The mysterious police organization in Montana is not likely Blackwater -- it's more likely a scam

[fishwax]

There has been a lot of discussion on various blogs (including here on DU) about AP news reports that a mysterious company called "American Police Force" has contracted with the Two Rivers Authority in Hardin, Montana to take over their empty prison (and/or take over policing duties for the town of 3000, which doesn't have a police force). (A sample article from the Billings Gazette: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_ee552180-aac1-11de-b6ed-001cc4c03286.html)

A number of people have suggested links to Blackwater, which is perhaps a natural assumption given our fresh memories of the Bush Administration, and these assumptions were bolstered by language on the company's web site (www.americanpolicegroup.com) which appears to draw from a Blackwater subsidiary:

http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/special.html

Our extensive tactical firearms training facility, the U.S. Training Center is capable of providing a wide range of instruction and training for all types of law enforcement organizations. From basic firearms training to complex SWAT tactics our corps of instructors can meet all your training requirements.

The U.S. Training Center is a Blackwater (Xe) company, and the website for the U.S. Training Center has the exact same quote the APF site has. So the conclusion that it is Blackwater is perhaps understandable, but hasty.

Further perusal of the APF website finds that they've cobbled together quotes from a variety of defense and security contractors and private investigators. For instance, under "Experience" on their primary home page, they claim to have "years of experience and vast global resources to provide timely and professional international investigation services." Some company called PDI Investigations in Missouri makes the exact same claim.

It gets better:

Under "Investigative Services" on their "American Private Police Force" page, they reassure the reader that: "In all cases, private detectives and investigators assist attorneys, businesses, and the public with a variety of legal, financial, and personal problems."

As luck would have it, that's exactly what the Career Information page for Private Investigators says on the Junior Achievement Center's web page.

The "American Police Force" also provides Cruise Line Security: "Cruise ships are like a small city where passengers are encouraged to forget their troubles and relax once onboard ship. It is natural for passengers on vacation to let their guard down, especially when out to sea in a resort-like setting. My advice: Don't let a false sense of security aboard a cruise ruin your vacation by becoming a crime victim."

If that precise language sounds familiar to you, it's probably because you read this article about protecting yourself while on cruise ships at the "Crime Doctor" web site.

And the list goes on.

*****

When I initially saw the dustup about the secret police force and looked at the website, I thought it might be some weird attempt to promote a movie or something. But considering what we know of who represents "American Police Force" as a company, I think a good old-fashioned scam is much more likely. After all, the public face of the company, Michael Hilton, has already done time for construction fraud:

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_023e1c90-ae1b-11de-8891-001cc4c03286.html

Public records from police and state and federal courts in California show that Michael Anthony Hilton, using that name and more than a dozen aliases over several years, is cited in multiple criminal, civil and bankruptcy cases, and was sentenced in 1993 to two years in state prison in California.

Hilton pleaded guilty in March 1993 to 14 felonies, including 10 counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and three counts of diversion of construction funds, according to Orange County court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but it is unclear how much time he served.

According to this Billings Gazette article, the APF's "director of legal affairs" is named Mazair Mafi. I don't know if it's the same Mazair Mafi who is a personal injury lawyer in California, but that's the first google hit that turns up on the name. And of course, it's also worth noting that, according to the APF's contact page, the Public Relations Director for this huge, 25-year-old security firm (which can not only train military forces in cutting-edge counter-terrorist techniques but can also, conveniently, be hired out to investigate a cheating spouse) is Becky Shay, who until a few days ago was a beat writer for the Billings Gazette. (I say that not to disparage journalists, Ms. Shay, or the Billings Gazette itself--but it seems odd that a company like Blackwater would pluck a staff reporter from a small regional paper to be the PR director of such an operation.)

Anyway, I know a lot of people (on DU and elsewhere) are worked up about this mystery and in particular about the Blackwater connections, so I just wanted to throw that information out there.

[Historic NY]

1. I think its Cheney's FEMA Camp, Montana is close to Wyoming...

that my theory...:shrug:

[havocmom]

2. I think the folks in Hardin got sucker punched with the building of the white elephant prison

and they are desperate to find a way to get it paying bonds. Sadly, desperate people seem to get sucker punched over and over.

But it does bother me to see Halliburton trucks on the Interstate here abouts.

[madinmaryland]

3. Well, Fuck Hardin and the whole Prison Industrial Complex. They built

it on borrowed money and to take advantage of the corporations running prisons. FUCK THEM.

[havocmom]

6. Easy to say, from far away. I don't condone their foolishness at all.

But I do understand the desperate need to deal with local economies that offer no hope of any future for any of the people coming of age and looking for work.

FUCK THEM? ah, no, I prefer to help them wise up to the fact that everyone is not as trustworthy as they folks next door. And that starts with wanting them to take a hard look at how too many local pols have taken money from outside sources to do ill in Montana.

