Custom Search

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Jurors mull corruption charges against Ramsey County sheriff's men "CONVICTED!"

Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.

35 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

Jurors mull corruption charges against Ramsey County sheriff's men
By David Hanners
dhanners@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 08/27/2008 11:47:27 AM CDT


Jurors this morning began deliberating the fate of two Ramsey County Sheriff's Department employees caught in an FBI "integrity test" in which they allegedly stole — and then sloppily tried to return — $6,000 they thought a drug dealer had left in a hotel room.

Their defense: They didn't steal the money, but rather were playing a practical joke on a deputy — a sergeant who led their unit — who was helping them search the room.

Beginning about 8:45 a.m., U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz spent an hour reading his final instructions to the jury of nine men and three women. He defined the terms and explained the law that applied.

He told jurors that if they believe that the men acted in good faith and that they were really trying to play a prank, then the men should be acquitted of those charges.

He also told them that violations of sheriff's office and police department policies involving the handling of evidence isn't a crime, but that the jury may consider the violations for purposes of intent.

The men on trial are Timothy Rehak and Mark Naylon, both 48 and longtime friends of Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. Rehak was a St. Paul cop for nearly 20 years before the sheriff hired him, and Naylon was a civilian who Fletcher hired as his spokesman.

Testimony in the 4 1/2-day trial showed that despite Naylon's title as public information officer, he played the role of a cop. He carried a sidearm, took home a squad car, participated in arrests, aided in searches and did other law-enforcement work — all with the implicit understanding among deputies that because of Naylon's status as a civilian, his name was not to appear on any reports or affidavits.

A federal grand jury indicted the two this year following an investigation that began in the summer of 2003. A convicted meth dealer-turned-informant who wanted to reduce the prison sentence he faced told the FBI that he could help them make corruption cases against cops.

At least one cop he fingered was Rehak, for whom he had long served as a snitch. The FBI had the informant, Shawn Phillip Arvin Sr., call Rehak and tell him that a drug dealer named "Vinnie" had left drugs and money in a room at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Paul.

Although no drugs were in the room, the FBI did plant a bag with $13,500 in it in the dresser. They also placed surveillance cameras (but no microphones) in the room. As federal agents watched in the adjoining room, Rehak, Naylon and Sheriff's Sgt. Rolland "Rollie" Martinez entered the room and began searching it.

Martinez was not a target of the sting and was unaware it was going on. While he began searching the bathroom, Rehak found the bag and emptied its contents on the bed. On the video, Naylon points to a roll of bills and Rehak picks up the roll and hands it to Naylon. Naylon then sticks the bills in his jacket pocket.

A few moments later, Naylon left the room, went down to his car in the parking lot and opened the trunk. The FBI contends that Naylon took the money out of his jacket and left it in his car.

Martinez later counted the money in the room and left a search warrant receipt for the amount he found, $7,500.

Naylon did not testify and his defense lawyer, Paul Rogosheske, called no witnesses. Rehak's defense consisted of two sheriff's department clerks, a deputy — and himself.

In direct testimony and a cross-examination that was sometimes direct, sometimes snarling but never apologetic, Rehak said Naylon had told him to give him the money because he wanted to play a practical joke on Martinez, who supervised the sheriff's Special Investigations Unit, where both Naylon and Rehak worked.

He claimed that deputies in the unit believed Martinez had a habit of leaving his shift early to go home. The joke, Rehak told jurors, was to allow Martinez to get home "and get in his footie pajamas," then call him and tell him they found another $6,000 in the hotel room. He would then have to come back to the office late at night.

Rehak said the joke fell apart when Naylon told him he could find not a place in the room to hide the "discovered" money.

Government prosecutors scoffed at the defense. The men intended to skim the money, they argued, but got suspicious that they'd been caught in a sting when they ran computer checks on the drug dealer who supposedly left the money and couldn't find any record of him.

