Thursday, November 15, 2012
Spreading the Dirt
Thanks to support from our readers and some influential writing from our staff, The New Jersey Dirt will be featured in the much talked about project, The Satin Strangler Blogs. Visit the site, and then follow the guided scavenger hunt through the Destiny Blande news story.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Ex-Governor Corzine in Deep Water
Trenton, NJ.
The congressional investigation of the MF Global collapse and subsequent bankruptcy — the eighth-largest in U.S. history — is expected to focus on less senior members of the brokerage’s back-room team.
There is rampant speculation that at least one witness, former MF Global assistant treasurer Edith O’Brien, will plead the fifth at a hearing of a House Financial Services Subcommittee. Despite her pleas to those who might grant it, O’Brien has been denied immunity for her testimony, which will be given under subpoena.
Meanwhile, Jon Corzine, disgraced former head of MF Global (and former New Jersey governor and senator), denied reports he ordered some $200 million worth of funds — possibly including farmer/rancher client money — be transferred to remedy an overdraft in a brokerage account with bank JP Morgan. The directive was supposedly given last Oct. 28, three days prior to the firm’s implosion, and outlined in an O’Brien e-mail that says the $200 million transfer followed Corzine’s “direct instructions.”
This claim flies in the face of Corzine’s testimony before House and Senate legislators last December. During several hearings, Corzine claimed he was unaware of the “misuse” of customer funds, a word he used repeatedly. “I didn’t authorize it, didn’t intend to have it happen,” he told the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Fallout from the loss of some $1.2 billion worth of customer funds due to MF Global actions is not limited to congressional inquiry. In bankruptcy proceedings, client and creditor trustees have butted heads as some 10 class-action court cases have taken shape.
The congressional investigation of the MF Global collapse and subsequent bankruptcy — the eighth-largest in U.S. history — is expected to focus on less senior members of the brokerage’s back-room team.
There is rampant speculation that at least one witness, former MF Global assistant treasurer Edith O’Brien, will plead the fifth at a hearing of a House Financial Services Subcommittee. Despite her pleas to those who might grant it, O’Brien has been denied immunity for her testimony, which will be given under subpoena.
Meanwhile, Jon Corzine, disgraced former head of MF Global (and former New Jersey governor and senator), denied reports he ordered some $200 million worth of funds — possibly including farmer/rancher client money — be transferred to remedy an overdraft in a brokerage account with bank JP Morgan. The directive was supposedly given last Oct. 28, three days prior to the firm’s implosion, and outlined in an O’Brien e-mail that says the $200 million transfer followed Corzine’s “direct instructions.”
This claim flies in the face of Corzine’s testimony before House and Senate legislators last December. During several hearings, Corzine claimed he was unaware of the “misuse” of customer funds, a word he used repeatedly. “I didn’t authorize it, didn’t intend to have it happen,” he told the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Fallout from the loss of some $1.2 billion worth of customer funds due to MF Global actions is not limited to congressional inquiry. In bankruptcy proceedings, client and creditor trustees have butted heads as some 10 class-action court cases have taken shape.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Dharum Ravi Speaks Out
Plainsboro, NJ.
The former Rutgers University student convicted in a webcam spying case says that he was insensitive toward his gay roommate but not biased, and that he doesn’t think he was the reason for his roommate’s suicide.
Dharun Ravi, 20, was convicted last week of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation, a hate crime, after using a webcam to view a snippet of Tyler Clementi’s dorm-room liaison with another man, then tweeting about it. The case gained huge attention when Clementi threw himself off a bridge.
“I didn’t act out of hate, and I wasn’t uncomfortable with Tyler being gay,” Dharun Ravi told The Star-Ledger of Newark in his first media interview since the saga began in September 2010.
Ravi also gave an interview to ABC News’ ”20/20” that’s to be broadcast Friday night. He told the news show he is sad about the suicide but doesn’t believe it was spawned by his actions. “The more and more I found out, it would be kind of obnoxious of me to think that I could have this profound effect on him,” Ravi told ABC. “After all this time and reading his conversations and how and what he was doing before, I really don’t think he cared at all. I feel like I was an insignificant part to his life. That’s giving me comfort now.”
In Ravi’s trial, there was evidence that Clementi, 18, had visited Ravi’s Twitter page repeatedly in the two days before his death.
A jury convicted Ravi of all 15 counts, finding he invaded Clementi’s privacy and tried to cover it up. More significant, he was convicted of bias intimidation, a charge that required jurors to find that he acted out of malice against gays — or that Clementi reasonably believed he did. The jury found on all four bias counts that Clementi reasonably believed he was targeted because of his sexual orientation. It found that Ravi was knowingly intimidating him on three counts and purposefully doing it on two.
The maximum sentence for the two most serious bias intimidation convictions is 10 years in prison. Prosecutors may ask for consecutive sentences, but it would be unusual for such a request to be granted. Before the case went to trial, prosecutors offered Ravi a plea deal that would have called for no jail time.
The ordeal began Sept. 19, 2010, when Ravi remotely viewed part of an encounter between Clementi and a man who’s been identified only as M.B. He later tweeted, “I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.” He told friends two days later that they could see streaming live video that night when Tyler was going to have his guest over again. That second webcast never happened. On Sept. 22, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.
Ravi is to be sentenced May 21.
The former Rutgers University student convicted in a webcam spying case says that he was insensitive toward his gay roommate but not biased, and that he doesn’t think he was the reason for his roommate’s suicide.
Dharun Ravi, 20, was convicted last week of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation, a hate crime, after using a webcam to view a snippet of Tyler Clementi’s dorm-room liaison with another man, then tweeting about it. The case gained huge attention when Clementi threw himself off a bridge.
“I didn’t act out of hate, and I wasn’t uncomfortable with Tyler being gay,” Dharun Ravi told The Star-Ledger of Newark in his first media interview since the saga began in September 2010.
Ravi also gave an interview to ABC News’ ”20/20” that’s to be broadcast Friday night. He told the news show he is sad about the suicide but doesn’t believe it was spawned by his actions. “The more and more I found out, it would be kind of obnoxious of me to think that I could have this profound effect on him,” Ravi told ABC. “After all this time and reading his conversations and how and what he was doing before, I really don’t think he cared at all. I feel like I was an insignificant part to his life. That’s giving me comfort now.”
In Ravi’s trial, there was evidence that Clementi, 18, had visited Ravi’s Twitter page repeatedly in the two days before his death.
A jury convicted Ravi of all 15 counts, finding he invaded Clementi’s privacy and tried to cover it up. More significant, he was convicted of bias intimidation, a charge that required jurors to find that he acted out of malice against gays — or that Clementi reasonably believed he did. The jury found on all four bias counts that Clementi reasonably believed he was targeted because of his sexual orientation. It found that Ravi was knowingly intimidating him on three counts and purposefully doing it on two.
The maximum sentence for the two most serious bias intimidation convictions is 10 years in prison. Prosecutors may ask for consecutive sentences, but it would be unusual for such a request to be granted. Before the case went to trial, prosecutors offered Ravi a plea deal that would have called for no jail time.
The ordeal began Sept. 19, 2010, when Ravi remotely viewed part of an encounter between Clementi and a man who’s been identified only as M.B. He later tweeted, “I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.” He told friends two days later that they could see streaming live video that night when Tyler was going to have his guest over again. That second webcast never happened. On Sept. 22, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.
Ravi is to be sentenced May 21.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Ravi Found Guilty of Hate Crime
New Brunswick, NJ.