Racicot
Burns
Max

to just name a few they should have noticed

But "FUCK THEM"? No, sorry, not gonna join in that chorus.

[madinmaryland]

14. Sorry for the bluntness, but that is the way I feel. I am tired of corporate

america running roughshod over this country. The Prison Industrial Complex is one of the most egregious examples.

I am sure that their pols have taken money to enable this to happen, but why are the people not asking to have the pol's bring in an industry the produces something?

[havocmom]

16. My sad conclusion is that some builders sold the folks in Hardin a bill of goods

then built the white elephant prison and cashed the checks.

Stuck with a lot of bonds to cover, the people of that community got desperate to dig out of the hole they allowed themselves to get into.

Looks like they are being scammed again. I just can't figure what the scammers hope to get out of a community that is 28 mil in the hole and no way to dig out.

[fishwax]

21. They might not plan to get money out of Hardin itself, but rather

Use the legitimacy of the contract with Hardin to get money out of investors and/or other fraudulent contracts. I read some story in which one of the Hardin folks said that APF was the only party to lay out any cash on the deal, so it seems to me that the Two Rivers Authority might be the means rather than the mark. It's a lot of effort to go through to squeeze a small town like Hardin.

[havocmom]

23. interesting theory

Using Hardin as a means rather than an end. People here can be mighty trusting. I know they are too often taken in by 'militia' scam artists from other places. Don't have to go too far back in Montana history to find sad tales of that shit.

[grasswire]

28. what's the skinny on racicot?

I don't know about what he did to Montana.

[havocmom]

34. I was in AZ when he was guv. Came back to MT and the place was a mess

GOP con artists had ruined a nice place. Read Marc did some state funded prison building. Guessing some GOP donors were making $$ but it left the state with nasty deficits.

Gov Martz came after (also GOP tool). She was the clean up crew, literally. When her chief of staff was involved in a fatal wreck (alcohol was involved) she took it upon herself to rush to the hospital, grab his bloody clothes and take them home to wash them!

Racicot went on to bigger things in D.C. Seems to have been well treated for the $$ somebody made here while he was governor. He was RNC chair for a spell, then headed bush/cheney 04 for a bit, then got a job as a lobbyist.

Montana was in sad financial shape when he left, but he did OK.

Our DEM gov is rock solid and doing much to turn things around. He did not want the GOP state senate pushed reappraisal formula for property taxes, and did not sign it, letting it become law without his approval. Now, the wingers are howling because property taxes are WAY up. He is doing much to promote building of alternative energy facilities. He runs a tight budget, but money is getting to the departments that take care of people. AND the state websites are getting to be awesome, which is great in such a large area, where people would otherwise have to travel far to get business with state agencies done. Sites are getting VERY user friendly and full service.

Marc Racicot just ran up huge bills (don't know who profited) and then blew town for cushy GOP jobs east. He was somebody's patsy for sure. Some MT DUers tried and failed to find out if he had even registered for the draft back when he was at the age that was required by law. Self serving from 18 on, from the looks of things.

[grasswire]

60. I knew about the draft and about Martz.

That report some years ago about him avoiding the draft was all I needed to know about the guy. He's creepy.

From Ted Schwinden to Racicot is a long fall. Glad Montanans are back to Dems in the state house.

[EFerrari]

4. Black Water is also a scam, just on a bigger scale.

:)

Seriously, they aren't the trained professionals that they project in their image, not at all. BW has a bunch of brands so these guys could easily be part of their mafia. Or, not. There seems to be a real market for security scammers so it could just as well be someone else who wants more of a cut than the Prince people will give them.

[KittyWampus]

11. where have you been lately? I've missed seeing you on DU

but then I don't spend too much time on the intertubes lately :hi:

[fishwax]

13. and of a different kind

but yeah, definitely a scam :)

"Seriously, they aren't the trained professionals that they project in their image, not at all. BW has a bunch of brands so these guys could easily be part of their mafia. Or, not. There seems to be a real market for security scammers so it could just as well be someone else who wants more of a cut than the Prince people will give them."

Definitely a huge market, apparently, but I don't see any evidence of a connection to Prince here. BW's tactics seem more sophisticated than the undergrad plagiarism that one finds on the APF website :D

[EFerrari]

20. That's a good point. The real BW site is pretty careful

in the info they conceal. :)

[drm604]

5. Some kind of defense contracting scam is what I've been thinking.

It may be a multi-year scam involving lots of money and a number of shell companies. It reminds me of the Wilkes / Cunningham stuff.

See my comments in this DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6655491#6661575

[951-Riverside]

7. I have to agree with the notion that its a scam

Lets look at their spokesperson Becky Shay. If you watch her http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/62755172.html?video=YHI&t=a">interviews shes shy, unsure, her hair has no style and her clothing is plain. In other words she looks/acts like a church lady than a spokesperson for a prison/mercenary force. I doubt anyone who is serious about this would hire someone this timid.

