Wednesday, February 23, 2022
This is a strange story. It starts out in Orange County, California. Christopher John Badsey, 60, of Lake Forest, CA was arrested by FBI agents on July 8, 2021, and charged with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, during the early COVID pandemic, Badsey told victims he had access to millions of boxes of medical-grade nitrile gloves through his company, First Defense International Security Services Corp. in Irvine, CA. After obtaining his victims’ wire deposits, Badsey and others are believed to have used the funds to make lavish purchases for their personal uses. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 100 years in federal prison.
On March 29, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division, heard a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture brought by the U.S. Government against plaintiff listed as “Certain Real Property Commonly known as 820 South Main St. in Zwolle.” The property consists of a plot of land and a commercial business named Swamp Frog Bar and Grill. The property is vested in Cheri Amanda Silva, age 47, a single woman. The forfeiture said the complaint arises from an investigation by the FBI of a fraudulent Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) scheme using wire transfers to transfer money at the request of the fraudsters. PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.
Badsey represented to victims he was selling PPE that would be delivered in a short time when there was an international shortage of PPE during the Coronavirus pandemic. Under false pretenses he caused victims to wire money to co-conspirators directly or indirectly through transfers to other accounts, including accounts held by Silva, some of which she used to purchase real property.
The legal document states that from April 28 until Oct. 29, 2020, Silva received proceeds from the PPE scheme through a transfer of funds from Badsey’s bank accounts. Accordingly, Silva received about $1,682.787 in deposits during this period.
On Aug. 7, 2020, Silva purchased a cashier’s check in the amount of $186,970.73 payable to Brandon Law Office Trust Account in Many for the purchase of the property in Zwolle from Across the Tracks Beer and Spirits LLC. The law firm received $500 as payment for doing the legal work.
The Swamp Frog Bar and Grill was incorporated with the Secretary of State on Sept. 29, 2020 by Silva as agent. The FBI looked at a post on Facebook March 2, 2021 which stated, “Update we will be back working next week has a road block but will be on track next week! We are hoping to be open before the end of the month, if not April is our opening.” Investigators noted the following disbursements believed to be related to the Swamp Frog: Ark-La-Tex, $95,500 for chairs, bar stools, a freezer, coolers, fryer, stove, ice maker sink, vent hood and other equipment; Ivan Smith Furniture, $34,550.54; Natchitoches Wood for $13,420.69; Interstate Building Materials of Many for $39,234.50; and Thompson Metal Supply for $12,596.40.
On March 1, 2021 the FBI obtained seizure warrants for items purchased by Silva with proceeds of the PPE wire fraud scheme, including two cars, a boat and its trailer, a camper, two all-terrain vehicles and a tractor.
The FBI interviewed Silva on March 3, 2021, and she admitted to receiving over a million dollars from Badsey and using it to purchase the items which were being seized. She also admitted to using the money to purchase her residence in Robeline and a restaurant which had not opened yet. She stated she was not employed, and her only source of money was from Badsey.
At this time, Observations cannot verify Silva’s relationship to Badsey.
Three special tax elections will be held in Sabine Parish on Saturday, April 30. The Sabine Law Enforcement District will be asking for the renewal of a one-fourth of one cent sales tax. It is estimated to bring in $1,200,000 per year and will run for 10 years beginning July 2023.
The Sabine Parish Police Jury has called for the renewal of a one cent sales tax for the Sabine Council on Aging. It will run for 10 years from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2033 and is estimated to bring in $1,332,000 per year.
The Jury also called a renewal for a one cent sales tax for the solid waste collection and disposal system. It is estimated to bring in $5,325,000 per year and will run for 10 years beginning Aug. 1, 2024 and ending July 31, 2034.
Many Council Member Mary Beth Brocato offered a motion at the Monday night, Feb. 14, meeting concerning the use of the Sabine Theater marquee. The motion will be voted on at the March Council meeting. We will have the results at that time.
Many Mayor Robert Hable has appointed himself on a temporary basis to serve on the Sabine Sales and Use Tax Commission. He will replace Gay Corley, a former Many Council Member, who was recently elected Chairman, but lives in Texas.
We recently received a letter signed only “Concerned Citizens.” It questioned operations of the Town of Many. We passed the letter on to Mayor Robert Hable and asked him to provide answers if he wished. He said he would, and a few days later brought back his answers for our use. Both the questions and answers we thought were well thought out and detailed. At least one of the questions was not valid, but at least it laid the matter before the public.