That was because the FBI forgot to "backstop" the fictitious dealer by creating a fake persona for him to post on various law enforcement databases. It is routine procedure in such corruption cases to create a record for the ersatz dealer and then post it on the databases that officers regularly use to check the background of suspects.

Later that evening, Rehak and Naylon spoke with Martinez and told him about the money. Even though they had already executed the search warrant that had granted them access to the hotel room, they went back to the hotel, re-entered the room and Rehak said he changed the search warrant receipt to indicate that $13,500 — and not $7,500 — had been recovered.

When he eventually wrote his report on the seizure, he never mentioned taking the money, nor did he mention Naylon's involvement.

Rehak and Naylon were each charged with six counts of "honest services wire fraud," accusing them of depriving the citizenry of their honest services by having the criminal history and driver's license computer checks done. But after the government rested its case, the judge threw out two of the charges, stemming from a second "integrity test" in July 2004, as being unsupported by the evidence.

The men also face a single charge each of theft of government funds and a charge of conspiracy to violate civil rights.

Rehak and Naylon are on paid administrative leave from the sheriff's department, and officials there say the department is conducting its own investigation to see if the men violated internal policies and procedures.

David Hanners can be reached at 612-338-6516.

2:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Naturally the sheriffs internal affairs division is taking its sweet ol time.

2:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Watch and see how they weasle out of this one with a loophole in the system too!

3:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CONVICTED!

5:06 PM  
Blogger Bob said...

Video of Integrity Test

9:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now these guys have been convicted it is time for others in local government to go to jail too.

10:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CONVICTED! I LOVE IT!

10:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Something stinks about this whole thing. And I am not talking about Naylon and Rehak.

2:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Justice - isn't it great? Next candidates should be St. Paul officials and inspectors.

3:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This Naylon guy is a felon who has been with the department for ten years and he isn't even a licensed law enforcement officer.

He's the Public Information Officer(spokesperson) the never put out a press release let alone work with the press on anything- its always Fletcher doing that. Naylon, a former bar bouncer from the Eastside does not have a degree or training in public information. Yet, he's running around with a badge and gun, taking a squad home every night, participating in busts and arrests and taking away peoples rights without proper authority. All because he's Fletchers best friend.

How many people who were arrested by this idiot are now going to have to go free because he didn't have the right to arrest them (he wasn't performing a citizens arrest Nancy- he was impersonating and officer)? How many dirtbags who should be in jail will have their cases thrown out because this clown was playing cop?

The kicker is, Sheriff Fletcher will never step down. He personally brought these two men in as deputies. The buck doesn't stop with these guys, Naylon had so much power because he was friends with the Sheriff.

Fletcher must go.

7:17 AM  
Blogger Bob said...

2 Ramsey County sheriff's men convicted on theft, conspiracy charges
By David Hanners
dhanners@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 08/27/2008 06:15:58 PM CDT


Mark Naylon (left) and Timothy Rehak, Jurors today convicted two Ramsey County sheriff's employees caught in an FBI "integrity test," finding they stole — and then sloppily tried to return — $6,000 they thought a drug dealer had left in a hotel room.

Their defense: They didn't steal the money, but rather were playing a practical joke on a deputy — a sergeant who led their unit — who was helping them search the room.

The jury didn't buy it, convicting them each charges of theft of government funds and conspiracy to violate civil rights.

The men are Timothy Rehak and Mark Naylon, both 48 and longtime friends of Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. Rehak was a St. Paul cop for nearly 20 years before the sheriff hired him, and Naylon was a civilian hired by Fletcher as his spokesman.

Rehak and Naylon were initially also charged with six counts of "honest services wire fraud," accusing them of depriving the citizenry of their honest services by having criminal history and driver's license computer checks done on the supposed crook who left the money in the room and another supposed drug dealer who later left money in a car. But after the government rested its case, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz threw out two of the charges, stemming from a second "integrity test" in July 2004, as being unsupported by the evidence. The jury acquitted them of the four remaining wire-fraud charges

After a 4 1/2-day trial, Beginning about 8:45 a.m., Schiltz spent an hour reading his final instructions to the jury of nine men and three women. He defined the terms and explained the law that applied.