Then lets look at their other rep.



(take notice to the cheap suit, large sunglasses and unshaven face)

Unfortunately for http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/62755172.html?video=YHI&t=a">Becky Shay who quit her long time job as a reporter she might have become the victim of a scam. I doubt she'll ever see that $60,000 they promised to pay her or get help making the down payment on a home.

BTW, Take a look at her interviews
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/62755172.html?video=YHI&t=a
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/62465902.html?video=YHI&t=a

Edit: Then take a look at their cheesy website. The music and generic/inverted images just scream scam.

Images like these:

[fishwax]

15. thanks for the video links

I agree that she doesn't come off like a big time PR for mercenaries. And those photos are pretty hilarious. Someone on another thread mentioned that at least one of them is from a video game. I wonder where the others came from :rofl:

[donquijoterocket]

63. camouflage

You have to admit that the church lady is damn good camouflage for an outfit that likes to fly around in helicopters machine-gunning civilians.Kind of the reverse of the stunning magician's assistant who diverts your attention while the sleight of hand is going on.I agree with a previous poster who seems to think she'll eventually be sorry for giving up her nice quiet little job with the paper.

[Canuckistanian]

31. Those look like stock photos

Notice there are no insignia on those uniforms.

If they were legit, they'd display their logo prominently.

[DangerousRhythm]

89. Trademarked?!

Um, American™ is trademarked? Is that right?

:crazy:

[ohheckyeah]

8. The link to

Career Information page for Private Investigators doesn't work for me.

[fishwax]

9. whoops -- the editing time expired, but here's the actual link

http://studentcenter.ja.org/aspx/findcareer/career.aspx?industryid=12&careerid=72

[ohheckyeah]

12. Thanks very much. n/t

[kid a]

10. That seems to be the growing consensus here in Billings

[bananas]

17. They used a photo from "The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons" by Jack Lewis

see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6662646&mesg_id=6669403

[Ellipsis]

18. Looks like it's from the photo shoot for the cover it's uncrooped.

S'pose it could be stock stuff.

[SidDithers]

19. Kick. This is really good research...nt

Sid

[blogslut]

22. It's all just too fuzzy

Could be a scam - a tangled web of front companies.

Then again, after personally researching the hundreds of facade domains, bogus PACs and supposed "grassroots" entities that emanate from the land of the wingnuts, I say anything is possible.

Regardless, the people of Hardin, Montana need to demand transparency because if they don't, they're likely to get hosed.

[Ellipsis]

24. This is some good research.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6655491&mesg_id=6661575

Defense Logistics,
Defense System,
Defense Logistic Services,
Defense Product Solutions,
DPS,
Quazi Defense Product Solutions,
Edward S. Angelino,
Eddie Angelino,
Military Services,
DPS,
2007,
Irvine,
California,
Purepoint Design,
Purepoint Media, Inc.
2007 - [e-mail],
Orange County,
California">

[fishwax]

26. Yeah, there appears to be quite a tangle of shell companies

Here's a Billings Gazette article on Angelino's involvement: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_1f5ffbee-a4da-11de-b6ab-001cc4c03286.html

[intheflow]

25. I dunno.

Where do scams get money for an entire fleet of Mercedes police cars? But it that kind of start-up expenditure sounds well-within Blackwater profit margins.

Also, here's a YouTube link to the Billings tv news reports on this. According to them, the company incorporated just earlier this ear. (Pardon the fact it's been posted by a freeper. The video itself is ONLY the newscasts. Of course the freeper assumes this is the Obama Boogieman coming to MT, when in fact it's probably closer to "Dick cheney and the Blue Dog Blues.")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5qL3Vi9H0

Finally, about if they'd really hire some nobody staff reporter as their front PR person, remember Jeff Gannon?

[fishwax]

27. Yeah, those newscasts all suggest scam to me

The company has no apparent history, though they claim to be part of a shell company going back to 1984. (Blackwater was founded in 1997.) There's really no evidence that there is any connection to Blackwater at all, and it's not clear why, if BW wanted to start a new subsidiary they would hide the connection rather than build on it.

"Where do scams get money for an entire fleet of Mercedes police cars? But it that kind of start-up expenditure sounds well-within Blackwater profit margins."

Other DU'ers (and some news stories) have drawn connections to defense contractor (with a history of being sued for fraud) Edward Angelino. Maybe they financed the Mercedes police cars with the proceeds when he sold his lamborghini :rofl:

Angelino's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/people/Edward-Angelino/728054122
That green lamborghini on ebay: http://cgi.cafr.ebay.ca/Lamborghini-Murcielago_W0QQitemZ150365253835QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item230277b0cb&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

"Finally, about if they'd really hire some nobody staff reporter as their front PR person, remember Jeff Gannon?"

I remember Jeff Gannon working for a BS right-wing news service and getting press credentials for the white house, but I don't recall him working for Blackwater ...

