in fighting for immigrant and worker rights. Pérez fits these criteria. He is a viable candidate, which is part of our criteria we use when we make an endorsement. Voces has endorsed Pérez because we believe he can best represent our community on the Common Council.
Finally, it is tiring to read Miranda's continuing, unprincipled and obsessive attacks on Voces in the Spanish Journal. Before publishing his most recent article, Mr. Miranda did not speak to Voces, which is odd since Voces is the focus of the article.  And he continues to refuse to provide Voces with access to the paper he runs to respond to the many allegations in his publication. Is Miranda’s attack really about Voces’ position on the 12th aldermanic race?  Or is it in response to Voces recently supporting and winning a settlement agreement for Esperanza Unida workers, who have long-standing grievances against Mr. Miranda? Miranda is the Executive Director of Esperanza Unida. Esperanza Unida failed to pay some its employees on a timely basis, and fired them for seeking assistance from Voces on wage and hour violations. The mistreatment of Esperanza’s workers has been a chronic problem under Mr. Miranda's stewardship of Esperanza Unida.  
Our doors are always open and we encourage anyone who wants to learn more about our endorsements to speak directly to us. VDLF Action will continue to focus on uniting, not dividing the community, in our fight for jobs and justice.

Miranda's Taking Sides article at link: http://bit.ly/s1bea7

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Six Men Charged For Stealing Older Model Autos In Milwaukee And Selling Them For Scrap

Jeffrey A. Ciriacks

Quintin T. Hill

Auto theft ring leader hooked on cocaine and heroin drove him to steal autos to support addiction.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 11, 2011

Milwaukee - Six men including the ring leader were charged on Friday with one felony count of auto theft involving 44 stolen vehicles from the Milwaukee area, according to a criminal complaint. The suspects were identified as ring leader, Jeffrey A. Ciriacks, 43, of Saukville and five Milwaukee men, Leroy Barbee, 48; Eric M. Booker, 32; Quintin T. Hill, 24; Chavis Daniel Hoskin, 26, and Pierre Lamont Louis, 24.
Ciriacks and Hill remained at large, warrants issued and are being sought by police. The suspects worked with Ciriacks to remove older model autos from the street and private properties, lots and then sold them to Auto & Scrap Recyclers Inc., at the 3800 block of W. Mill Road.
The thefts occured between late August to early November, which investigators say Ciriacks had sold 99 autos to Auto & Scrap, according to the company's purchase records. At least 44 of those were reported stolen. Most of the autos were sold for $400 or $500 each and were valued around $2,000.
The suspects were paid from $10 to $100 for each auto they delivered to Ciriacks. Ciriacks operated the Lakeland Metal Processing and had a salvage license, according to the complaint.
The auto theft ring were first exposed to police when a man noticed a stolen 1999 Buick belonging to a relative being towed by a chevy truck. He followed the truck to the Auto & Scrap and then called police. Ciriacks was driving the truck when he was confronted by the man.
Ciriacks unhooked the Buick and left the scene. None of the stolen vehicles have been recovered, except the Buick.
Police say Ciriacks used the money from the auto scrapping to buy cocaine and heroin from two suspects involved in the thefts.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Three Mexican Nationals Facing 10 Years Each For Wisconsin Marijuana Growing Operation In Federal Land

Six men were charged and three pleaded guilty for growing marijuana at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 11, 2011

Clam Lake, WI - Three Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty to growing at least 9,000 marijuana plants at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, six miles south of Clam Lake, announced John W. Vandreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Vandreuil in a news release stated, that on November 28, Jorge Lopez-Ontiveros, 24, and Abraham Ramirez, 29, both Mexican nationals pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in Madison for conspiring to manufacture marijuana. Another Mexican national, Cesar Tinoco, 21, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge on November 23.
Two other Mexican nationals, Jose Esqueda-Garcia, 19, and Moises Lopez-Ontiveros, 21, including a Minnesota man, Norberto Burciaga, of St. Paul are expected to plead guilty as well.
U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb will sentenced Tinoco on Jan. 31, Ramirez on Feb. 1, and Lopez-Ontiveros on Feb. 2, 2012. The three convicted men face up to 10 years each in a federal prison and deportation after serving their sentences.
Their marijuana growing operation was first discovered by hunters in November 2010. Feds, state, county and local authorities launched a monitoring and surveillance operation for months until the suspects returned to a campground.
More than 200 federal and state agents, deputy sheriff's and police raided the campground. Four of five suspects escaped capture, but were arrested a day later by Sawyer County deputy sheriff's as they headed to Minnesota.
Agencies involved included, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Ashland County Sheriff’s Department; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Forest Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Northwest Area Crime Unit (comprised of Sawyer, Douglas and Washburn County Sheriff's Departments and Superior Police Department); U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

54-year-old Stoughton Man Cited For Disorderly Conduct Over Recall Walker Volunteer Confrontation In Madison

Recall Walker volunteers collected signatures on Friday near W. Cleveland Ave. and S. 43rd Street in Milwaukee. Volunteers throughout 42 counties are about 1/3 away from collecting 540,000 signatures to force a recall election.