The questions and answers were posted in Observations last Tuesday evening and a short time later we received a message from Mayor Hable saying, “Mr. Robert, the first sentence claiming that our HR clerk padded her husband’s time is absolutely untrue. Please re-read the concerned citizens letter.” As we did not have a copy of the Concerned Citizens letter at home, we immediately took out the sentence that quoted that portion of the letter.
The next morning at the office, we read the letter again and also read what we had written. In our original post, there was a sentence that began, “The letter contends…” We used the word “contends” deliberately before using a quote from the letter. We feel that is what the related paragraph from the Concerned Citizens letter did. We could argue that the initial wording was correct, but we are not going to do that. It could be called an error on our part, if in fact, it was wrong.
The column was picked up and re-posted by The Cenla Report, the very popular Facebook column posted by Damon Robinson, a native of Zwolle. Then came a message from Suzanne Williams, Grant Writer and Manager/Community Development for the Town of Many and other assorted titles. She asked that we contact Robinson and get him to remove a part of the column, saying it was “libel.” I don’t think so, according to the legal definition, and I did not call him as I don’t run his business.
Then came another message from Suzanne to my wife Laurie, as follows: “Can you please ask your Robert to post positive messages in support of our new mayor and administration. Just a thought!”
We read it and thought, “Say what? Surely Mayor Hable didn’t know she was going to send this.”
Just for the record: we have published literally thousands of positive news stories about the Town of Many, its leadership, its citizens and their many accomplishments. We have also beat the drum to promote the Town’s events for years and years, and a lot of times we were a one-man band playing to an empty street corner. But we kept on keeping on. And we shall continue to do so.
AND ANOTHER LETTER – This one from our neighbor Diann Migliore:
“Hey there friend. This is a question regarding the most recent Observations where parts of a letter from ‘concerned citizens’ was published.
“Please get me straight on something: Didn’t you, as Editor of the Sabine Index, require letters to the editor, general letters commenting on articles, and letters stating opinions, be signed? As Editor of Observations, do you have a different policy/standard? Oops, I guess I have two questions!
“If these citizens were really concerned, maybe they should have contacted Mayor Hable or the Town of Many with their questions/concerns and not put Observations in the middle. On a personal note, as a concerned citizen, I’ve contacted Mayor Hable twice with concerns/questions and he has been most transparent and generous with his time.
“I would encourage any other ‘concerned citizens’ to address their concerns with the appropriate folks for answers.
“I am a concerned citizen and I’m signing my letter. Look forward to Observations every week. Thanks a bunch for your time, love to all my Gentry folks and I’ll see y’all soon!”
REGARDING THE WHOLE MATTER: First of all, the letter from Concerned Citizens was accompanied by five pages of Town of Many financial records, which to me gave it legitimacy. Mayor Hable told me from the beginning that his administration would be transparent, and I took him at his word. A lot of people complained last week because he was asked a few questions, but I didn’t hear a peep from him. I presented him a copy of the Concerned Citizens letter, and he could have refused to answer its questions if he wished. Instead, he responded to the questions in an organized, detailed manner.
I think folks in government ought to be open and above board with the folks who pay for it all – you, the taxpayer, even it if seems aggravating sometimes. It is beneficial to a public official to be transparent. If a public official is not forthcoming with information, then it could give the appearance the person is trying to hide something.
There were a few people who seemed offended the Mayor was questioned at all. Qué será será.
Maybe those who are truly passionate about learning who sent the letter should offer a cash reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the Concerned Citizens letter-writer. Observations would be happy to cover that development.
The comparison between the way I operated the Index and the way I write Observations has nothing to do with the matter. In specific reply to Diann’s question, The Index policy was to require letters be signed, but on occasion we might use one that was not signed. I don’t have a policy for Observations. In fact, when Mr. Dumas asked me to start publishing Observations on bdcradio.com several years ago, he gave me the freedom to do what I want to do, and I do.
Personally, I think the fact that Mayor Hable provided answers to the questions, whether or not he knew the source of the questions, was a major plus for him. Including those who were offended, the majority of the folks who responded on social media and elsewhere were in the Mayor’s corner. I think the whole thing really upped his stock. Thanks for being a man of your word, Mayor.
On a related note, we enjoyed reading some entertaining replies posted during the unnecessary online drama, and we decided to issue a quick, fun list of our top winners here, which brought us some good laughs:
1st Place – “Awe no worries you’ll still have a** when they ain’t got no teeth. Let’em chew.”
2nd Place – “This article is trash. Robert Hable is the closest person to Jesus that I have ever known. Literally, if WWJD took human form, it would be Robert Hable. There are plenty of corrupt people that you can go report on, but our mayor isn’t one of him [sic]. Leave him alone!!”
3rd Place – “…Another episode of ‘freedom of speech’ gone wild.”