[951-Riverside]

30. It seems like these IDIOTS didn't do any research or background checks

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifOx0LPKy5B_0KAyPHyNTEqdQz6QD9B206QG3 (Credit goes to eppur_se_muova for posting this in another thread).

Has these bumbling buffoons done a little research they would have discovered

1. The guy behind this company has at least 4 aliases http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifOx0LPKy5B_0KAyPHyNTEqdQz6QD9B206QG3">Source
2. He has 3 civil judgments against him and owes over 1.1 million http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifOx0LPKy5B_0KAyPHyNTEqdQz6QD9B206QG3">Source
3. Their "headquarters" in Washington DC doesn't exist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5qL3Vi9H0#t=1m05s">Source

and how much you want to bet they don't have a business license or tax records yet this incompetent jackass Al Peterson is willing to hand over http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifOx0LPKy5B_0KAyPHyNTEqdQz6QD9B206QG3">$2.6 million a year OF TAXPAYER MONEY to some "company" with a lame ass name like "American Police Force".

OTOH this other buffoon Becky Shay quit her job as a newspaper reporter to work with this scam artist. Shes a reporter FFS, she should know better!

BTW, Capt Michael ...Michael Hilton ...Miodrag Dokovich ...Michael Hamilton ...Hristian Djokich ...Michael Djokovich or whatever the hell he wants to call himself probably would have gotten away with scamming these idiots out of tax payer's money if he hadn't slapped police stickers/insignia on his MERCEDES fleet (Mercedes patrol cars in the US? are you kidding me? IDIOTS!).

If I lived in that town I would see to it that Al Peterson, Greg Smith and the other dumbasses involved in this scam (including "Capt Michael") were the first residences of this detention facility for the next 15 years.

The more I watch videos about the people in this town it infuriates me. Take a look at Kerri Smith (Shes running for mayor BTW), when asked if she thought it was mysterious she said "It probably is to those who don't know whats goin' on" then added "We can't panic, you just go with the flow and everything will be fine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5qL3Vi9H0#t=2m59s

This part just makes me want to cry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y5qL3Vi9H0#t=5m19s

...I'm VERY confident that this is a poorly planned/executed scam.

[fishwax]

40. thanks for the new links -- a quick correction, though: APF is supposed to pay the town 2.6 million

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13368796.

I think that's supremely unlikely :) Either way, though, that suggests to me that the Hardin contract was meant to provide legitimacy so that the "company" could bilk someone else, but of course I could be wrong ...

[Vilis Veritas]

57. You are not wrong, that is how scams work.

You get party A to agree to let you contract with them for ITEM X, you go to party B and say look, I got a contract with party A for ITEM X and I need to borrow 17 Million to build the new facility. Party B gives you a small portion of the money needed as downpayment so that the project can move forward, say 2 Million...lots of stuff can be done with 2 million.

You start the project and promise payment of the 2.6 million in installments as the project progresses...you hire people...get the second payment from Party B for another million or so...now you have a little over 2 million (you had to spend some to make it look like progress was being made)...ad infinitum

Rinse repeat...ultimately the town is left with a half built and improperly financed 17 million dollar piece of crap and MAH is nowhere to be found.

Probably sunning himself in Montenegro, but of course that would imply that he was smart enough to pull it off.

[KansDem]

62. Nice summary...

You could have written for "The Rockford Files" :D

[951-Riverside]

58. Turns out their "headquarters" in Santa Ana CA is a POT DISPENSARY

http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=119:santa-ana-cannabis-clubs-&id=1239:South-Coast-Patients-Center&Itemid=118



Inside their West "headquarters":



Aww. Looks like "Capt Michael" just wanted to play cop.

[951-Riverside]

59. I heard that the Hardin jail facility never opened because it wasnt up to code

Can anyone confirm?

[havocmom]

65. Have not heard that one

:shrug:
They wanted to lease beds to the state. State didn't need prisoner facility.
They wanted to contract for out of state prisoners with private companies or other states. MT said no.
They wanted to house the GITMO prisoners. Everybody else said no.

Then the con artists showed up.

Never heard anything about code violations, but then haven't followed every single report out of Hardin, until just recently ;)

Edited to add: the facility was not up to specs for a Maximum Security facility. Could that be what you heard?

[951-Riverside]

71. @the facility was not up to specs for a Maximum Security facility

Yes, I think this is what I heard. Thanks.

[951-Riverside]

82. Theres more!

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/hardin_offical_on_apf_deal_what_have_we_got_to_los.php?ref=mp">TalkingPointsMemo did an interview with Al Peterson (he's one of the IDIOTS responsible for securing a contract with this shame security company), heres a snippet.

Asked by TPMmuckraker whether he and his colleagues were aware of Hilton's track record when it got involved with APF, Peterson replied that they were, but were willing to overlook it.