Photo: HNG

Madsion police cited Walker supporter after dispute with Recall Walker volunteer outside Woodman's.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 11, 2011

Madison - On Thursday, Earl A. Gluth, 54, of Stoughton was cited by Madison police for disorderly conduct over a confrontation with a 41-year-old woman volunteering for the Recall Walker campaign. The police report states, Gluth confronted three recall Walker volunteers near a sidewalk outside on the east side of Woodman's store and began to get pictures of them while collecting signatures. He commented to the 41-year-old woman that he was going to post the photos on a website. Gluth then went to where the volunteer's had their vehicles parked and began to take photos of their license plates and said, he would find out where they lived.
The woman took out her cell phone and was about to take a photo of Gluth, but he swung his hand around knocking both her phone and recall signature petition clip board to the ground.
Her cell phone was reported broken, but she managed to recover the damaged back part of the cell.
She followed Gluth into Woodman's and Gluth could be seen in a store surveillance video inside pointing his finger at the woman and saying something.
Gluth alleged and told the investigating officer that the woman had hit his eye with the cell phone and had injured it. The officer stated, that he "inspected the man’s eye and found it looked just like his other eye, not overly bloodshot, no evidence it had been touched," according to the police report.
Two other Recall Walker male volunteer's ages 62 and 64 were also questioned by the officer. Their statements collaborated the woman's description of what had happened.
The officer decided to arrest and cite Gluth.
Democrats involved in the recall confirmed, that they're about 1/3 away (180,000 signatures) from collecting the minimum of the required 540,000 signatures to force a recall election against Republican Governor Scott Walker before the January 17 dateline. They collected 300,000 signatures in just 12 days in 42 counties in Wisconsin, which 1,000 signatures were gathered per hour, according to organizers.
In an e-mail last week, the Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate stated, the Recall Walker effort needs to raise $150,000 by next week or the recall won't happen and some of the 42 recall offices around the state would have to shut down due to operational over costs. Most likely, some recall offices might close, but the recall effort will continue, according to volunteers. The Wisconsin GOP says, it's Tate's tactic for the Democrats to raise funding.
In an unrelated incident,  Jeffrey G. Karnitz, 30, was charged on Thursday with one felony count for election fraud in Washington County. He is accused of defacing or scribbling off signatures from several recall Walker petitions on December 4. Karnitz faces at least 18 months in jail, two years supervision and up to $10,000 in fines, if convicted.
In another recent recall Walker incident, Mary Jean Dezurik, 68, of Thorp was arrested in Chippewa Falls after she stopped in an area where recall Walker volunteers were collecting signatures. On December 2, she got out of her vehicle and grabbed a Recall Walker petition and ripped it, according to Chippewa Falls Police. The petitions might have been blanked.
John Kidd, one of the recall Walker volunteer's who witnessed the incident told WEAU dot com, that an officer shortly after stopped Dezurik and told her, if she admitted to ripping the petition, no charges would be filed. Dezurik refused to admit it and was then arrested. She faces a felony charge with a penalty of three years in prison and $10,000 in fines, if convicted.
The case is pending and Dezurik has yet to be charged in that incident.

Anyone wanting to sign a recall Walker petition can visit any of the southeast indoor offices from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at:

• 1370 S. 74th Street, Suite 106, West Allis
• 1027 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee
• 7984 W. Appleton Ave., Milwaukee
• 312 W. Broadway, Waukesha
• 5535 6th Ave., Kenosha
• 2100 Layard Ave., Racine
• 616 Droster Ave., Burlington

For other offices in the state or down load a recall Walker petition go to link: http://ow.ly/7uvZn

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Ruiz-Ramirez Sentenced To 2 Years In The House of Corrections For Hitting Three Milwaukee Cops On Bicycles

Gaudencio Ruiz-Ramirez

Convicted hit-and-run drunk driver gets light sentence for striking three Milwaukee police officers on bicycle patrol in the Southside.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 10, 2011

Milwaukee – On Friday, Gaudencio Ruiz-Ramirez, 25, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in the House of Corrections for one felony count of hit-and-run, involving injury and three misdemeanors for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing injury with an alcohol concentration of 0.15 over the legal limit. He was ordered to pay for the damaged bicycles.
Ruiz-Ramirez pleaded guilty to striking three Milwaukee Police Officers, Bradley Johnson, William Moreno and Michael Duket who were riding their police unit bicycles on September 9, while riding along a bicycle lane at the 1100 block of W. Lincoln Ave. A fourth bicycle officer was not injured.
Ruiz-Ramirez fled the scene, but the accident was caught by a nearby surveillance video camera. He was later arrested.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Ramie Marie Grimmer's Brother Timothy Dies After Being Taken Off Life Supports

Timothy Grimmer
Photo courtesy of Jamie Rodriguez/AP

Ramie Marie Grimmer

Photo: Facebook

Rachelle Diane Grimmer

Undated family photo

Second child dies after succumbing to fatal wounds to the head.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 8, 2011

