Investigative Journalist Mel Ayton Pens #JusticeDenied about Intrigue, Assassinations and Black Power in Bermuda

Justice Denied - Bermuda’s Black Militants, the “Third Man,” and the Assassinations of a Police Chief and Governor is the first full account of the 1972/1973 assassinations of Bermuda’s governor, Richard Sharples, and police chief, George Duckett. The book includes a Foreword by Dr. Carol Shuman, a former journalist with the Bermuda Sun and Mid Ocean News.

During the 1970s, a black power organization in Bermuda, which modeled itself on the American Black Panthers, conspired to bring about social change “by any means necessary,” including assassination. The struggle for equal rights in Bermuda during this period both imitated events in the United States and was heavily influenced by them. This is especially true for the role American black militants played in encouraging Bermuda’s youth to challenge the white power structure on the island. Bermuda became the first nation to suffer the violent effects of the importation of 1960s-style American Black Power militancy. As a result, Governor Sharples, Police Chief George Duckett and others were murdered.

Justice Denied points the finger of guilt at a faction of the black militant group led by the ‘Third Man’, who controlled the convicted assassins. The author names the Bermuda businessman, a convicted drug dealer who assisted the assassins in financing their political aims through drug deals and bank robberies. Ayton also concludes that the real story about the assassinations was ‘whitewashed’ by consecutive Bermudian governments in the interests of racial harmony.

This investigative book is based on interviews with police officers involved in the investigation into the assassinations and murders, as well as interviews with prison officers familiar with two members of the assassination team. Additional material for the book was gleaned from the previously secret Scotland Yard murder files, British Foreign Office files, court records, newspaper archives and interviews with the Bermudian governor’s widow.

Paul Donnelley, author of 501 Most Notorious Crimes, says of Justice Denied, "Murders in paradise... Mel Ayton has proved in previous books that he has a consummate skill for unraveling the facts behind conspiracies or debunking them where they don't exist (JFK, RFK, MLK to name but three). His latest book is no exception. It reads like a thriller, but every word is true and his telling of racism, riots, murders, and cover-ups on Bermuda makes this an unputdownable page-turner."

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Attorney General Eric Holder Issues Statement on Same-Sex Marriages in Michigan

Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the status of same-sex marriages performed in the state of Michigan:

“I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government.  These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were lawful and valid when entered into, although Michigan will not extend state rights and benefits tied to these marriages pending further legal proceedings.  For purposes of federal law, as I announced in January with respect to similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah, these Michigan couples will not be asked to wait for further resolution in the courts before they may seek federal benefits to which they are entitled.

“Last June’s decision by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor was a victory for equal protection under the law and a historic step toward equality for all American families.  The Department of Justice continues to work with its federal partners to implement this decision across the government.  And we will remain steadfast in our commitment to realizing our country’s founding ideals of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.”

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6 Individuals Associated with the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union Arrested

A criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in the Eastern District of New York charging Benjamin Castellazzo, Jr.; Rocco Giangregorio; Glenn LaChance, Rocco Miraglia, also known as “Irving,” and Anthony Turzio, also known as “the Irish Guy,” with conspiring to defraud the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union (NMDU) and Hudson News in order to obtain a union card and employment at Hudson News for Castellazzo, Jr.

In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Thomas Leonessa, also known as “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme. The indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, New York, on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.

Castellazzo, Jr., Giangregorio, LaChance, Miraglia, Turzio, and Leonessa were arrested earlier today, and their initial appearances are scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George C. Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office.

As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. NMDU members deliver newspapers for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and El Diario. Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.

Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News—as well as an alleged associate of the Colombo organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family—conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, who was an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo, Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News. Castellazzo, Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family. Giangregorio and LaChance, who were business agents for the NMDU, also are charged with participating in this scheme.

As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, New York, to New Jersey. He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, New York. From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show” job at the New York Post, that is, a job for which he was paid wages and benefits but which he did not perform. When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.