"He was an alcoholic, and everybody knows that," said Peterson of Hilton. "Did he do some not-the-best choices in his personal and professional life when he was not sober? Absolutely. He made some very unwise decisions."

Peterson also told TPMmuckraker that Hilton is not the CEO or founder of APF. He declined to say who is the CEO, or whether Hardin officials had met with that person. "I met with a lot of different people," Peterson said.

[havocmom]

87. RE the fence: yeah, there have been rumors around the internets about a fence and big gate

Someone called several people in Hardin to debunk THAT internet tin foilery. Yes, there are people THAT eager to jump on the paranoia wagon ;)

[havocmom]

37. three vehicles do not a fleet make

:shrug:

[intheflow]

48. They do in a small town like Hardin. n/t

[havocmom]

50. But the con artist don't need $ for a 'fleet'

just a charge card for rentals. Wouldn't be surprised to find out some car rental business got scammed with a bogus credit card.

[starroute]

29. They were formed just a few weeks after Blackwater became Xe

That was the same time as the Blackwater Lodge and Training Center was renamed the "U.S. Training Center."

So I've been wondering if they might have hoped to take advantage of what ever confusion was sparked by Blackwater's name changes to lure in a few unwitting customers (or marks).

[maddezmom]

32. more info is always good

:thumbsup:

[Vilis Veritas]

33. Some more information...Address listed on APF website...

was linked to a MJ Dispensary...The website has changed now...like about 10 minutes ago.

South Coast WeedMaps shows a dispensary at their address listed on the APF website.

Link: http://legalmarijuanadispensary.com/index.php?option=co...

Smells like High Times...

This guy thinks its a hoax.

http://www.uaff.info/apf_fake_hoax.htm

When I read the CBS story, it almost seemd like an Onion story.

CBS News Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/29/crimesider/entr...

I cite this quote as being quite Onion-y


“Pretty looking police car, ain't it?” Hardin resident Leroy Frickle, 67, said as he eyed one of the vehicles parked in front of a bed and breakfast where Hilton and other company representatives were staying. “The things you hear about this American Police, I don't know what to think.”


Leroy Frickle is real though, you can google up his home phone number pretty easily fo anyone intrested in calling the fellow.

Just saying...

In the time, I did this reasearch and found these other articles, the APF website changed. The contacts page no longer lists their address. It was there 30 to 40 minutes ago, then when I tried to hit the contacts page again to get a screencap, it came back "Server Unavailable"...less than 5 minutes later the page was back up, with new text.

[havocmom]

36. LOL Gotta tell ya, after years of living in small MT towns, the only part that isn't 'oniony'

is the quote from Fickle. Yep, that's is just how many locals talk, and about how they would respond.

May sound contrived and oniony to many, but it is authentic for around here.

[Vilis Veritas]

38. I do not doubt the comment at all.

A quick google even provided his particulars, imagine that.

Regardless of the reality, this whole thing smells...the APF logo is the Serbian National Crest for goodness sakes.

[havocmom]

41. Beginning to think maybe more than just a con...

Money laundering wanna bee op? There is nothing in Hardin left to take, so somebody seems to be using them as part of some other scam.

Hilton scamming that Utah couple out of a silver statue which he then gave an attorney for services rendered shows an M.O. of convoluted cons to cover for other cons.

Could Hilton be trying to set up a way to offer laundry services? That or looking to score with duped investors?

[Vilis Veritas]

42. Serbian felon poses as head of American Police Farce...nt

[havocmom]

44. LOL somebody should write a book

or a screenplay! This has Russian Mob just begging to be the bad guys.

Maybe Sam Neil could be in it and find that place in Montana with the American wife who would cook rabbits for his supper like he dreamed of in Hunt For Red October. :rofl:

[Vilis Veritas]

52. LOL, omg...too funny

:rofl:

[havocmom]

54. I gotta laugh to keep from crying for those folks in Hardin

Bet there are some big bar tabs bein run up there lately/

[fishwax]

53. as long as they actually film it in the area

that would be a happy ending :)

[havocmom]

55. Hey, get me Val Kilmer on the phone, will ya?

;)

[Swamp Rat]

75. Don't forget Mr. T!!

"I pity the fool!" :D

[havocmom]

86. Swampy!

:hug:

[Vilis Veritas]

35. The APF Logo is the Serbian National Crest

That seems a little more than odd.

Serbian National Crest:



APF Logo

[fishwax]

39. Michael Hilton, the felon I mentioned in the OP who is "head" of the company, is from Montenegro

[Vilis Veritas]

43. As reported, MAH plead guilty to multiple counts...

One of which was diversion of construction funds.

Hilton pleaded guilty in March 1993 to 14 felonies, including 10 counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and three counts of diversion of construction funds, according to Orange County court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but it is unclear how much time he served

Billings Gazette: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_023e1c90-ae1b-11de-8891-001cc4c03286.html

Now take that factoid and place it next to this statement and the three counts of diversion of construction funds charge begins to sound familiar...