He told jurors that if they believe that the men acted in good faith and that they were really trying to play a prank, then the men should be acquitted of those charges.

A federal grand jury indicted the two this year following an investigation that began in the summer of 2003. A convicted meth dealer-turned-informant who wanted to reduce the prison sentence he faced told the FBI that he could help them make corruption cases against cops.

At least one cop he fingered was Rehak, for whom he had long served as a snitch. The FBI had the informant, Shawn Phillip Arvin Sr., call Rehak and tell him that a drug dealer named "Vinnie" had left drugs and money in a room at the Best Western Kelly Inn in St. Paul.

Although no drugs were in the room, the FBI did plant a bag with $13,500 in it in the dresser. They also placed surveillance cameras (but no microphones) in the room. As federal agents watched in the adjoining room, Rehak, Naylon and Sheriff's Sgt. Rolland "Rollie" Martinez entered the room and began searching it.

Martinez was not a target of the sting and was unaware it was going on. While he began searching the bathroom, Rehak found the bag and emptied its contents on the bed. On the video, Naylon points to a roll of bills and Rehak picks up the roll and hands it to Naylon. Naylon then sticks the bills in his jacket pocket.

A few moments later, Naylon left the room, went down to his car in the parking lot and opened the trunk. The FBI contends that Naylon took the money out of his jacket and left it in his car.

Martinez later counted the money in the room and left a search warrant receipt for the amount he found, $7,500.

Naylon did not testify and his defense lawyer, Paul Rogosheske, called no witnesses. Rehak's defense consisted of two sheriff's department clerks, a deputy — and himself.

Rehak said Naylon had told him to give him the money because he wanted to play a practical joke on Martinez, who supervised the sheriff's Special Investigations Unit, where both Naylon and Rehak worked.

He claimed that deputies in the unit believed Martinez had a habit of leaving his shift early to go home. The joke, Rehak told jurors, was to allow Martinez to get home "and get in his footie pajamas," then call him and tell him they found another $6,000 in the hotel room. He would then have to come back to the office late at night.

Rehak said the joke fell apart when Naylon told him he could find not a place in the room to hide the "discovered" money.

Government prosecutors scoffed at the defense. The men intended to skim the money, they argued, but got suspicious that they'd been caught in a sting when they ran computer checks on the drug dealer who supposedly left the money and couldn't find any record of him.

That was because the FBI forgot to "backstop" the fictitious dealer by creating a fake persona for him to post on various law enforcement databases. It is routine procedure in such corruption cases to create a record for the ersatz dealer and then post it on the databases that officers regularly use to check the background of suspects.

Later that evening, Rehak and Naylon spoke with Martinez and told him about the money. Even though they had already executed the search warrant that had granted them access to the hotel room, they went back to the hotel, re-entered the room and Rehak said he changed the search warrant receipt to indicate that $13,500 — and not $7,500 — had been recovered.

When he eventually wrote his report on the seizure, he did not mention taking the money, nor did he mention Naylon's involvement.

Rehak and Naylon are on paid administrative leave from the sheriff's department, and officials there say the department is conducting its own investigation to see if the men violated internal policies and procedures.

David Hanners can be reached at 612-338-6516.

8:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its all Bill Finney's fault-hahaha.

But Fletcher should really step down, as we go after these high profile elected officials, the one that keeps escaping the noose is the worst of all Bob Fletcher.

Its not about the intimidation, corruption as much as its the mis-spending of tax dollars. We elect that clown and yet never see his departments budget. Its grown four times since he's been there and when our county was cutting back- Fletcher ran to the legislature to get more tax dollars to bloat the department full of his cronies and friends.

