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Octafish

(55,745 posts)
9. ''Total Quality Service Isn’t Expensive, It’s Priceless''
Sat Aug 2, 2014, 04:21 PM
Aug 2014
The Pork Barrel World of Judge Mark Fuller

By Scott Horton
Harper's, Aug. 6, 2007

For the last week, we’ve been examining the role played by Judge Mark Everett Fuller in the trial, conviction, and sentencing of former Alabama Governor Don E. Siegelman. Today, we examine a post-trial motion, filed in April 2007, asking Fuller to recuse himself based on his extensive private business interests, which turn very heavily on contracts with the United States Government, including the Department of Justice.

The recusal motion rested upon details about Fuller’s personal business interests. On February 22, 2007, defense attorneys obtained information that Judge Fuller held a controlling 43.75% interest in government contractor Doss Aviation, Inc. After investigating these claims for over a month, the attorneys filed a motion for Fuller’s recusal on April 18, 2007. The motion stated that Fuller’s total stake in Doss Aviation was worth between $1-5 million, and that Fuller’s income from his stock for 2004 was between $100,001 and $1 million dollars.



In other words, Judge Fuller likely made more from his business income, derived from U.S. Government contracts, than as a judge. Fuller is shown on one filing as President of the principal business, Doss Aviation, and his address is shown as One Church Street, Montgomery, Alabama, the address of the Frank M. Johnson Federal Courthouse, in which his chambers are located.

fuller_chambers_address Doss Aviation, Inc. (motto: “Total Quality Service Isn’t Expensive, It’s Priceless”) and its subsidiary, Aureus International, hold contracts with a number of government agencies. Quoting from defense counsel’s motion for recusal (emphasis in the original):

Doss Aviation, Inc. has been awarded numerous federal military contracts from the United States government worth over $258,000,000, including but not limited to: An August 2002 contract with the Air Force for $30,474,875 for Helicopter Maintenance, a November 2003 contract with the Navy for $5,190,960 for aircraft refueling, a February 2006 contract with the Air Force for over $178,000,000 for training pilots and navigators, and a March 2006 contract with the Air Force for $4,990,541.28 for training at the United States Air Force Academy. The February 2006 contract with the Air Force for over $178,000,000 is for 10 ½ years, but is renewable from year to year . . .

An Enterprise Ledger article dated April 3, 2005, states that “FBI agents, military and civilian pilots and medical professionals all over the world wear (Aureus International) products which are cut, sewn, inspected, bagged and shipped from its home in Enterprise.”


Doss Aviation and its subsidiaries also held contracts with the FBI. This is problematic when one considers that FBI agents were present at Siegelman’s trial, and that Fuller took the extraordinary step of inviting them to sit at counsel’s table throughout trial. Moreover, while the case was pending, Doss Aviation received a $178 million contract from the federal government.

CONTINUED...