Hilton also said he planned a helicopter tour of the region in coming days to look at real estate for a planned tactical military training ground. He said 5,000 to 10,000 acres were needed to complement the training center, a $17 million project.

CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/29/crimesider/entry5351491.shtml

[havocmom]

45. He probably figured somebody talked the folks in Hardin into building the prison

and made $$ on THAT, so duping them again would be an easy hit? But they are worse than broke, so scam to get investors from other places?

[Vilis Veritas]

49. All of this is speculation, but there are patterns emerging

that point towards some sort of elaborate scheme. Time will tell.

I can tell you for a fact that no legitimate security company with years of experience trying to secure a multi-million dollar contract would have pre-maturely put Hardin Police decals on their vehicles. That just screams amateur mistake made by extreme hubris that has probably led to the early demise of their scam.

Time will tell.

[Ruby the Liberal]

46. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, the worst we can do

is dismiss it as a hoax.

It's secrecy is troubling. The fact that a government entity contracted with them, even more so.

[fishwax]

47. well, a hoax is different from a scam

And I'm not sure that the worst thing we can do is dismiss it as a hoax. Spreading word of a Blackwater conspiracy when there is evidence of a better explanation damages the credibility of legitimate inquiry and criticism of Blackwater's real abuses, the abuses of the private prison industry, and so on.

[havocmom]

56. Agree. Pity anybody digging real dirt on Blackwater right now

I can picture them having Dan Rather flashbacks and reaching for the TUMS.

[Ruby the Liberal]

61. This is true.

I still look at Blackwater with squinted eyes though. Eric Prince salivates at the thought of contracting in the US beyond fire & rescue.

[Vilis Veritas]

51. The government entity that contracted with them is...

now on administrative leave...he got scammed, by a Foriegn Con artist who has plead guilty and served time for many felony counts before, one of which was diversion of construction funds.

Diversion of Construction Funds. MAH claims he was going to do a heliocopter tour to scope out the new digs for his 17 million dollar training facility, yeah right.

Just saying, not a hoax, but a scam.

[ohheckyeah]

64. You can take almost any part of that

website, Google it and find that it came from another site almost verbatim. The whole site is just bits and pieces from other sites.

[fishwax]

66. exactly, though sometimes they change the wording just enough to screw up the meaning

I posted one humorous example of that in this other thread.

Another example: They've taken what appears to be fairly standard Human Resources language for Police Officers in California:

Peace Officers are responsible for protecting and serving the public and are entrusted with substantial authority to carry out these responsibilities. As such, the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) requires that the history of peace officer applicants be thoroughly investigated to make sure that nothing in their background is inconsistent with performing peace officer duties.

http://www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us/city_Services/Administrative_Services/Human_Resources/Employment/police.asp

And changed it just enough to screw it up completely: "Police Officers are responsible for protecting and serving the public and are entrusted with substantial authority to carry out these responsibilities. Our clients have the right to expect that such authority is only given to individuals who have demonstrated consistent personality traits."

(Note to APF: "consistent personality traits" isn't quite the same as "nothing in their background is inconsistent with performing peace officer duties."

[ohheckyeah]

67. LOL

Well, I made sure I have screen shots of each and every page of their site.

[redqueen]

68. Kick...

Already rec'd... I just want it above the "It's BLACKWATER!" thread.

[fishwax]

81. ...

I feel that might be a losing effort, but I'll kick it again too :)

:kick:

[fishwax]

69. at least some of the pictures come from "bigstockphoto.com"

For instance, their image of Polish Police Forces on their "Police Officer and Security Training" page can be seen here: http://www.bigstockphoto.com/photo/view/2116860.

[ohheckyeah]

70. I don't think there is any part of that website

that is original.

I noticed they took the music off the site.

[fishwax]

72. I'm sure you're right -- though I do wonder where this photo comes from

It's the photo they use to illustrate their "cheating spouse" services :rofl:

[ohheckyeah]

77. I bet if we had the time or inclination

to check google images we would eventually find it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

73. I found where they copied this site info from:

APF page:
http://www.americanpolicegroup.com/convoy.html


Notice the words below the picture:


The basic skills all soldiers must know to prevail on the battlefield, including battle drills for offensive and defensive operations, patrols, construction and emplacement of fighting positions, use of weapons and artillery, mines and explosives, land navigation and map reading, communications, individual security and camouflage, and combat medicine (first aid). A guide to small unit dismounted combat operations, extensively updated to include both the latest doctrine and lessons learned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Covers the equipment, operations, and individual combat skills essential for soldiers and others who must act as infantry. Essential for Army infantry leaders at the platoon and company level, Special Forces troops, Air Force security and patrol services, Marines, and other Army branches.

