To everyone within ear shot of this email.
Jaime admitted to knowingly create fakes and while I have not read
the testimony he provided yet, I cannot tell at what point in the
"scam" that Jaime knew what the Master Criminal was doing with the
"reproductions" that he created.
However as a common sense issue, and seeing as one person was
commissioning these reproductions, and Jaime cannot be living in a
vacuum......... we must all come to some conclusion that at some
point..... Jamie either discovered or figured out what was going on.
The "I must have been stupid" defense only goes so far and to quote a
recent interview with a prosecutor who charged a woman with buying
too much cold medicine "ignorance of the law is not a defense of the law"
In all likelihood, at whatever point Jaime "figured it out" he was
already roped in by the master criminal in the scheme and in all
likelihood Jaime was "blackmailed" into continuing the fraud. It
probably went something like this:
Jaime: "I found out what you're doing.. I won't do any more work for you"
Master Criminal: "you'd better keep working, or I'm going to tell on you"
Jaime: "but but but but"
Master Criminal: "but nothing.. you're just as much a part of it now as I am"
of course, I am not privy to what conversations the two of them had,
so I can't say with certainty that such a conversation happened.. I
think if I read the court transcript, I'd be able to say as it
probably was a subject touched on in some fashion.
Look.. I drive a f-f-f-fast sports car..If a cop pulls me over for
speeding, I can't say "I didn't know the speed limit on this street
was only 45.. how can you ticket me for going 65?" to get out of the
ticket... I take the ticket, sign my name and pay it in court..
AT SOME POINT JAIME KNEW THAT HE FORGED POSTERS AND HE DID NOTHING.
Chances are, that after he discovered what he was doing, some people
were subsequently victims of a fraud.
He did not speak up at that time, no did he speak up when the fraud
was discovered and he only elucidated in court once he came to
realize he was sunk.
Maybe he isn't as guilty in some respects as the Master Criminal,
however - he is as guilty as sin.
On why he has been removed from the lawsuit.
Jim knows like anyone else that the easiest way to catch the #1
crook, you get the smaller crooks to testify on your behalf.
District Attorneys all over the world know this and they take plea
deals giving immunity to criminals involved in crimes in order to
convict the higher ups. Jaime now has his immunity.. within some parameters.
Does he deserve to be hailed as a hero, or reviled as a
co-conspirator?? Or is he now something in between??
Since Jaime testified, Kerry Haggard has filed for bankruptcy, he has
divorced Tiffany and given her the home they lived in (that canard
may not work in the end) AND the odds that he will be convicted of a
serious crime have increased astronomically as have the odds that
some property may now be returned to those who were cheated & robbed.
Jaime is not out of the woods yet.. Jim may have been able to help
get an agreement (presumably) that Jaime will not be charged with a
crime in Michigan.. but what about California?? Or New Jersey or
anywhere else??
Jaime is a really nice guy - at least from the 2 times I met him -
and he is a very talented restorer. But he is now tainted by the
crimes he is connected with and anyone who thinks what Jaime did is
not a crime.. including my friends, has their head in the sand
Rich
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