Since the office is independent, the Sheriff can bring anyone on board and hand them a badge. In the city, the st paul Chief cannot. Every St Paul police officer must be a licensed academy graduate with a complete background check.

Just imagine the stories that don't make it out to the public.

9:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This was the story that Fletcher wanted to hide when he bushed the Winn investigation forward into the press.

Let's hope that he didn't cost the potential of someday getting a conviction on Foster so that he could keep this story out of the press.

10:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://bobfletcherexposed.blogspot.com/

Bookmark this one- its full of corruption that will leak over into other county offices.

2:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said:

"http://bobfletcherexposed.blogspot.com/

Bookmark this one- its full of corruption that will leak over into other county offices."

Fuck you and your pathetic blog Pluff/Brennan and/or Anderson. You don't even allow a dissenting opinion on your schoolgirl gossip blog. And yeah. When it leaks over to Chisago County you won't be laughing any more!

Careful what you wish for!

4:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

By reading the "Fletcher Exposed" blog our sheriff has some real haters out there!

7:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Read the comment section at the Pioneer Press.

Bobby Fletcher earned it. HAHAHAHAHA!

Oh, and Bob's ass is next, right after a few more little soldiers 'playing cop' fall around him.

Its not over by a long shot.

(Pluff and the other four names commonly used as anti-Fletcher are not the only ones stepping up now. If I was you, I'd shut my pie-hole and pray no one flips on me).

10:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The tables and snitches aren't finished with Bob.

Who's going to sing first?

12:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
The tables and snitches aren't finished with Bob.

Who's going to sing first?

Wrong! Now they have their sights set on you! Bet on it!

2:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello! I am Mayor Sheldon Anderson, re-elect me as Wyoming's mayor and let's continue our successes.

5:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wyoming councilman files restraining order against mayor

Wednesday, 07 November 2007

Disagreements between Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Councilman Gary Menne have resulted in Menne filing a harassment restraining order petition against the mayor. The petition will be heard in Chisago County District Court in Center City on Monday, Nov. 26.

The hearing order, which was served on Anderson Monday, specifies that in the interim he have no contact with Menne in person, other than at city council functions, and not communicate with Menne by telephone or e-mail.

Anderson said on Wednesday he and Menne have clashed in recent weeks over city decisions involving the merger talks with Wyoming Township, funding for the joint comprehensive plan and city funding for the Forest Lake Teen Center operated by ISD 831 Community Services. Anderson said he believed Menne felt threatened and harassed because Anderson has a conceal and carry license for a handgun.

In a statement released on Wednesday relative to the Menne petition, Anderson said: "Mr. Menne may not like the comments I made to him on the telephone and via e-mail. My suggestion that if he is going to be a defender of the taxpayers of Wyoming then he should pay his bill owed to the city and become a full fledged tax paying resident. I also suggested holding Menne's council pay and applying it to the amount he is delinquent on his debts to the taxpayers of Wyoming. I think it's only noble that every elected official pay the same bills every resident receives.

"Although at times it is uncomfortable and awkward to hold other elected officials accountable, I feel it's only right to be the voice of the residents. Mr. Menne's claims of statements and profanity I used are absurd. If exaggeration and holding a grudge were sport, Menne would be an Olympian. If this is what it takes to hold Menne accountable, I will go to court with Mr. Menne on a monthly basis if needed to defend the taxpayers of Wyoming."

Menne did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday, seeking comment on the dispute.

6:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forest lake Times

Posted: 11/28/07

Judge tosses Menne restraining order petition

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A dispute between Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Council member Gary Menne should be decided at election time, not in a court of law.

So said 10th District Court Judge John S. Connolly on Monday in throwing out a request by Menne for a harassment restraining order against Anderson. The judge made his ruling during a hearing in Center City.

Menne went to court seeking the restraining order after a phone call between the two men on Oct. 30 that Menne said amounted to threats against Menne and his family.

Anderson denied making any threats during testimony on Monday.

Judge Connolly listened to 30 minutes of testimony by Menne and Anderson and one witness called by Menne, Anthony Peterfeso, before dismissing the petition, saying Menne’s allegation were not proven.

The judge urged the issues be left to city council meetings and with any remaining questions to be taken up at city council elections to come.

A political solution, not a legal decision, was the best action, the judge said.

At issue

In early November, Menne took the unusual legal step after an alleged telephone call from Anderson to Menne. He said it was not a “spur-of-the-moment” decision but an action generated by a perceived threat to his family.

Menne was with Peterfeso estimating a plumbing job in Anoka County when Anderson called Menne’s cell phone on Oct. 30.

In testimony on Monday, Menne described the call from Anderson as “vulgar, bizarre and threatening.” He accused Anderson of screaming and using profanity.

“I still don’t know what precipitated the call,” Menne said in court. “It’s the kind of stuff you can’t even put in the newspaper.”

Menne said Peterfeso was witness to the cell phone call and could hear the conversation as the two men worked in a basement crawl space of the home. Menne said he took notes.

Under oath, Peterfeso testified that he “heard everything.” He described Anderson’s comments as “uncontrollable yelling. It was just screaming for several minutes.”

Anderson’s view

Anderson disputed the version described in court by Menne and Peterfeso.

Anderson said he made the call to Menne but denied using profanity. Anderson said he did refer to Menne as an “imbecile and a hypocrite” during the phone call.

“I deny that,” Anderson said when asked by Menne if he made threats or cursed at Menne.

Anderson also called into question allegations that Peterfeso in the past made statements regarding Anderson’s relationship with a member of the Chisago City Planning Commission. Anderson said he had never met Peterfeso. Peterfeso denied making any such statement.

Anderson said later the alleged statement revolved his role in helping bail the Chisago City man from jail. That never happened, Anderson said.

Anderson said he was having lunch with his wife at Applebee’s in Forest Lake when he called Menne. He also denied Menne allegations that Anderson would “get even” with Menne and be able to hide it.

In a statement released later in the day on Monday, Anderson said:

“I’m thankful the judge saw through Menne’s absurd allegations and ever changing memory of our telephone conversation. Menne’s attacks on staff, members of the city council and the public need to end.

“Menne has once again embarrassed himself, the Wyoming City Council and our residents. Menne should resign as a council member and let someone else do the work of the people. Someone who can take criticism and not look to the backed up court system to polish a tarnished ego and hurt feelings.”

Montzka factor

County Commissioner Ben Montzka was also drawn into the issue by Menne on Monday. Menne testified that Montzka two years ago experienced similar treatment from the mayor.

Menne said the Chisago County commissioner met with Anderson at a Wyoming cafe. Fearful for his safety, Menne testified that Montzka asked Peterfeso to be present. Peterfeso sat a nearby table where he could overhear the conversation.

Peterfeso said in court that the conversation of that day was similar in tone to the recent call between Menne and Anderson. Peterfeso testified that Anderson told Montzka to “get out of the way,” or he would be run over.

“He (Montzka) felt really threatened,” Peterfeso said.

Anderson did not respond directly to the Montzka incident as described by Menne and Peterfeso, but said the two had met once for coffee.

Menne, contacted later in the day, said he believed the judge was “predetermined” in what he would decide.

“He wanted it settled out of court,” Menne said. “It’s not political. It’s what happened. Hopefully, his (Anderson’s) type of behavior will end.”

Menne said it was unfortunate the issue was not resolved at the time of the alleged threats made by the mayor against Montzka.

“I tried to stop it,” Menne said of his motivation in seeking the restraining order against Anderson. “If Ben would have stood up two years ago, it wouldn’t have happened.”

On Tuesday, Montzka said he has a good working relationship with Anderson and in no way feared him. Montzka said he could not recall the mayor using profanity in their meeting which took place in June of 2006.

Montzka said he has built a “cordial relationship” with Anderson and he plans to hunt deer with the mayor in the future. He said he considers both Anderson and Menne friends.

6:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of this stuff on the Wyoming Mayor should be in the backyard. Its not even in Ramsey County.

9:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"All of this stuff on the Wyoming Mayor should be in the backyard. Its not even in Ramsey County."

No, it belongs right here. You just don't know who Anderson is.

1:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't care who Anderson is. I already know too many people that aren't part of this story.
Is he an FBI agent?
Is he a Ramsey County Deputy?
Is he a Saint Paul Cop?
Is he a Ramsey County Prosecutor?
Is he a U.S. Attorney?
No?
Then the hell with him.

Who believes that this corruption was only limited to these two turds?

Don't know if Fletcher was involved but he did always have more than enough campaign cash and never bothered to file a campaign finance report until it was discovered that he was without one for six years!

Somebody turned a blind eye. Second, if it was clear that professional law enforcement officers weren't allowed to stop Naylon, and had to go along and falsify reports, doesn't that fall in the lap of his boss?

Fletcher.

2:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I care who he is! Wow. More of the same from the same crowd. Reading that knocked my socks off.

3:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anderson is one of Finney's thugs. He ownes a security company in St. Paul. He employes former a drug dealer as one of his officers. Anderson has ties with the former Vice Commander for SPPD. Anderson also worked on Finney's sheriff campaign along with this drug dealer turned security guard and the former Vice commander from SPPD.

This former drug dealer was Ken Pluff Jr who was fired from law
enforcement after he was arrested helping his family members sell drugs in St. Paul. The Pluff family was one of the biggest drug operations the city ever saw. Ken Pluff would run license checks on undercover narcotics officers cars and give the information to his narcotics trafficking family. After they all got busted he changed his name to Ken Brennan to avoid the connection. Finney then hired him to guard the police impound lot!

7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wcco video tells it all
or google Mark Naylon
http://wcco.com/local/naylon.rehak.video.2.803828.html

7:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Sheriff Bob Fletcher is as corrupt as they come. You kiss-ass deputies can come here and write about Finney all you want, he was crooked too. By the way, Sheldon Anderson is the current mayor of Wyoming MN.

Yes, we all know exactly who Anderson is. Too bad for him!

Yes, Finney got away with a lot but, he was too smart to let his shortcomings become a public issues. He had issues internally, he took steps to remain popular in the public eye.

Finney has a lot of "issues", the main one being his self inflated ego. And for the record, his shortcoming are a public issue. Ask anyone who visits the Minnesota Music Cafe! You might want to begin with some of those "Harley" girls he is seen with one occasions too numerous to count. Oh and I am not a deputy.

5:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, having Harley girls is equal to running a corrupt sheriffs department that so far has been stealing money, tipping off drug dealers, falsifying warrants, fake arrests, intimadating citizens and being a bunch of tax cheats. I'm not seeing it.

9:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
So, having Harley girls is equal to running a corrupt sheriffs department that so far has been stealing money, tipping off drug dealers, falsifying warrants, fake arrests, intimadating citizens and being a bunch of tax cheats. I'm not seeing it.

Then look at this. Drugs and stealing from the evidence room?

http://www.justiceforbarbara.com/Ex_Chief_Bill_Finney.html

5:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WTF??? How come no one has done anything about this? It looks pretty damn serious to me!

1:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Get over it!

2:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Get over it!

2:23 PM

How can you tell us the taxpayers to get over it? You come here crying about Fletcher and you want us to recall him but you don't seem to care about what anyone else has done. That makes you a fool and a hypocrite. Either we care or we don't. We can't have it both ways. Until you look at what ALL of these other corrupt city officials have done in our city then you can't piss and moan about anyone.

9:19 PM  
Blogger scarecrow said...

Now Mayor Sheldon Anderson is in the process to become elected to Minnesota State House of Rep in Chisago County, is this the end game? We need to hear from the mayor on his grey and clouded known associates.

11:44 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home