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, 20, was found guilty Friday of charges including privacy invasion and bias intimidation, a hate crime, for spying on his roommate's intimate encounter with another man in September 2010. The roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly afterward and brought the case national attention.
Prosecutors said Ravi tweeted about seeing his roommate kissing a man and tried to catch him in the act again two days later. A half-dozen students were believed to have seen the live video of the kissing.
Within days, Clementi realized he had been watched and leaped from the George Washington Bridge after posting one last status update on Facebook: "Jumping off the gw bridge, sorry."
"Freedom of expression, tolerance, the right to personal privacy and the open discussion of ideas are integral parts of any university community," Rutgers said in a statement issued after the verdict. "This sad incident should make us all pause to recognize the importance of civility and mutual respect in the way we live, work and communicate with others."
Ravi, 20, could get 10 years and be deported to his native India, even though he has long lived in the United States.
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, 20, was found guilty Friday of charges including privacy invasion and bias intimidation, a hate crime, for spying on his roommate's intimate encounter with another man in September 2010. The roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly afterward and brought the case national attention.
Prosecutors said Ravi tweeted about seeing his roommate kissing a man and tried to catch him in the act again two days later. A half-dozen students were believed to have seen the live video of the kissing.
Within days, Clementi realized he had been watched and leaped from the George Washington Bridge after posting one last status update on Facebook: "Jumping off the gw bridge, sorry."
"Freedom of expression, tolerance, the right to personal privacy and the open discussion of ideas are integral parts of any university community," Rutgers said in a statement issued after the verdict. "This sad incident should make us all pause to recognize the importance of civility and mutual respect in the way we live, work and communicate with others."
Ravi, 20, could get 10 years and be deported to his native India, even though he has long lived in the United States.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Rutgers Case Trial Begins
New Brunswick, NJ.
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, 20, faces charges including privacy invasion and bias intimidation, a hate crime, for spying on his roommate’s intimate encounter with another man in September 2010. The roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly afterward and brought the case national attention.
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, 20, faces charges including privacy invasion and bias intimidation, a hate crime, for spying on his roommate’s intimate encounter with another man in September 2010. The roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly afterward and brought the case national attention.
Monday, April 25, 2011
McGreevey Can't Become a Priest
Newark, NJ.
James McGreevey, our former governor who declared himself a "gay American" and resigned, went on to study at the General Theological Seminary, where he earned a masters degree in Divinity.
According to the NY Post, the Episcopal Church denied McGreevey's bid to become a priest.
"It was not being gay but for being a jackass - [McGreevey] didn't come out of the whole divorce looking good," said a source with the Episcopal Church of Newark.
Another source said "he was sort of looking for every angle to make a complete redo of his professional life. He ran to the church for some kind of cover, which isn't fully appropriate. Even if he's a good guy, he should wait five to 10 years to get over his issues."
It looks as though we will have to wait at least a few years for Father Jim.
James McGreevey, our former governor who declared himself a "gay American" and resigned, went on to study at the General Theological Seminary, where he earned a masters degree in Divinity.
According to the NY Post, the Episcopal Church denied McGreevey's bid to become a priest.
"It was not being gay but for being a jackass - [McGreevey] didn't come out of the whole divorce looking good," said a source with the Episcopal Church of Newark.
Another source said "he was sort of looking for every angle to make a complete redo of his professional life. He ran to the church for some kind of cover, which isn't fully appropriate. Even if he's a good guy, he should wait five to 10 years to get over his issues."
It looks as though we will have to wait at least a few years for Father Jim.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Van Pelt Sentenced
Trenton, NJ.
A tearful Daniel Van Pelt was sentenced to more than three years in prison today for accepting a $10,000 bribe from a crooked developer who was supposedly seeking help with a project from the former state Assemblyman and local official.
U.S. District Judge Joel Pisano ordered Van Pelt to serve 41 months in a federal prison — the maximum sentence for his conviction — despite pleas from his attorney for leniency for the ill former legislator.
"He did a terrible thing to the citizens of this state and for that he is going to pay the price," Pisano said.
Van Pelt, 46, was convicted May 19 of extortion and bribery in the massive federal investigation into public corruption. He was found guilty of accepting a $10,000 bribe from disgraced developer Solomon Dwek, who was secretly working for federal authorities, in exchange for his influence for permit approvals for a fictitious development project in Ocean Township, where Van Pelt was a former mayor and sitting committeeman.
His attorney, Robert Margulies, asked Pisano for leniency because Van Pelt, who suffers from kidney disease and has already undergone one transplant, is expected to experience a health decline in the future, potentially needing another transplant.
Margulies suggested Van Pelt be allowed to be on home confinement in the event his health debilitated to the point that he would need special care.
Pisano rejected the request, saying the federal Bureau of Prisons assured him Van Pelt’s medical needs can be met at its facilities.
"We have good man that did a bad thing," Margulies told the judge. "What enhances that is that he was in a public position at the time."
Crying through most of his address to the judge, Van Pelt, who called himself "trustworthy,’’ said he had aspired to political life since he was a child and realizes he threw that away by accepting the envelope cash. He said he did not live up to the higher standards placed on public servants.
"That day, that time, that night I didn’t have a higher standard. I didn’t do what was best for my constituents," he said. "I take full responsibility. I should have gotten up and walked away. That decision has cost me my career, my reputation," he said.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao said Van Pelt has not taken responsibility for his actions and said the former politician only expressed remorse at having been arrested and prosecuted.
"If Mr. Van Pelt was about honesty, integrity and trust, we wouldn’t be here today," Chao said. "We’re here today because Mr. Van Pelt is about dishonesty, arrogance and remorselessness."
Van Pelt was permitted to report to the Bureau of Prisons after the holidays.
A tearful Daniel Van Pelt was sentenced to more than three years in prison today for accepting a $10,000 bribe from a crooked developer who was supposedly seeking help with a project from the former state Assemblyman and local official.
U.S. District Judge Joel Pisano ordered Van Pelt to serve 41 months in a federal prison — the maximum sentence for his conviction — despite pleas from his attorney for leniency for the ill former legislator.
"He did a terrible thing to the citizens of this state and for that he is going to pay the price," Pisano said.
Van Pelt, 46, was convicted May 19 of extortion and bribery in the massive federal investigation into public corruption. He was found guilty of accepting a $10,000 bribe from disgraced developer Solomon Dwek, who was secretly working for federal authorities, in exchange for his influence for permit approvals for a fictitious development project in Ocean Township, where Van Pelt was a former mayor and sitting committeeman.
His attorney, Robert Margulies, asked Pisano for leniency because Van Pelt, who suffers from kidney disease and has already undergone one transplant, is expected to experience a health decline in the future, potentially needing another transplant.
Margulies suggested Van Pelt be allowed to be on home confinement in the event his health debilitated to the point that he would need special care.
Pisano rejected the request, saying the federal Bureau of Prisons assured him Van Pelt’s medical needs can be met at its facilities.
"We have good man that did a bad thing," Margulies told the judge. "What enhances that is that he was in a public position at the time."
Crying through most of his address to the judge, Van Pelt, who called himself "trustworthy,’’ said he had aspired to political life since he was a child and realizes he threw that away by accepting the envelope cash. He said he did not live up to the higher standards placed on public servants.
"That day, that time, that night I didn’t have a higher standard. I didn’t do what was best for my constituents," he said. "I take full responsibility. I should have gotten up and walked away. That decision has cost me my career, my reputation," he said.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao said Van Pelt has not taken responsibility for his actions and said the former politician only expressed remorse at having been arrested and prosecuted.