And the Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) are:
Honorable Mention – “Take the source for what it is and brush it off. The town loves you guys.”
Honorable Mention – “Looks like once again the ones complaining come from that group that have to be in charge because they are the most important people in Many!!!!”
We felt the following quote must also join the Honorable Mentions. It came from a plumber who complimented the work of the Town of Many’s water and sewer departments.
“As it has been quoted… ‘The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy; neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.’ – John W. Gardner.”
Now, that’s one you can hang your hat on.
Congratulations to all the winners.
ANOTHER COMMENT: This one from Council Member Mary Beth Brocato: “I enjoy your column every week, Robert. Thanks for your unbiased reporting. I’d like to add a couple of additional remarks to your reporting about Sabine Theatre marque. Since former Mayor Ken Freeman appointed me chairperson of the Cultural District Advisory Board about seven years ago, we NEVER posted personal endeavor or profit-making enterprise messages on the large front portion of the marquee, not even when the marquee was blank. [Former Mayor Ken] Freeman doesn’t remember that being done any time prior to that. However, the curved area on the west side has always been available for appropriate personal messages at a cost of $5 per night, not a one-time cost of $5. Thanks again for your reporting on this.”
ART CONTEST WINNERS AWARDED
Sabine Parish school students did this area proud recently when several competed in an Art Poster Contest sponsored by the Town of Many and Sabine Prevention Alliance.
The event’s theme was “Staying Safe, Sober and Successful,” and all interested parish students were invited to submit art made to depict how they keep themselves safe, sober and successful.
Winners were announced at the Town of Many Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 15. Mayor Robert Hable, along with members of the Council, expressed strong support for the group’s goals and they also congratulated all the participants and winners in the “Staying Safe” Art Poster Contest.
Observations found all the students’ entries to be amazingly varied and wonderfully creative.
Attorney Verity Gentry said she was honored to sponsor the contest’s top prize – $100, awarded to the High Schools category winner Victoria Gaspard of Many. Victoria is the daughter of Austin and Shanna Gaspard.
“I am happy to sponsor an event that celebrates our youth, community, art, and healthy choices,” Gentry remarked. She assisted Town of Many Grants Writer Suzanne Williams in awarding the winners in attendance with their cash prizes, then spoke briefly afterward.
The Sabine Prevention Alliance (SPA) is a volunteer coalition formed in 2019 to reduce underage drinking in Sabine Parish by increasing awareness of the problem, and by providing evidence-based strategies through partnerships with individuals, groups and agencies throughout the Parish.
For this effort, the SPA partnered with the Town of Many.
Winners were as follows:
High School –
1st Place – $100: Victoria Gaspard of Many
2nd Place – $75; Kyra Cedars of Many
3rd Place – $50; Kaydence Meshell of Zwolle
Junior High –
1st Place – $75; Kemori Brown of Many
2nd Place – $50; Allie Wilczewski of Florien
3rd Place – $30; Paisley Collier of Florien
Elementary –
1st Place – $50; Tusco “Tuck” Todd of Converse
2nd Place – $30; Alex Ezernack of Converse
3rd Place – $20; Lexie Arnold of Converse
An Honorable Mention was awarded to McKennon Bragg of Florien.
“I am so proud of your creativity and hard work,” Gentry told winners at Many City Hall on Tuesday evening.
Four local attorneys, Suzanne Williams, SPA Director James Wagley and local businesses donated funds for cash prizes awarded to the winners.
“A special thank you goes out to Chris Sylvia, Verity Gentry, Billy Pickett and Ronald Brandon, Attorneys at Law; Tomiko Ladkin, CEO of Tomiko’s Financial Services, Sarah and Richard Kurtz of Sabine Community Connection in Zwolle, and anonymous SPA members. These community leaders came out strong for our children and youth who showed through their talents how to protect themselves from underage drinking and other high-risk factors,” Wagley said.
The Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce invites all interested persons to attend the Grand Opening of Golden Girls Tanning Salon at 765 N. Capitol St. in Many on Monday, Feb. 28 at noon.
“Please help us welcome and encourage this new business,” Chamber Director Shanna Gaspard posted on social media.
The Grand Opening will include an open house and a traditional ribbon cutting.
The salon may be reached at (318) 431-5045.
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Attorney Chris Sylvia of Many is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who committed a hit-and-run on his daughter’s car as she was driving it in Natchitoches.
“She was going home from working at a Mardi Gras ball when someone ran through the intersection, hit her car, and spun her around before fleeing the scene,” Sylvia shared.
The incident happened at about 1:50 a.m. the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 20, at the intersection of Church and Second Streets in Natchitoches.