http://harpers.org/blog/2007/08/the-pork-barrel-world-of-judge-mark-fuller/

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

K & R historylovr Aug 2014 #1
Meanwhile, ''readers'' in Alabama.... Octafish Aug 2014 #8
+1000. JDPriestly Aug 2014 #13
"Readers" rate worst since WW-2? ThoughtCriminal Aug 2014 #15
Yes, and he had many friends. former9thward Aug 2014 #20
I thought they became friends after they left office? Octafish Aug 2014 #21
They were friends in the early 80s. former9thward Aug 2014 #23
George Wallace, Fob James. nt Mnemosyne Aug 2014 #24
Wow. historylovr Aug 2014 #51
K&R sketchy Aug 2014 #2
''Total Quality Service Isn’t Expensive, It’s Priceless'' Octafish Aug 2014 #9
K&R 99Forever Aug 2014 #3
BFEE Judges really tick me off. Take Richard Leon. Please. Octafish Aug 2014 #17
Recommend. nt Zorra Aug 2014 #4
U.S. District Judge Mark E. Fuller Octafish Aug 2014 #25
The conviction, imprisonment, and continued imprisonment of this poor innocent man is a national Zorra Aug 2014 #29
Manning, Siegelman, innocent people jailed, but we must not be sanctimonious about sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #50
Kickin' Faux pas Aug 2014 #5
There are many strange and un-investigated parties to this story: Roy Atchison, US Attorney... Octafish Aug 2014 #26
This just crazier Faux pas Aug 2014 #27
The stuff makes sane people mad. Octafish Aug 2014 #28
I wouldn't be surprised if it's an international thing. Faux pas Aug 2014 #30
Eyes Wide Shut Octafish Aug 2014 #31
Truth is their Faux pas Aug 2014 #46
Siegelman's daughter has been spending so much of her time and energy trying to win truedelphi Aug 2014 #6
Karl Rove is responsible for this travesty of justice. We are told not to be sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #22
Rove laughed in public about this treason. Octafish Aug 2014 #34
I won't Octafish, but sometimes the sheer magnitude of the corruption is mind boggling. sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #39
Absolute Injustice, a Travesty of Just-Us. Octafish Aug 2014 #33
And Obama and the Dem leadership still don't give a F... n2doc Aug 2014 #7
yep. Phlem Aug 2014 #10
That is odd. Guess who got promoted for, eh, after resolving it? Octafish Aug 2014 #35
Travesty that Siegelman fell prey to all this shit. No matter how often you write, you're Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #11
Legal Schnauzer told the truth and got thrown in the slammer for it. Octafish Aug 2014 #36
It is so damn frustrating, and it is important for Americans not to forget about Siegelman. Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #38
Then let's not let it be forgotten. Let's KEEP posting about it and talking about it sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #40
I don't know that you could persuade enough voters this should be a huge issue. I write, I call Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #47
I know it wouldn't be easy, but EVERY mention of this case brings it into the public sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #48
We must keep it current, collectively...agreed. n/t Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #49
K&R. JDPriestly Aug 2014 #12
The story and players... Octafish Aug 2014 #44
Does anyone really expect the administration to do anything to get Don Siegelman out of prison? Jack Rabbit Aug 2014 #14
No, I don't, we are on our own, so let's do something. Let's make it an issue in this sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #41
Well, the Dow Jones is at 17,000, which is what really counts. Octafish Aug 2014 #52
Thank you and thank you to Professor Buchheit Jack Rabbit Aug 2014 #54
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2014 #16
You are most welcome, Uncle Joe! Octafish Aug 2014 #53
K&R&bookmark JEB Aug 2014 #18
Federal Judge Mark E. Fuller arrested on domestic violence charge. Guy's out on bail already. Octafish Aug 2014 #56
Obama's failure to have DOJ reopen a full-blown Siegelman investigation stinks to high heaven 99th_Monkey Aug 2014 #19
And even worse than THAT, he DID look into Republican Sen. Stevens' case, while sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #42
It's weird. There was no corruption in Siegelman's case. Octafish Aug 2014 #57
Thank you, no, there was no corruption in the Siegelman case. Is anyone else tired of waiting for sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #63
KNR. n/t DirkGently Aug 2014 #32
Didya hear what Judge Fuller did to his wife (allegedly cough Turdblossom furball)? Octafish Aug 2014 #58
The people of the South Tsiyu Aug 2014 #37
From your keypad to the Great Accountant... Octafish Aug 2014 #59
LOL.....Some of my friends say, Tsiyu Aug 2014 #65
K&R woo me with science Aug 2014 #43
Siegelman's Judge Charged With Beating Wife, Affair With Clerk Octafish Aug 2014 #60
Kick to expose... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #45
Includes wife beaters...allegedly cough Turdblossom furball... Octafish Aug 2014 #61
JFK had RFK go down to Atlanta to get MLK out of jail in 1960 MinM Aug 2014 #55
The sad thing is... CanSocDem Aug 2014 #62
President Kennedy integrated the Secret Service and FBI. Octafish Aug 2014 #64
Yes .. Abraham Bolden was arrested for his efforts. MinM Aug 2014 #70
His book, ''The Echo from Dealey Plaza,'' made my heart feel like it weighs 140,000 tons. Octafish Aug 2014 #71
President Obama and AG Holder discuss the Siegelman Case MinM Aug 2014 #69
I still despise them each and every one. lonestarnot Aug 2014 #66
I've already kicked and recommended this one, so I can only kick it now. Uncle Joe Aug 2014 #67
Recced. Thanks, Octa. nt. Mc Mike Aug 2014 #68
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