"If Mr. Van Pelt was about honesty, integrity and trust, we wouldn’t be here today," Chao said. "We’re here today because Mr. Van Pelt is about dishonesty, arrogance and remorselessness."
Van Pelt was permitted to report to the Bureau of Prisons after the holidays.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Mayor Suarez Acquitted
Ridgefield, NJ.
Ridgefield Mayor Anthony R. Suarez was found not guilty today of taking bribes from the informant who anchored last year’s sprawling FBI sting, marking the first time a public official has been acquitted of federal corruption charges in New Jersey in more than a decade.
The 43-year-old Democrat closed his eyes and wept as the jury forewoman in Newark read the verdict clearing him of bribery and extortion charges, rejecting allegations that he took $10,000 from an informant who masqueraded as a developer trying to buy off politicians.
“I always had faith people would see the truth,” said Suarez, standing in the rain during a brief news conference outside the courthouse.
He was charged along with scores of others in last year’s massive bribery and money-laundering sting, including five rabbis and more a dozen public officials. Of all the politicians charged, Suarez is the only one who remains in office.
His codefendant, Vincent Tabbachino, a tax preparer and former Guttenberg police officer, was convicted of bribery and extortion.
Suarez was accused of taking $10,000 in bribes from Solomon Dwek, a one-time rabbinical student who became the most prodigious informant ever to wear a wire in New Jersey.
The informant's work led to charges against 46 people in a money-laundering and bribery probe that ensnared five rabbis, three mayors and two state legislators.
Two politicians have been convicted, and 20 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty.
Dwek began cooperating with the FBI in 2006 after being charged with a $50 million bank fraud. He worked his way across the state, wearing a tiny hidden video camera on his belly as he tried to talk rabbis into laundering money and convince public officials to take bribes.
Suarez's lawyer argued that the mayor never knowingly took an illicit dime.
He turned down $10,000 cash. He never deposited a $10,000 check. And, ultimately, the 43-year-old
Democrat kept just $2,500, which he believed was a legitimate donation to his legal defense fund, his lawyer, John Michael Vazquez, said.
If convicted, Suarez would have faced up to 20 years in prison.
Ridgefield Mayor Anthony R. Suarez was found not guilty today of taking bribes from the informant who anchored last year’s sprawling FBI sting, marking the first time a public official has been acquitted of federal corruption charges in New Jersey in more than a decade.
The 43-year-old Democrat closed his eyes and wept as the jury forewoman in Newark read the verdict clearing him of bribery and extortion charges, rejecting allegations that he took $10,000 from an informant who masqueraded as a developer trying to buy off politicians.
“I always had faith people would see the truth,” said Suarez, standing in the rain during a brief news conference outside the courthouse.
He was charged along with scores of others in last year’s massive bribery and money-laundering sting, including five rabbis and more a dozen public officials. Of all the politicians charged, Suarez is the only one who remains in office.
His codefendant, Vincent Tabbachino, a tax preparer and former Guttenberg police officer, was convicted of bribery and extortion.
Suarez was accused of taking $10,000 in bribes from Solomon Dwek, a one-time rabbinical student who became the most prodigious informant ever to wear a wire in New Jersey.
The informant's work led to charges against 46 people in a money-laundering and bribery probe that ensnared five rabbis, three mayors and two state legislators.
Two politicians have been convicted, and 20 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty.
Dwek began cooperating with the FBI in 2006 after being charged with a $50 million bank fraud. He worked his way across the state, wearing a tiny hidden video camera on his belly as he tried to talk rabbis into laundering money and convince public officials to take bribes.
Suarez's lawyer argued that the mayor never knowingly took an illicit dime.
He turned down $10,000 cash. He never deposited a $10,000 check. And, ultimately, the 43-year-old
Democrat kept just $2,500, which he believed was a legitimate donation to his legal defense fund, his lawyer, John Michael Vazquez, said.
If convicted, Suarez would have faced up to 20 years in prison.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Edgar Stahl's Body Found
Are the rumors true this time? Breaking news through the Associated Press reports that the not so deceased Edgar Stahl has turned up on St. Maarten in the Virgin Islands.
The owner of Stahl’s Demolition disappeared nearly two years ago from Sea View, New Jersey. Stahl’s presumed murder helped feed the media blitz surrounding accused Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, who was tried for the crime. Blande, who is still generally assumed to be the Satin Strangler, was nonetheless acquitted of criminal charges. The prosecution in the case relied heavily on surveillance footage of Blande entering Stahl’s boat, where the demolition man was last seen, as well as DNA evidence linking her to the scene of the supposed crime. Their inability to produce a murder weapon, a witness, or even a body proved insurmountable, however.
Stahl’s family later sued Blande in a civil case for wrongful death, winning $38 million in damages.
Satin Strangler fans have had a field day with the Stahl story. The internet spawned numerous new websites dedicated to the demolition man and countless on-line posts using Stahl’s name as a signature. In fact, there have been so many Stahl “wanna-bes” posting comments on bulletin boards and blog sites that today’s reports from St. Maarten were initially dismissed as being fabricated.
Police in St. Maarten report that Stahl was arrested for unpaid moped parking tickets. The United States is now working with French authorities to extradite the former murder victim, who is in debt for more than two million dollars back in New Jersey. Stahl certainly has far more to worry about from creditors and the legal system than a few moped tickets.
The impact that this will have on the Destiny Blande civil case award is yet to be determined. Blande has not been seen since the murders of Horace Krouch and Barabbas Sabbarab, and nobody from the previously vocal Stahl family can be found for comment.
-----
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The owner of Stahl’s Demolition disappeared nearly two years ago from Sea View, New Jersey. Stahl’s presumed murder helped feed the media blitz surrounding accused Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, who was tried for the crime. Blande, who is still generally assumed to be the Satin Strangler, was nonetheless acquitted of criminal charges. The prosecution in the case relied heavily on surveillance footage of Blande entering Stahl’s boat, where the demolition man was last seen, as well as DNA evidence linking her to the scene of the supposed crime. Their inability to produce a murder weapon, a witness, or even a body proved insurmountable, however.
Stahl’s family later sued Blande in a civil case for wrongful death, winning $38 million in damages.
Satin Strangler fans have had a field day with the Stahl story. The internet spawned numerous new websites dedicated to the demolition man and countless on-line posts using Stahl’s name as a signature. In fact, there have been so many Stahl “wanna-bes” posting comments on bulletin boards and blog sites that today’s reports from St. Maarten were initially dismissed as being fabricated.
Police in St. Maarten report that Stahl was arrested for unpaid moped parking tickets. The United States is now working with French authorities to extradite the former murder victim, who is in debt for more than two million dollars back in New Jersey. Stahl certainly has far more to worry about from creditors and the legal system than a few moped tickets.
The impact that this will have on the Destiny Blande civil case award is yet to be determined. Blande has not been seen since the murders of Horace Krouch and Barabbas Sabbarab, and nobody from the previously vocal Stahl family can be found for comment.
-----
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Death on Eve of Premiere
Princeton, NJ.
Preliminary reports of Sinclair Blande’s sudden death have now been confirmed.
The father of suspected Satin Strangler Destiny Blande died at University Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack tonight. Daughter Cheryl stated that the owner of Neon Lights advertising began complaining of chest pain after returning from court in the afternoon. “He was furious at the court’s decision,” she said. “He was doubled over with pain but refused to go to the hospital.” She called for an ambulance after her father collapsed, but it was too late.
“He was in ventricular arrhythmia upon arrival,” a hospital spokesperson said. “He never regained consciousness.”
Blande’s infamous daughter Destiny, almost universally thought to be the Satin Strangler, was unavailable for comment.
-----
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Preliminary reports of Sinclair Blande’s sudden death have now been confirmed.
The father of suspected Satin Strangler Destiny Blande died at University Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack tonight. Daughter Cheryl stated that the owner of Neon Lights advertising began complaining of chest pain after returning from court in the afternoon. “He was furious at the court’s decision,” she said. “He was doubled over with pain but refused to go to the hospital.” She called for an ambulance after her father collapsed, but it was too late.
“He was in ventricular arrhythmia upon arrival,” a hospital spokesperson said. “He never regained consciousness.”
Blande’s infamous daughter Destiny, almost universally thought to be the Satin Strangler, was unavailable for comment.
-----
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Court Denies Blande Again
Trenton, NJ.
Sinclair Blande may be out of cards to play.
The advertising executive has been in battles with his daughter’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch, during the last year. First Blande sued Krouch for libel over the book, If She Did It, a presumably fictitious depiction of the Satin Strangler. Blande claimed that the lead character too closely resembled his daughter, Destiny Blande, who was acquitted of criminal charges but lost a civil case involving the Satin Strangler murders.
When Blande’s libel suit failed, he began fighting Krouch over the rights to the name “Satin Strangler.” He claimed the rights to all of Krouch’s Satin Strangler related ventures, vowing to halt all further book sales and prevent the opening of the Broadway play this weekend. A federal court ruled against Blande today, however, deciding that the Satin Strangler is now part of the public domain and “cannot be owned by either individual or anyone else.”
“This was an easy one,” Krouch commented while exiting the courtroom today. “Hopefully Mr. Blain is finished playing games. Come visit us on Broadway for the premiere on Friday night. Let the show begin.” We are not sure whether the reference to Blain, Krouch’s supposedly fictitious character, was a Freudian slip or an added dig at the defeated plaintiff.
For the first time in months of battling Krouch, Sinclair Blande was not available for comment. A family friend who wished to remain anonymous reported that the advertising executive has been under great stress from these legal battles and is suffering from severe fatigue.
That’s the dirt from the state capital.
-----
This is post #92 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
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Sinclair Blande may be out of cards to play.
The advertising executive has been in battles with his daughter’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch, during the last year. First Blande sued Krouch for libel over the book, If She Did It, a presumably fictitious depiction of the Satin Strangler. Blande claimed that the lead character too closely resembled his daughter, Destiny Blande, who was acquitted of criminal charges but lost a civil case involving the Satin Strangler murders.
When Blande’s libel suit failed, he began fighting Krouch over the rights to the name “Satin Strangler.” He claimed the rights to all of Krouch’s Satin Strangler related ventures, vowing to halt all further book sales and prevent the opening of the Broadway play this weekend. A federal court ruled against Blande today, however, deciding that the Satin Strangler is now part of the public domain and “cannot be owned by either individual or anyone else.”
“This was an easy one,” Krouch commented while exiting the courtroom today. “Hopefully Mr. Blain is finished playing games. Come visit us on Broadway for the premiere on Friday night. Let the show begin.” We are not sure whether the reference to Blain, Krouch’s supposedly fictitious character, was a Freudian slip or an added dig at the defeated plaintiff.
For the first time in months of battling Krouch, Sinclair Blande was not available for comment. A family friend who wished to remain anonymous reported that the advertising executive has been under great stress from these legal battles and is suffering from severe fatigue.
That’s the dirt from the state capital.
-----
This is post #92 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
Read the next post in TSSB.
tart TSSB from the first blog post.
See links to all 105 posts in TSSB.
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
tart TSSB from the first blog post.
See links to all 105 posts in TSSB.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010
Beldini Found Guilty
Newark, NJ.
Leona Beldini, a Jersey City deputy mayor arrested in last summer’s epic FBI sting, was convicted today on two of six corruption counts for taking bribes from a government informant who traversed the state with cash-filled envelopes and a gift for talking his way into meetings with powerful officials.
The 74-year-old Democrat stood impassively with her hands folded as a jury of eight men and four women in federal court in Newark announced she was guilty of accepting $20,000 in illegal campaign contributions from the informant, who posed as a developer offering bribes in exchange for building approvals.
Beldini was acquitted of four counts, including the three most serious: conspiracy to commit extortion and two counts of attempted extortion. She faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the two bribery counts, but could be sentenced to much less time under federal guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1.
The one-time burlesque dancer was charged last July in the money-laundering and corruption sting that netted five rabbis, three mayors, two assemblymen and one man accused of conspiring to sell a human kidney. Beldini was the first to face a jury.
"Every case like this that we bring is designed to send a message. And the message is that public service is about something other than enriching yourself and enriching your friends and your colleagues," U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.
Beldini’s lawyer, Brian J. Neary, denounced the verdict, saying it was "inconsistent" for jurors to acquit her of extortion, yet convict her of bribery. Both the extortion and bribery counts accused her of accepting the same $20,000 in campaign donations on behalf of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, who has not been charged. And they both accused her of agreeing to help the informant secure zoning changes for a 750-unit luxury condominium complex he claimed to be building.
Leona Beldini, a Jersey City deputy mayor arrested in last summer’s epic FBI sting, was convicted today on two of six corruption counts for taking bribes from a government informant who traversed the state with cash-filled envelopes and a gift for talking his way into meetings with powerful officials.
The 74-year-old Democrat stood impassively with her hands folded as a jury of eight men and four women in federal court in Newark announced she was guilty of accepting $20,000 in illegal campaign contributions from the informant, who posed as a developer offering bribes in exchange for building approvals.
Beldini was acquitted of four counts, including the three most serious: conspiracy to commit extortion and two counts of attempted extortion. She faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the two bribery counts, but could be sentenced to much less time under federal guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1.
The one-time burlesque dancer was charged last July in the money-laundering and corruption sting that netted five rabbis, three mayors, two assemblymen and one man accused of conspiring to sell a human kidney. Beldini was the first to face a jury.
"Every case like this that we bring is designed to send a message. And the message is that public service is about something other than enriching yourself and enriching your friends and your colleagues," U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.
Beldini’s lawyer, Brian J. Neary, denounced the verdict, saying it was "inconsistent" for jurors to acquit her of extortion, yet convict her of bribery. Both the extortion and bribery counts accused her of accepting the same $20,000 in campaign donations on behalf of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, who has not been charged. And they both accused her of agreeing to help the informant secure zoning changes for a 750-unit luxury condominium complex he claimed to be building.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Battle over Satin Strangler Rights
Princeton, NJ.
Sinclair Blande appears to be switching gears.
In recent months, Blande fought to prove that attorney Horace Krouch was guilty of libel in his New York Times best selling book, If She Did It. After losing the liable case, Blande has decided to sue Krouch on behalf of his daughter for the rights to the name “Satin Strangler” instead.
Blande is setting out to prove that his daughter Destiny has gained the rights to the Satin Strangler title. Although Destiny Blande was acquitted in the criminal case, she later lost a costly decision to Satin Strangler victim Edgar Stahl’s family in a civil suit. Early speculation was that Sinclair Blande was trying to establish a revenue stream to fund his daughter’s 38 million dollar civil damages to the Stahls. Instead, he has vowed to shut down all Satin Strangler branded enterprises, starting with Krouch’s book and upcoming Broadway play.
“Mister Krouch’s actions are damaging to our family,” Blande told reporters. “If the courts do not feel that he has been lying about my daughter, then our only option is to win the rights to his subject matter. He is a parasite. I won’t stop until we shut him up and shut him down.”
Destiny Blande, as always, was not available for comment.