Laredo, Texas - On Thursday evening, Timothy Grimmer, 10, succumbed to a fatal head wound after being taken off from life supports, according to family members. His father Dale Grimmer after talking to University Hospital doctors decided to take him off the life support machine.
Timothy had been shot in the head by his mother, Rachelle Diane Grimmer, 38, on early Tuesday at a Texas welfare office in Laredo.
On Wednesday, Ramie Marie Grimmer, 12, who was also shot in the head by her mother on Tuesday during a standoff over food stamps at a Texas welfare office in Laredo died. Ramie died at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
Ramie and her brother, Timothy were both shot in the head shortly before their mother took her own life with a handgun. Grimmer arrived with her two barefooted children at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services office in Laredo around 5:00 p.m. on Monday to try and get food stamps. She pulled out a .38 Caliber handgun and took welfare supervisor Roberto Reyes hostage in a small office. The rest of the employees and welfare clients were able to leave the area without any incident. Reyes was later released shortly after 7:45 p.m., according to police.
During the seven hour standoff with police at the welfare office, Ramie began to post on her Facebook account. At 7:30 p.m., Ramie posted "May die 2day"...at 10:30 p.m. she posted, "Tear gas seriously"... by 10:34 p.m. her last post was "I'm bored."
Laredo police on early Tuesday heard three gunshots go off and the the S.W.A.T. team rushed inside. They found Grimmer with a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. They also found Ramie and her brother shot in the head. Grimmer died at the scene. Police recovered around 50 rounds for a .38 Cal. handgun inside the office building. Both Ramie and Timothy were transported to the University Hospital in San Antonio for medical treatment.
Their father, Dale Grimmer who had been divorced for 6 years was able to travel to San Antonio to see his children at the hospital.
Grimmer had applied for the program since July shortly after arriving from Zaneville, Ohio, but had not completed the requirement to complete the paper work, which included an 18-page application. Grimmer needed to provide some additional documentation and had expired her time allowed to apply and the case had been closed. The Grimmer family were originally from Lost Creek, Montana.
Grimmer first applied for welfare on July 7, then she missed her July 8, appointment. An appointment was rescheduled for July 22. On August 8, Grimmer's food stamp case was then closed and a noticed was sent to her. On November 22, Grimmer then contacted the welfare office to have her case reconsidered. She could have reopened it by reapplying again, according to Stephanie Goodman, Spokesperson for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
Goodman says, Grimmer was denied food stamps and public welfare emergency aid because she didn't provide proof of child support payments. She actually filled out a section of the application that her child support payments were greater than her rent and utilities combine, according to Goodman.
She had gone to the welfare four times and four times she didn't get any type of help or any emergency aid, which most likely drove her to become real desperate about feeding her children. Grimmer was unemployed, but the welfare office in Laredo has approved food stamp allocations to employed people who meet the minimum guidelines to receive benefits. Grimmer wasn't helped or offered alternative options and wasn't referred to any local food pantry by social workers. It might not be their job to do so, but should have at least offered options to getting her help, according to neighbors who live near Grimmer.
Authorities tried to convince Grimmer into believing that Reyes had personally approved food stamp benefits dating back to July totalling more than $3,000 and even presented her with the approved document signed by welfare supervisor Reyes, according to police. Grimmer might not have believed Reyes or police and decided to take her life, including ending the life of both her children.
The San Antonio Express-News reported that in the Webb county area, nearly 30 percent of Laredo's 250,000 population live under the poverty line and the Webb County per capita income averages less than $13,800. An estimated 3.7 million people in Texas are getting food stamps, but about $40 million of unused food stamp benefits are returned each year to the feds. People seeking benefits for food stamps have to fill out an 18-page application, which sometimes people just forego the application process and don't apply.
Laredo has about 60 food pantries around the area operated by the South Texas Food Bank, which Grimmer didn't asked for help. The welfare office was about five miles from where Grimmer lived and without a working vehicle, it was difficult for Grimmer to get around. She would around asking for left over food from nearby restaurants after they closed, according to neighbors.
An investigation has been launched to learn what led Grimmer to act and why social workers with the Texas welfare office based in Laredo didn't actually check Grimmer's living conditions before making her wait for help? State Representative Richard Raymond who Chairs the Texas Health and Human services committee confirmed the State of Texas has initiated an investigation.
Neighbors who live near the Grimmer's told Pro8News dot com that the family was living in extreme poverty and needed help desperately. Grimmer would rarely cook because she hardly ever had any food to cook. A nonfunctional refrigerator and stove were located outside an RV at the Towne North Mobile and RV Park where the Grimmer's were living in northern Laredo.
Janie Rodriguez, the manager of the RV lot confirmed, that Grimmer paid $400.00 per month to rent a lot for her RV. Rodriguez believes, Grimmer was paying rent from child support payments.
Some neighbors had tried to donate free items of food, but Grimmer would barely accept anything free. Neighbors are alleging that the state welfare social workers should have checked the Grimmer's living conditions before making them wait for help from the state.

Ramie Marie Grimmer postings on Facebook.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile