The man on the grassy knoll and in other news, some lying cops get arrested!

Everyone remember the man on the grassy knoll that conspiracy theorists are convinced was the second (maybe third) shooter that fateful day in 1963 when JFK was shot?  There are several compelling arguments to support the theory of a second shooter that was on the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza when the President was shot, sure we know about Oswald in the sixth floor of the book depository, but one can't discount the possibility of the second shooter.  Some believe that this second shooter was the man that really killed JFK and that Oswald was just a "patsy" or a pawn for the real culprits responsible for the assassination, if you follow this theory, the man on the grassy knoll was an indispensable member of the conspiracy.  Unfortunately though, no one was ever able to locate the man on the grassy knoll, whether through poor investigatory work or (get your tin foil hat on) some sort of conspiracy, this second shooter has disappeared into the annals of history without a trace and all we're left to believe is the "official" version of events proffered by the government from that day.

Can you imagine being able to go back to the grassy knoll and finding the second shooter?  Imagine being able to talk with and question this indispensable member of the "conspiracy"?  What does the grassy knoll have to do with our story?  Put the tin foil hats away, we don't need a stretch of the imagination or a conspiracy theory for this one.  Let's take a look at some rare footage of said "grassy knoll" and see if we can find any clues...

Wait a minute!  Take a look between the tree and the building on the upper right hand of the photo, what is that there?  Is that actually "the man on the grassy knoll"?!  Let's use some of the high tech investigatory skills that we've gleaned from watching CSI shows on TV to blow up this blurry image...

WHOA!  I can almost make out his face!  Let's blow it up a bit more...

 

My god!  Could it be?!  Let's blow it up once more...

ZOINKS!  It's none other than Bernardo Barrera, the man who claimed that his identity was stolen for the purchase of the Oak Avenue home that's at the center of one of our mortgage fraud stories!!  Now, of course Mr. Barrera wasn't at the grassy knoll back in 1963 (or was he?), but he's just as important to our theory of how the mortgage fraud involving the Oak Avenue home went down as the second shooter aka "the man on the grassy knoll" was to the assassination of JFK.  The man on the grassy knoll may have gotten away, but ole Bernie is still right here in Miami, for those of you in the PD or the SAO with a modicum of common sense, don't you think it may be a good idea to take another look at Bernie again?  There's so much that ace Detective Baluja and "veteran" prosecutor Kostrzewski missed, in their investigation, take our word for it, there's a treasure trove of information in the case file that's been overlooked.  Perhaps we're naive though, maybe the powers that be really do know what time it is with Mr. Barrera and are just refusing to do anything about it, no worries though, we'll outline our findings here regardless...

I'm sure by now everyone's heard about the story from last Friday regarding the three Miami Dade county cops that were federally indicted for "their involvement in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, make false statements, and commit perjury...".  WHOA!  What was that Detective Baluja?  Let's take a look at the press release from the FBI website...

Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office; and James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announced that a federal grand jury returned an Indictment against three Miami-Dade Police Department officers in connection with their involvement in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, make false statements, and commit perjury in a federal criminal case.
The Indictment charges Officers Jorge Luis Gonzalez, 27, and Alkibiades Dodge, 37, and Sergeant Waell Majed Farraj, 33, with conspiracy to make false statements, obstruct justice, and commit perjury, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, making false statements to a federal agent, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, and obstruction of justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503. In addition, Officer Gonzalez and Sergeant Farraj are charged with committing perjury in their sworn testimony before a United States District Judge, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1623(a).
The charges in the Indictment arise out of the actions of these three defendants in connection with the arrest and subsequent federal prosecution of an individual (“P.M.”) on a firearms possession charge. As alleged in the Indictment, the three defendants made false statements, and wrote and used Miami-Dade Police Department documents containing false statements, concerning the circumstances surrounding the stop and search of a vehicle in which P.M. was a passenger. The defendants then allegedly provided this false information and these documents to an agent of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on the evening of the stop and seizure, and P.M. was arrested by federal authorities.
After P.M. was charged federally, all three defendants allegedly perpetuated the obstruction of justice scheme, and Gonzalez and Farraj committed perjury by testifying to the same false account while under oath at a hearing before the presiding judge, United States District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. This material false sworn testimony was given in a suppression hearing which Judge Altonaga was conducting to determine whether the firearm seized from the vehicle, and the statements made by P.M., would be admissible against P.M. in his trial. When the criminal conduct of these three officers was uncovered, the government then dismissed the case against P.M.
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman said, “Our system of justice is based on the integrity and truthfulness of every witness that testifies in court. Law enforcement officers, like any other witnesses, are sworn to tell the truth. When any witness lies under oath or conspires to obstruct justice, our system of justice is undermined. The damage is twofold when it is a police officer who lies or obstructs justice: it not only weakens the public’s faith in our legal system, but also shakes the public’s confidence in police officers who are sworn to uphold the laws. As prosecutors and law enforcement officers, it is our responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the legal system.”
John V. Gilles, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Office, added, "A police officer’s integrity is never negotiable. It is the backbone of every law enforcement agency and a department will not be successful if it doesn’t have the trust of the people it serves. We are fortunate to have a professional, well-respected organization such as the Miami-Dade County Police Department. Unfortunately, a few police officers have betrayed the oath they took and will be held accountable for their actions, losing not only their jobs but their reputations. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to root out those officers who have not lived up to the high ethical standards law enforcement officers are proud to uphold."
Miami-Dade Police Department Director James K. Loftus states, “Anytime there is an allegation of official misconduct against a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department, that questions integrity and professionalism, we will cooperate and conduct an impartial and thorough investigation. Although the allegation of perjury is very serious, the majority of the men and women of the Miami-Dade Police Department are hardworking dedicated individuals that do an outstanding job of protecting the citizens and enforcing the laws of the State of Florida. Miami-Dade Police Department will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to address all allegations of criminal behavior, even if it hits home.”
If convicted of all the charges, defendant Gonzalez faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of 30 years, defendant Farraj faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of 25 years, and defendant Dodge faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of 20 years. The initial appearance will be Friday, February 12, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable Chris M. McAliley in Miami. The case has been assigned to District Court Judge Donald Middlebrooks.

 Oh boy.  Pay specific attention to the new MDPD director James K. Loftus when he states the following:

“Anytime there is an allegation of official misconduct against a member of the Miami-Dade Police Department, that questions integrity and professionalism, we will cooperate and conduct an impartial and thorough investigation.  Although the allegation of perjury is very serious..."

Oh really?  The allegation of of official misconduct and perjury is serious?  Director Loftus, how many instances of obstruction of justice, perjury and suborning perjury by Detective Jorge Baluja would you like me to illustrate?  Do you really take these allegations seriously or is that just lip service for a press release?  As much as I'd like to believe Director Loftus, it sounds like the latter to me.