Horace Krouch, who has apparently bounced back to his typical gregarious form since winning the liable case, provided a mouthful to reporters: “Well, is she the Satin Strangler or not? Even her father cannot determine an incontrovertible response to that question. Yesterday she was. Today she is not. While in pursuit of my money through his frivolous libel suit, he assured us of her innocence. Now he will have us believe that she is the Satin Strangler and also possesses of the rights to the name. Magnificent! My humble advice to Mr. Blande would be to focus on his parenting skills, rather than on my money.”
Krouch seems to know the dirt this time, and now so do you.
-----
This is post #77 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
Read the next post in TSSB.
Start TSSB from the first blog post.
See links to all 105 posts in TSSB.
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
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Sinclair Blande appears to be switching gears.
In recent months, Blande fought to prove that attorney Horace Krouch was guilty of libel in his New York Times best selling book, If She Did It. After losing the liable case, Blande has decided to sue Krouch on behalf of his daughter for the rights to the name “Satin Strangler” instead.
Blande is setting out to prove that his daughter Destiny has gained the rights to the Satin Strangler title. Although Destiny Blande was acquitted in the criminal case, she later lost a costly decision to Satin Strangler victim Edgar Stahl’s family in a civil suit. Early speculation was that Sinclair Blande was trying to establish a revenue stream to fund his daughter’s 38 million dollar civil damages to the Stahls. Instead, he has vowed to shut down all Satin Strangler branded enterprises, starting with Krouch’s book and upcoming Broadway play.
“Mister Krouch’s actions are damaging to our family,” Blande told reporters. “If the courts do not feel that he has been lying about my daughter, then our only option is to win the rights to his subject matter. He is a parasite. I won’t stop until we shut him up and shut him down.”
Destiny Blande, as always, was not available for comment.
Horace Krouch, who has apparently bounced back to his typical gregarious form since winning the liable case, provided a mouthful to reporters: “Well, is she the Satin Strangler or not? Even her father cannot determine an incontrovertible response to that question. Yesterday she was. Today she is not. While in pursuit of my money through his frivolous libel suit, he assured us of her innocence. Now he will have us believe that she is the Satin Strangler and also possesses of the rights to the name. Magnificent! My humble advice to Mr. Blande would be to focus on his parenting skills, rather than on my money.”
Krouch seems to know the dirt this time, and now so do you.
-----
This is post #77 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
Read the next post in TSSB.
Start TSSB from the first blog post.
See links to all 105 posts in TSSB.
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
If you are enjoying this free and unique online reading experience, please tell your friends.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Libel Case Decision
Trenton, NJ.
The Blande family received more bad news from the courts yesterday. Sinclair Blande, father of accused Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, lost his libel lawsuit case against his daughter’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch.
Blande was contesting the use of a character closely resembling Destiny in a fictionalized tale of the Satin Strangler. Krouch had his work cut out for him defending the book with the tongue-in-cheek title If She Did It. The protagonist and femme fatale, Daphne Blain, aka the Satin Strangler, is indistinguishable from Destiny Blande to any reader who hasn’t been hiding under a rock for the last year.
Krouch released three chapters of his book through his website, KrouchMurderDefense, and is now planning a nationwide marketing blitz during the release of the full print version in December.
It is obvious in even a cursory review of the first few pages of the book that the resemblance to Destiny is intentional, but proof of libel is another issue. The task at hand for her father was to prove that the book depicted statements of fact or mixed statements of fact and opinion, and that those statements were false. Common defenses in libel cases include proving that the statements reflected actual facts about the plaintiff, or that the statements made were intended to reflect a plausible opinion of the defendant.
Krouch legally represented himself in the case, stating that there were no other attorneys that he trusted more than himself. He was expected to make an argument that the lead character, Daphne Blain, was in no way meant to represent Destiny Blande. That was indeed where the defense started. When the plaintiff’s attorney began reading passages from the book, however, the projected outcome became dismal for Krouch. In an unusual twist, he converted mid-case to a secondary strategy, challenging the plaintiff’s attorneys to prove that Destiny Blande was not the Satin Strangler.
The burden of proof was inverted as the plaintiff’s attorneys struggled to document that the book’s statements about Blain, which they originally contended were about Blande, were actually false. In the statements of the jury and judge, this is where Blande’s attorneys were deficient. Unable to disprove that Destiny was the Satin Strangler, they lost the case. Krouch’s back-up strategy worked, primarily because few people other than the 12 jurors he persuaded in the criminal case actually think that Blande is innocent of the Satin Strangler crimes.
While this common law trial went Krouch’s way, it raises some concerns. If Krouch is felt to have released truthful information about Blande into print, then he is protected from allegations of libel. More importantly, however, he might actually be in breach of lawyer-client confidentiality, placing him at risk for disbarment.
“I have done nothing wrong,” Krouch told reporters after the case. “If you doubt that, then read the book and decide,” he added with a wink.
We have certainly not heard the end of the controversial book, If She Did It, which is scheduled to be released in hard copy next month. Krouch’s book has already sold 1.2 million copies through Amazon, only 400,000 shy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pre-sales.
We have probably not heard the end of the legal battles surrounding the book. “I am not finished yet,” was Sinclair Blande’s only comment following the court’s decision.
We will see what the dirt is on a possible appeal on this one and watch this story for you.
-----
This is post #66 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
If you are enjoying this free and unique online reading experience, please tell your friends.
The Blande family received more bad news from the courts yesterday. Sinclair Blande, father of accused Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, lost his libel lawsuit case against his daughter’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch.
Blande was contesting the use of a character closely resembling Destiny in a fictionalized tale of the Satin Strangler. Krouch had his work cut out for him defending the book with the tongue-in-cheek title If She Did It. The protagonist and femme fatale, Daphne Blain, aka the Satin Strangler, is indistinguishable from Destiny Blande to any reader who hasn’t been hiding under a rock for the last year.
Krouch released three chapters of his book through his website, KrouchMurderDefense, and is now planning a nationwide marketing blitz during the release of the full print version in December.
It is obvious in even a cursory review of the first few pages of the book that the resemblance to Destiny is intentional, but proof of libel is another issue. The task at hand for her father was to prove that the book depicted statements of fact or mixed statements of fact and opinion, and that those statements were false. Common defenses in libel cases include proving that the statements reflected actual facts about the plaintiff, or that the statements made were intended to reflect a plausible opinion of the defendant.
Krouch legally represented himself in the case, stating that there were no other attorneys that he trusted more than himself. He was expected to make an argument that the lead character, Daphne Blain, was in no way meant to represent Destiny Blande. That was indeed where the defense started. When the plaintiff’s attorney began reading passages from the book, however, the projected outcome became dismal for Krouch. In an unusual twist, he converted mid-case to a secondary strategy, challenging the plaintiff’s attorneys to prove that Destiny Blande was not the Satin Strangler.
The burden of proof was inverted as the plaintiff’s attorneys struggled to document that the book’s statements about Blain, which they originally contended were about Blande, were actually false. In the statements of the jury and judge, this is where Blande’s attorneys were deficient. Unable to disprove that Destiny was the Satin Strangler, they lost the case. Krouch’s back-up strategy worked, primarily because few people other than the 12 jurors he persuaded in the criminal case actually think that Blande is innocent of the Satin Strangler crimes.
While this common law trial went Krouch’s way, it raises some concerns. If Krouch is felt to have released truthful information about Blande into print, then he is protected from allegations of libel. More importantly, however, he might actually be in breach of lawyer-client confidentiality, placing him at risk for disbarment.