They stole it, word for word, from this book:



Synopsis

The basic skills all soldiers must know to prevail on the battlefield, including battle drills for offensive and defensive operations, patrols, construction and emplacement of fighting positions, use of weapons and artillery, mines and explosives, land navigation and map reading, communications, individual security and camouflage, and combat medicine (first aid). A guide to small unit dismounted combat operations, extensively updated to include both the latest doctrine and lessons learned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Covers the equipment, operations, and individual combat skills essential for soldiers and others who must act as infantry. Essential for Army infantry leaders at the platoon and company level, Special Forces troops, Air Force security and patrol services, Marines, and other Army branches who operate as infantry when needed.


http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Combat-Leaders-Field-Guide/Brett-A-Stoneberger/e/9780811731959

[Swamp Rat]

74. You rock, dawlin'!

:yourock::hi::hug::loveya:

[dixiegrrrrl]

80. Hi Swampy !!!!

Where you at ?
Anywhere near Croatia?

Then you can check out the veracity of what else I found about that Serbian coat of arms:

The 4 cyrillic C's inside the cross stand for "Only Unity Saves The Serbs". That is the emblem that as spray painted across Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo to intimidate other ethnic groups. To ethic groups in the Balkans, is equivalent to spray painting a swastika in a Jewish neighborhood.
It is linked in the Balkans to ethnic cleansing and a dream of a "greater Serbia." It was also the emblem used by WW2 Serbian Chetniks who Winston Churchill wrote, "were hopelessly compromised in their relations with the axis."

[fishwax]

76. at least they've got a wide variety of sources from which they steal

:rofl:

And at least that is an apparently reputable and authoritative source, unlike "A-Team Investigations," which (as I mention in another thread) they stole some of their other language from :rofl:

[ohheckyeah]

79. Including the Bureau of Labor and Statistics

At least it's not word for word.

From APF’s Services - The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their client. In cases for employers involving workers’ fraudulent compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of subjects. When an investigator researches a workers’ compensation claim, we generally take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it.

From the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Private Detectives and Investigators - The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their clients. In cases that involve fraudulent workers’ compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of a person suspected of fraud. If an investigator observes him or her performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a worker’s compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it to the client. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos157.htm

[redqueen]

78. ...

:kick:

[951-Riverside]

83. ...

:kick:

[951-Riverside]

84. Montana attorney general to investigate APF

Source: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_84e05838-aee4-11de-8041-001cc4c002e0.html

Montana's attorney general launched an investigation Thursday into American Police Force, the California company headed by a Serbian national with a long criminal history that has seeks to run an empty, 464-bed jail in Hardin.

Bullock sent a nine-page demand letter late this afternoon to Becky Shay, the spokeswoman for APF and the company's only Montana employee.

According to the document, Bullock is launching the civil investigation into APF over concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

Bullock also sent a letter Thursday to Gary Arneson and Al Peterson, leaders of the Two Rivers Authority, the economic development arm of the city of Hardin that built the Two Rivers Detention Facility and announced a 10-year, multimillion-dollar contract with APF to run the jail.

Peterson could not immediately be reached for comment this evening.

[fishwax]

85. Good to hear -- it will be interesting to see what he comes up with

I'm glad that somebody with more sense and authority than the Hardin guy is getting into this, though.

[havocmom]

88. Becky Shay is a sad case in all this. A reporter getting conned that much?

Really pathetic. One would think she would start to wonder about things like: no other employees to shoot the bull with around the water cooler, at the very least. Wonder if she has received any pay checks on that $60K job she thought she had.

[redqueen]

90. This will be very embarrassing for a lot of people in MT. (nt)

[havocmom]

91. Embarrassing for a few; heartbreaking for many.

Lots of decent folks were hoping building that damned prison would mean jobs to enable people to stay in the community. Lots of people will be waving good-bye to young adults with no way to build a future in their home area.

Just one more case of Americans towns and cities with no future to offer those coming to working age. The decision makers in Hardin tried to change that, but they just didn't seem to have the skills to avoid the many pitfalls. Larger populations than Hardin have had the same problem, so perhaps they shouldn't be too embarrassed at the constant setbacks. Larger populations with larger talent pools for leadership have been failing on much grander scale and for much longer.

[redqueen]

92. Very basic skills... like an understanding of due diligence.

Not sure how many were in on the decision-making process... but damn. I can't help but wonder if it was a bunch of incompetent cronies in those positions.

[havocmom]

93. Smaller towns often do not have people with a broad base of experience

The local 'talent pool' is often devoid of people with a lot of experience doing the investigative work that would be wise for such undertakings. The population does what it can with the available people. I won't beat them up for making poor decisions because they have no experience with shysters.

Larger communities get sucker punched by 'honest' businesses all the time, and they have much larger pools from which to draw from for the talent needed to build local economies without falling into traps.

As evidence I offer all the large cities who give local tax breaks and sweetheart deals on land zoning to companies to get them to locate and offer jobs to the local populations. Cities and counties soon find out the difference between "average" salary and the salary any local hires will make. Average salaries include top positions and most big companies bring those people in, hiring only the 'grunt labor' from the local population.

Too often, the companies take the tax breaks, stay a while, then pull up stakes, leaving workers with nothing and local governments with a gaping hole in tax revenue from a few years of a sweet deal. The hole has to be made up by the same work force that got hit. Local taxes end up being raised, services degraded, or both.

More evidence that it happens in large cities too: big time cities that want big time sports teams often go into big time debt to lure rich team owners. The taxpayers end up paying for, or supplementing the rich guys by building sports palaces, often through bond sales. The locals get piddly (and often seasonal) jobs instead of anything with real economic futures. The locals also get the headaches and cost of over stressed infrastructure, big sports create big traffic so roads need help for what is really only a temporary and sporadic problem.

Fat cat owners and sports stars do nicely, but the locals take hit after hit. Then, when the owners are dissatisfied with the 'palace' they sniff around and sucker the leaders of some other city into courting them lavishly. The locals always get stuck with expense for little, if any reliable, long term economic gains. If they default on the bonds, they have even more long term problems, as it is tougher to raise funds for more projects, even the ones that may not blow up and leave them looking like Wiley Coyote after the kit from ACME blows up in his face.

It isn't just an embarrassing situation for the folks in Hardin, who just wanted to create some jobs so their sons and daughters would not vanish from their hometown. It is an embarrassing situation for ALL of America. It is embarrassing that we allowed the system to fall into such a state that only the shysters have a future, and honest people keep footing the bills. It is more than embarrassing, it is a tragedy. And it is nation wide. Hardin is just the leper de jour for people to laugh at as they try to pretend it couldn't happen to their town.

[havocmom]

94. And speaking of not doing due diligence: Computer voting systems and counties/states across America

Ya know, lots of very well educated, well experienced decision makers got suckered into spending a shit load of their local tax base dollars on machines that did not provide verifiable elections.

Just another example of how easily 'experts' get sucker punched by shysters in 'legitimate' businesses.

[redqueen]

95. I don't believe for a split second most of those got 'suckered'.

Being suckered involves being tricked. I don't think most people in those positions are really that stupid. Far more likely that at most of them are just corrupt or lazy.

[havocmom]

96. LOL Believe what you will. But a lot of 'officials' fell for a lot of crap re BBV

Taxpayers ended up paying for more than just the damned machines too, didn't they?

[redqueen]

97. Officials often 'fall' for whatever their buddies or the vendor with the hottest sales rep

or the best sports tickets are selling... or who knows what kind of dumbass reasons they use to make decisions?

Ever worked in an office?

[havocmom]

98. In other words...

they get suckered by fake friends flashing some cash. Thanks for making the case for me :rofl:

[fishwax]

99. kick

:kick:

[951-Riverside]

100. Is "Michael Hilton" here legally? (Just look at his aliases)

Just look at all of his http://breakallchains.blogspot.com/2009/10/pln-investigates-hardin-montana-jail.html">aliases

- Miodrag Dokovich
- Michael Hamilton
- Hristian Djokich
- Miodrag Djokich
- Miodrag Djokovich
- Anthony M. Hilton
- Michael A. Hilton
- Michael Milton
- Chedomire Djokich
- Midrag Ilia Dokovitch
- Midrag Ilia Dokovich
- Michael Miodrag

From http://visionweb.occourts.org/Vision_Public/SearchCase.do">Orange County Court Records:

- Michael Hilton
- Michael Anthony Hilton
- Michael Miodrag
- Michael Djokic
- Miodrag Dokich
- Anthony Michael Hilton
- Michael Dokich
- Midrag Ilia Dokovich
- Miodrag Djokic
- Michael Ilia Hilton
- David Michael Comella
- Michael Kokich
- Djokic Michael Miodrag
- Michael Dokovich
- Miodrag Mic Djokic
- Miodrag Michael Djokic
- Michael Djokich

Looks like he's wanted in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6676225#6676701">Australia too.

- Michael Drljaca
- Michael Katic
- Michael Miodrag

The amount of aliases this man has used is OVERKILL! :mad: and who knows what other crimes hes committed or is wanted for.

So many people who want to come to the US and make a better life for themselves and others but it seems like Michael Hilton (or whatever his name is) sole purpose is to manipulate, intimate and steal from people who don't know any better, he is nothing but a burden on this country and should have his citizenship (if he has one) revoked.

I really want someone in government to take a good look into this guy does anyone has good email contact info for US Imigration Services or The US Marshalls?

BTW, he filed as "AMERICAN PRIVATE POLICE FORCE ORG INC" in California. http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowAllList?QueryCorpNumber=C3202431

[Thickasabrick]

101. I heard it could be a military porn operation. nt