“Today’s arrests indicate that the NMDU and the newspaper delivery industry are, sadly, still subject to the influence of organized crime,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We cannot tolerate corruption in that industry, which is relied on by newspaper readers throughout New York City and beyond. We will prosecute anyone who seeks to obtain employment—or to maintain “no show” employment—in that industry by trading on the power of organized crime. Such acts not only lead to ill-gotten gains, but they also displace innocent, hard-working union members and would-be union members from jobs they have rightfully earned. We thank our partners at the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, for their tremendous efforts to identify and root out these corrupt practices.” Ms. Lynch also extended her grateful appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, and Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor for their assistance.

“As alleged, a paycheck in exchange for a hard day’s work was a foreign concept to these defendants. Instead, they engaged in a scheme to defraud the NMDU and Hudson News for easy money and personal gain. The FBI, along with its law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue allegations of corruption and fraud all levels,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.

The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The charges in the complaint and indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geddes and Allon Lifshitz and by Trial Attorney Joseph Wheatley of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.

Defendants:

Benjamin Castellazzo, Jr.
Age: 48
Manahawkin, New Jersey

Rocco Giangregorio
Age: 39
Dumont, New Jersey

Glenn LaChance
Age: 50
Oceanside, New York

Rocco Miraglia
Age: 43
Staten Island, New York

Anthony Turzio
Age: 78
New York, New York

Thomas Leonessa
Age: 52
High Bridge, New Jersey

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5 Charged with Conspiring to Fraudulently Obtain Union Job for Organized Crime Underboss

Five men have been charged in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to defraud the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union (NMDU) and Hudson News newsstands to obtain a union card and employment at Hudson News newsstands for the son of the alleged underboss of the Colombo family of La Cosa Nostra.

A criminal complaint was unsealed charging Benjamin Castellazzo Jr., Rocco Giangregorio, Glenn LaChance, Rocco Miraglia, aka “Irving,” and Anthony Turzio, aka “the Irish Guy,” with mail fraud conspiracy.  The five men were arrested and their initial appearances are scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging Thomas Leonessa, aka “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme.   The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.

The charges were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and Assistant Director in Charge George C. Venizelos of the FBI’s New York Field Office.

As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.   NMDU members deliver newspapers for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post and El Diario.  Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.

Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News – as well as an associate of the Colombo organized crime family and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family – conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News.   Castellazzo Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family.   Giangregorio and LaChance, who are business agents for the NMDU, also participated on this scheme.

As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, N.Y., to New Jersey.   He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, N.Y.   From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show job” – a job for which he was paid wages and benefits for services he did not perform – at the New York Post.   When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.

Leonessa is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y.

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Dr. Naeem Mahmood Kohli, of the Kohli Neurology and Sleep Center, Indicted on Charges of Health Care Fraud and Illegal Dispensation of Controlled Substances

A federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois returned a 15-count indictment against an Effingham County doctor, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. The indictment was opened upon the arrest and arraignment of the doctor in Benton, Illinois.

Naeem Mahmood Kohli, 59, of Effingham, Illinois, operated the Kohli Neurology and Sleep Center, located on North Maple in Effingham, Illinois. The indictment alleges that, for some patients, Kohli did not operate a legitimate medical practice but instead was engaged in a scheme to illegally distribute controlled substances by running what was in essence a prescription service for drug addicts, commonly known as a pill mill. The indictment also alleges that Kohli defrauded Health Care Benefit Programs, namely, Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, by billing for services not provided.

In the indictment, Kohli is charged with the following offenses: (1) health care fraud in counts one through three, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum of three years’ supervised release; (2) illegal distribution of a Schedule II controlled substances (oxycodone, hydromorphone, and methadone) in counts four through 13, which carry penalties of a maximum of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, no less than three years’ supervised release; and (3) money laundering in counts 14 and 15, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and one year of supervised release. A $100 special assessment must be imposed on each count.

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