“I have done nothing wrong,” Krouch told reporters after the case. “If you doubt that, then read the book and decide,” he added with a wink.
We have certainly not heard the end of the controversial book, If She Did It, which is scheduled to be released in hard copy next month. Krouch’s book has already sold 1.2 million copies through Amazon, only 400,000 shy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pre-sales.
We have probably not heard the end of the legal battles surrounding the book. “I am not finished yet,” was Sinclair Blande’s only comment following the court’s decision.
We will see what the dirt is on a possible appeal on this one and watch this story for you.
-----
This is post #66 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
If you are enjoying this free and unique online reading experience, please tell your friends.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Most Eligible Bachelorette
People magazine may not have the guts. And forget about all those teeny bopper magazines. But here at The New Jersey Dirt, we have already selected our most eligible bachelorette of 2009. No need to wait until December. Using our criteria of sex appeal, AAA ratings on the paparazzi A-list, lifestyle, and wealth/earning potential, this year’s bachelorette, as selected by a record 24 of 26 members of our staff, is . . .
The Satin Strangler, Destiny Blande.
You may know her as that mild mannered office assistant from Neon Lights Advertising, or perhaps the lustful inspiration behind her lawyer’s book If She Did It, but most of us simply know and love her as high profile serial murderer Destiny Blande. Whether on a wild night on the town, or in a more intimate setting, she captivates her dates. She’s left a trail of now-famous men. She’s hot. She’s the latest craze. She’s exhilaration that will leave you gasping for air.
How would you like to win a date with Destiny? Well, we cannot actually promise a date with her. Similar to the rest of the media, we have yet to meet her. But if we did have a contest and you won, where would you take her? Please answer the survey below for a chance to win a $5 gift certificate to our on-line store.
SURVEY: Where would you take Destiny Blande on a first date?
A. Victoria’s Secret
-----
This is post #62 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
The Satin Strangler, Destiny Blande.
You may know her as that mild mannered office assistant from Neon Lights Advertising, or perhaps the lustful inspiration behind her lawyer’s book If She Did It, but most of us simply know and love her as high profile serial murderer Destiny Blande. Whether on a wild night on the town, or in a more intimate setting, she captivates her dates. She’s left a trail of now-famous men. She’s hot. She’s the latest craze. She’s exhilaration that will leave you gasping for air.
How would you like to win a date with Destiny? Well, we cannot actually promise a date with her. Similar to the rest of the media, we have yet to meet her. But if we did have a contest and you won, where would you take her? Please answer the survey below for a chance to win a $5 gift certificate to our on-line store.
SURVEY: Where would you take Destiny Blande on a first date?
A. Victoria’s Secret
B. Jekyll and Hyde’s Restaurant, NYC
C. Pink Pussycat shopm NYC
D. Your apartment
E. Bon Jovi concert
-----
This is post #62 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
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Saturday, October 3, 2009
Civil Case Judgment
Trenton, NJ.
“Do you believe that the defendant, Destiny Blande, willfully or wrongfully caused the death of Edgar Stahl by a preponderance of the evidence?”
“Yes, we do.”
The epic story that has captivated the public’s attention since the first few written pages has added a new chapter. Destiny Blande, the accused but recently acquitted Satin Strangler, was found guilty of wrongful death in the civil suit filed against her by the family of victim Edgar Stahl just moments ago.
Blande was acquitted in a criminal case for the NJ murders of Edgar Stahl and Grant Leighton earlier this year. The media frenzy of that trial gave us live feeds and constant coverage. To the disappointment of millions of spectators, Blande did not take the stand in the criminal case. Instead, audiences across the country watched her sitting silently, periodically piercing the cameras with her viridian laser-like eyes. This civil case would have been the moment we were waiting for, since by law she had to take the stand in the civil case, but it all happened behind closed doors.
The civil case loss was also different from the criminal case, resulting in an award of $8 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages to be paid to the Stahls.
Blande’s legal expenses from the civil trial, estimated at up to a million dollars, were fully funded by donations through a website called DestinyIsInnocent, paid in increments from $5 to $10,000, according to the website creators. Despite the name of the website, most of those donations are reported to come from people who believe Blande is guilty but are still supportive of her.
Further proceedings are scheduled to determine the value of Blande’s current assets owed to the plaintiffs. Traditional estimates place Blande’s net worth in the range of $150,000-250,000, but her personal items are predicted to sell for a premium in auction, perhaps fetching more than a third of the $38 million in damages owed to the Stahls. Regardless, Blande would most likely be forced into bankruptcy in the wake of the court decision, and could easily spend the rest of her life paying off the balance.
“This was Edgar’s last chance for justice,” a spokesperson for the Stahl family told reporters. “The criminal court blew the case, but now Destiny Blande is going to pay. She walks the streets with the appearance of a free woman, but we now own her. She’ll never keep another dollar. That’s what she deserves. It’s only a fraction of the price this killer should pay.”
“We vehemently contest the decision,” Blande’s attorney Barbara Randolph said. “We will definitely appeal.”
Blande was unavailable for comment.
That’s the dirt on the civil case.
-----
This is post #57 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
“Do you believe that the defendant, Destiny Blande, willfully or wrongfully caused the death of Edgar Stahl by a preponderance of the evidence?”
“Yes, we do.”
The epic story that has captivated the public’s attention since the first few written pages has added a new chapter. Destiny Blande, the accused but recently acquitted Satin Strangler, was found guilty of wrongful death in the civil suit filed against her by the family of victim Edgar Stahl just moments ago.
Blande was acquitted in a criminal case for the NJ murders of Edgar Stahl and Grant Leighton earlier this year. The media frenzy of that trial gave us live feeds and constant coverage. To the disappointment of millions of spectators, Blande did not take the stand in the criminal case. Instead, audiences across the country watched her sitting silently, periodically piercing the cameras with her viridian laser-like eyes. This civil case would have been the moment we were waiting for, since by law she had to take the stand in the civil case, but it all happened behind closed doors.
The civil case loss was also different from the criminal case, resulting in an award of $8 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages to be paid to the Stahls.
Blande’s legal expenses from the civil trial, estimated at up to a million dollars, were fully funded by donations through a website called DestinyIsInnocent, paid in increments from $5 to $10,000, according to the website creators. Despite the name of the website, most of those donations are reported to come from people who believe Blande is guilty but are still supportive of her.
Further proceedings are scheduled to determine the value of Blande’s current assets owed to the plaintiffs. Traditional estimates place Blande’s net worth in the range of $150,000-250,000, but her personal items are predicted to sell for a premium in auction, perhaps fetching more than a third of the $38 million in damages owed to the Stahls. Regardless, Blande would most likely be forced into bankruptcy in the wake of the court decision, and could easily spend the rest of her life paying off the balance.
“This was Edgar’s last chance for justice,” a spokesperson for the Stahl family told reporters. “The criminal court blew the case, but now Destiny Blande is going to pay. She walks the streets with the appearance of a free woman, but we now own her. She’ll never keep another dollar. That’s what she deserves. It’s only a fraction of the price this killer should pay.”
“We vehemently contest the decision,” Blande’s attorney Barbara Randolph said. “We will definitely appeal.”
Blande was unavailable for comment.
That’s the dirt on the civil case.
-----
This is post #57 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
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Friday, July 24, 2009
Libel Suit Filed
Princeton, NJ.
Sinclair Blande, father of alleged Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, has filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against Horace Krouch, accusing his daughter’s criminal defense attorney of libel with regard to the widely publicized book If She Did It.
“The book is a condemnation of my daughter and our family name,” Blande stated. “He was the one she chose to defend her, for chrissakes, but instead he is declaring her guilty and capitalizing on her demise. Krouch says the book is not about Destiny, but everyone knows it is meant to be her story, even if it appears on the fiction shelves at the bookstore.”
The book’s opening chapter, Finding the First Victim, begins with the line, “You never forget your first kill.” The lead character, Daphne Blain, shows an obvious, in fact indistinguishable, resemblance to Blande in both name and appearance. Daphne stalks potential male prey through a bar, licking her lips like a lupine nymphomaniac, and thinking, “Any of these men would be fun to sleep with and even more fun to kill.” The chapter ends as she selects a blonde crew cut waiter closely reminiscent of the Satin Strangler’s first victim, Phillip Stewart.
The timing of real life events is indeed bizarre. Blande’s acquittal in criminal court was quickly followed by the announcement of the civil suit filed against her by Satin Strangler victim Edgar Stahl’s family. Krouch then released the first two chapters of his book as blog entries on his website over the last few weeks. Krouch plans to follow these two on-line teaser chapters with a hard copy release worldwide.
Sinclair Blande’s lawsuit would only seem to complicate matters for his daughter. We can barely speculate what will happen next; so far we’ve been getting it all wrong with this one. How will all these distractions affect the wrongful death civil case against Blande’s infamous daughter Destiny? Will Krouch’s story ever make it to press? Your guess is a good as ours.
We’ll keep giving you the dirt on this one.
-----
This is post #54 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
Sinclair Blande, father of alleged Satin Strangler Destiny Blande, has filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against Horace Krouch, accusing his daughter’s criminal defense attorney of libel with regard to the widely publicized book If She Did It.
“The book is a condemnation of my daughter and our family name,” Blande stated. “He was the one she chose to defend her, for chrissakes, but instead he is declaring her guilty and capitalizing on her demise. Krouch says the book is not about Destiny, but everyone knows it is meant to be her story, even if it appears on the fiction shelves at the bookstore.”
The book’s opening chapter, Finding the First Victim, begins with the line, “You never forget your first kill.” The lead character, Daphne Blain, shows an obvious, in fact indistinguishable, resemblance to Blande in both name and appearance. Daphne stalks potential male prey through a bar, licking her lips like a lupine nymphomaniac, and thinking, “Any of these men would be fun to sleep with and even more fun to kill.” The chapter ends as she selects a blonde crew cut waiter closely reminiscent of the Satin Strangler’s first victim, Phillip Stewart.
The timing of real life events is indeed bizarre. Blande’s acquittal in criminal court was quickly followed by the announcement of the civil suit filed against her by Satin Strangler victim Edgar Stahl’s family. Krouch then released the first two chapters of his book as blog entries on his website over the last few weeks. Krouch plans to follow these two on-line teaser chapters with a hard copy release worldwide.
Sinclair Blande’s lawsuit would only seem to complicate matters for his daughter. We can barely speculate what will happen next; so far we’ve been getting it all wrong with this one. How will all these distractions affect the wrongful death civil case against Blande’s infamous daughter Destiny? Will Krouch’s story ever make it to press? Your guess is a good as ours.
We’ll keep giving you the dirt on this one.
-----
This is post #54 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
NJ Corruption Sting
Trenton, NJ.
Federal authorities arrested 44 people in New Jersey and New York in a broad-ranging corruption and international money laundering investigation that led to charges against two N.J. assemblyman and mayors of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield. The FBI and IRS investigation also ensnared rabbis from the Syrian Jewish communities in Deal and Brooklyn.
At the center of the case was Solomon Dwek, a failed Deal real estate developer. After he was caught allegedly trying to pull off a $50 million bank scam, he agreed to wear a wire and was allegedly able to ensnare the public officials and religious leaders in a massive web of money laundering, corruption and fraud.
Federal authorities arrested 44 people in New Jersey and New York in a broad-ranging corruption and international money laundering investigation that led to charges against two N.J. assemblyman and mayors of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield. The FBI and IRS investigation also ensnared rabbis from the Syrian Jewish communities in Deal and Brooklyn.
At the center of the case was Solomon Dwek, a failed Deal real estate developer. After he was caught allegedly trying to pull off a $50 million bank scam, he agreed to wear a wire and was allegedly able to ensnare the public officials and religious leaders in a massive web of money laundering, corruption and fraud.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Civil Suit Announced
Trenton, NJ.
In the wake of the widely publicized Satin Strangler criminal trial acquittal, the family of murder victim Edgar Stahl has announced a civil suit against Destiny Blande.
“Despite the jury’s decision in the criminal case, we know Blande is guilty’” said Wynn Cravens, the family’s attorney. “We want her to pay for her crimes and the damage they have done to this family.” He added that they are hoping to get the trial underway as soon as possible in an attempt to minimize the psychological toll on the family.
Blande is now thought to have strangled more than 80 men along the east coast. Her father, Sinclair Blande, owner of Neon Lights advertising agency, called the allegations “completely absurd and unfounded.” “Destiny is innocent,” he said. “Her trial in this state has already proven that. This is double jeopardy. They have no case against her.”
Destiny Blande’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch, will not be at her side in this trial. She has instead chosen local defense attorney Barbara Randolph to assist her. “This is a witch hunt,” Randolph said. “She was proven innocent in the criminal trial, and we will prove her innocent of these allegations as well.”
In the civil case, the plaintiff’s attorney will be required to show only a “preponderance of the evidence” that Blande is guilty, allowing a jury to determine if there is at least a 50.1% chance of guilt. This differs greatly from a criminal case, in which the burden of proof is substantially higher, requiring evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant is guilty. Only 9 of 12 jurors are needed for a decision, rather than the unanimous decisions required in criminal cases. Unlike the criminal case, Blande cannot plead the 5th amendment and refuse to take the stand. She may be required to testify in her defense if called to the stand.
There is much speculation over the anticipated outcome of the civil suit against Destiny Blande, who is already in dire financial straights, according to insiders. Blande, who has preferred to remain in obscurity behind a snowballing frenzy of media attention since her arrest for the Satin Strangler murders, was not available for comment.
That’s the dirt from Trenton.
-----
This is post #44 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
In the wake of the widely publicized Satin Strangler criminal trial acquittal, the family of murder victim Edgar Stahl has announced a civil suit against Destiny Blande.
“Despite the jury’s decision in the criminal case, we know Blande is guilty’” said Wynn Cravens, the family’s attorney. “We want her to pay for her crimes and the damage they have done to this family.” He added that they are hoping to get the trial underway as soon as possible in an attempt to minimize the psychological toll on the family.
Blande is now thought to have strangled more than 80 men along the east coast. Her father, Sinclair Blande, owner of Neon Lights advertising agency, called the allegations “completely absurd and unfounded.” “Destiny is innocent,” he said. “Her trial in this state has already proven that. This is double jeopardy. They have no case against her.”
Destiny Blande’s criminal defense attorney, Horace Krouch, will not be at her side in this trial. She has instead chosen local defense attorney Barbara Randolph to assist her. “This is a witch hunt,” Randolph said. “She was proven innocent in the criminal trial, and we will prove her innocent of these allegations as well.”
In the civil case, the plaintiff’s attorney will be required to show only a “preponderance of the evidence” that Blande is guilty, allowing a jury to determine if there is at least a 50.1% chance of guilt. This differs greatly from a criminal case, in which the burden of proof is substantially higher, requiring evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant is guilty. Only 9 of 12 jurors are needed for a decision, rather than the unanimous decisions required in criminal cases. Unlike the criminal case, Blande cannot plead the 5th amendment and refuse to take the stand. She may be required to testify in her defense if called to the stand.
There is much speculation over the anticipated outcome of the civil suit against Destiny Blande, who is already in dire financial straights, according to insiders. Blande, who has preferred to remain in obscurity behind a snowballing frenzy of media attention since her arrest for the Satin Strangler murders, was not available for comment.
That’s the dirt from Trenton.
-----
This is post #44 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
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Sunday, May 3, 2009
Satin Strangler Verdict
Sea View, NJ.
In the widely publicized Satin Strangler trial, the jury in the case against Destiny Blande reached a shocking verdict of “not guilty” today.
Prosecuting attorney Ned Danton summarized the evidence in the case two days ago. Numerous character witnesses described the sadomasochistic undercurrent hidden beneath the demure veneer of Blande. The graphic testimony of ex-boyfriend Mitch Carlson was titillating, painting a picture of a woman progressively scorned to the point of igniting an anti-male vendetta.
The key to the prosecution’s case resided in evidence linking Blande to the scenes of the two New Jersey murders attributed to the Satin Strangler. A now well publicized surveillance video showed Blande entering the Sea View Marina the night of Edgar Stahl’s disappearance. Footage at that site was sporadic, not just for that particular evening. As a result, Blande was never seen leaving the marina, and exactly what happened to Stahl will remain a mystery. The evidence in the Grant Leighton case was more tenuous and placed Blande within 20 miles of the victim’s home on the night of the murder.
As though the absence of victim Edgar Stahl’s body and fragmented video evidence were not enough, the Achilles heel in the case proved to be the missing alleged murder weapons confiscated at Destiny Blande’s room at the Oceanview Motel the night of the arrest. The descriptions of the evidence in the police reports perfectly match last week’s eBay sale items that raised a media storm.
Danton read the weapons report to the jury, describing each set of satin stockings, down to the detail of the lace garter belt. He waved his hands in the air in a vain attempt to demonstrate that the missing stockings would have made a strangulation weapon of choice in the small hands of the defendant. He ended his summation with the phantom stockings still invisible somewhere in front of him as the jury, perplexed and unconvinced, gazed into the void.
Defense attorney Horace Krouch took center stage for his summation yesterday. He flashed his white-out smile, wiped his entire face several times with a handkerchief, and ran a hand along his slick Gordon Gecko hair before approaching the jury. Krouch first focused on the missing victim and then on the infamous eBay stockings, contesting that there had been tampering of the evidence. He described Blande as a delicate woman, not hateful or powerful enough to commit the murders in question. From his perspective, the gruesome details of the Leighton autopsy were important, not as a reason to seek full retribution, but rather as proof that Blande was innocent.
The defendant, Destiny Blande, never took the stand. She remained ever calm during the final morning, like a woman unnerved by or oblivious to the implications of a guilty verdict. Her librarian smile never wavered. Her viridian eyes continued to mesmerize the jury and audience, even through the final moments as Judge Grey spoke before the deliberation.
In less than three hours, the jury reached a “not guilty” verdict. All eyes turned to Destiny Blande as the verdict was read. She still showed little emotion at the news, simply nodding while gathering her paperwork into a yellow leather purse.
The biggest surprise came when Blande was allowed to leave the courtroom a free woman. Legal experts expected her to be transported to Virginia and eventually Georgia to face the next of her series of murder charges. While watching the New Jersey trial, however, prosecutors in Virginia and Georgia got cold feet.
On his way out of the courtroom, defense attorney Horace Krouch stated, “We are thrilled about the decision. We are relieved that the jury was able to come to the right decision. It demonstrates that with a methodical approach, even a seemingly lopsided case replete with convicting evidence can still be won by a strong defense. This was my most difficult case since my days at Yale Law School. Justice has been served. Destiny can now return to her normal life."
Whether Ms. Blande will be able to lead a normal life remains to be seen. The press collapsed around her as she exited the courthouse with Mr. Krouch. She smiled politely and silently evaded the microphones while shielded by Krouch.
That’s the dirt from the courthouse.
-----
This is post #37 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
In the widely publicized Satin Strangler trial, the jury in the case against Destiny Blande reached a shocking verdict of “not guilty” today.
Prosecuting attorney Ned Danton summarized the evidence in the case two days ago. Numerous character witnesses described the sadomasochistic undercurrent hidden beneath the demure veneer of Blande. The graphic testimony of ex-boyfriend Mitch Carlson was titillating, painting a picture of a woman progressively scorned to the point of igniting an anti-male vendetta.
The key to the prosecution’s case resided in evidence linking Blande to the scenes of the two New Jersey murders attributed to the Satin Strangler. A now well publicized surveillance video showed Blande entering the Sea View Marina the night of Edgar Stahl’s disappearance. Footage at that site was sporadic, not just for that particular evening. As a result, Blande was never seen leaving the marina, and exactly what happened to Stahl will remain a mystery. The evidence in the Grant Leighton case was more tenuous and placed Blande within 20 miles of the victim’s home on the night of the murder.
As though the absence of victim Edgar Stahl’s body and fragmented video evidence were not enough, the Achilles heel in the case proved to be the missing alleged murder weapons confiscated at Destiny Blande’s room at the Oceanview Motel the night of the arrest. The descriptions of the evidence in the police reports perfectly match last week’s eBay sale items that raised a media storm.
Danton read the weapons report to the jury, describing each set of satin stockings, down to the detail of the lace garter belt. He waved his hands in the air in a vain attempt to demonstrate that the missing stockings would have made a strangulation weapon of choice in the small hands of the defendant. He ended his summation with the phantom stockings still invisible somewhere in front of him as the jury, perplexed and unconvinced, gazed into the void.
Defense attorney Horace Krouch took center stage for his summation yesterday. He flashed his white-out smile, wiped his entire face several times with a handkerchief, and ran a hand along his slick Gordon Gecko hair before approaching the jury. Krouch first focused on the missing victim and then on the infamous eBay stockings, contesting that there had been tampering of the evidence. He described Blande as a delicate woman, not hateful or powerful enough to commit the murders in question. From his perspective, the gruesome details of the Leighton autopsy were important, not as a reason to seek full retribution, but rather as proof that Blande was innocent.
The defendant, Destiny Blande, never took the stand. She remained ever calm during the final morning, like a woman unnerved by or oblivious to the implications of a guilty verdict. Her librarian smile never wavered. Her viridian eyes continued to mesmerize the jury and audience, even through the final moments as Judge Grey spoke before the deliberation.
In less than three hours, the jury reached a “not guilty” verdict. All eyes turned to Destiny Blande as the verdict was read. She still showed little emotion at the news, simply nodding while gathering her paperwork into a yellow leather purse.
The biggest surprise came when Blande was allowed to leave the courtroom a free woman. Legal experts expected her to be transported to Virginia and eventually Georgia to face the next of her series of murder charges. While watching the New Jersey trial, however, prosecutors in Virginia and Georgia got cold feet.
On his way out of the courtroom, defense attorney Horace Krouch stated, “We are thrilled about the decision. We are relieved that the jury was able to come to the right decision. It demonstrates that with a methodical approach, even a seemingly lopsided case replete with convicting evidence can still be won by a strong defense. This was my most difficult case since my days at Yale Law School. Justice has been served. Destiny can now return to her normal life."
Whether Ms. Blande will be able to lead a normal life remains to be seen. The press collapsed around her as she exited the courthouse with Mr. Krouch. She smiled politely and silently evaded the microphones while shielded by Krouch.
That’s the dirt from the courthouse.
-----
This is post #37 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
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