Sylvia may be reached at (318) 431-5009 or on Facebook.
Studio B Dance Company of Many is collaborating with Basic Necessities, a non-profit organization that assists with diaper needs in Sabine Parish. There will be a diaper donation bin at the dance studio, located at 820 San Antonio Ave., and interested persons may donate diapers, period products and incontinence supplies during the studio’s open hours. Studio B Dance Company is owned and operated by Becky Miller. They may be messaged on their Facebook page.
Benjamin Duane Rust, age 34, and Kyra Jordyn Lofton, age 23, both from Texas were arrested by Sabine County Texas Deputies on Thursday night, Feb. 17.
On the evening of Feb. 1, Lofton and Rust took over $200 worth of items from Toledo Town & Tackle without paying, according to the store surveillance video.
Still shots of the video were shared via the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s App and Facebook page on February 15. Within two hours, detectives received numerous phones calls and anonymous tips revealing the identity and location of Lofton and Rust. Further investigation determined the third subject in the videos was not involved in the thefts.
Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Lofton and Rust and contacted the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies located Lofton and Rust and placed them under arrest last night.
Lofton and Rust were transferred to the Sabine Parish Detention Center on Friday morning, Feb. 18, and both were booked for Theft under $1000 (a Misdemeanor).
Lofton has an arrest in Texas for Possession of controlled substance, according to her criminal history.
Rust has arrests in Texas for Unauthorized use of vehicle, Possession of controlled substance, Injury to child, Drug test falsification, Evading arrest and Aggravated robbery, according to his criminal history.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell thanked the public for their help in identifying these subjects. Sheriff Mitchell also expressed thanks to the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office for their help in locating and arresting Lofton and Rust.
(Thanks for Det. D.W. Seegers for the information above.)
TOWN OF MANY MAKES PLANS, ANNOUNCES EVENTS
Last Thursday, Feb. 17, a Town of Many Cultural and Historical District meeting was held, and the following was discussed, among other things:
Many Mayor Robert Hable laid out his vision for the town, discussing revitalization and a desire to see Many grow. He talked about the need for a place for truckers to park, such as a truck stop like Love’s, whom the Town has already contacted. Hable also said he wants to bring youth activities and events as well as volunteer opportunities such as market events and shows at the theater. He expressed a desire to start a Mayor’s Youth Council and see unity among of all the town’s residents.
Several upcoming area events were discussed. Observations will carry information on these as dates draw nearer. Interested persons can find more information on the Events in Many Facebook page.
Two events in the coming week are the Ft. Jessup Bicentennial Celebration to be held Feb. 25-27 at Ft. Jessup Historic Site east of Many, and “Love Finds You in Valentine,” a romantic movie drama that will show free of charge at Sabine Theater in downtown at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27.
The former “Cultural District Committee” has now merged with the Events in Many Committee, led by Crystal Hable and Cherry Williams. Their stated focus is putting on events to draw residents and visitors to downtown Many. The Committee’s newest members are Anne Boyens and Kristi Kor, marketing and flyers; musicians Dillon Etheridge, Derrick McClendon, James Wagley, Buster Jordan, and Zach Early, who are working to put together a “Musical Showcase” of local musicians for an early Fall show. Dutch Kor will help with the production of shows, venue to be determined. Kathy Warmack, Jan Tatum and Suzanne Ammons are slated to help with theater events.
The Historical Committee focus is on getting the KCS Depot in Many opened as a museum. Those working on this effort are Debbie Crittenden, Scott DeBose, Suzanne Williams, Tenielle Jenkins, Anne Boyens, Jan and Bruce Tatum.
Working on economic development are Mayor Robert Hable, Dean Crittenden, Adam Lehr, Kristi Kor, Cheryl and Donnie Wooley, and Suzanne Williams.
The group’s next meeting date is March 17 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. All interested persons are welcome to attend.
(Special thanks to Suzanne Williams for providing the above information.)
Marcus Lynn Wiseman Sr., age 47, of Many was arrested Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 16, by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT).
Wiseman was arrested during a traffic stop on Hwy. 175 near Primm Rd. TNT Agents located approximately 2,160 Xanax pills, one ounce of suspected methamphetamine, one ounce of marijuana, and a 9mm pistol inside his vehicle.
Wiseman was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for Possession of schedule I (Marijuana), Possession with intent to distribute schedule II (Meth), Possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV (Xanax), Possession of firearm while in possession of CDS.
Bond was set at $40,000 by the 11th Judicial District Court.
(Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the above information.)
The Apollo Plaza Apartment Birthday Celebration will be held Thursday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m. Folks are invited to come out as a new property manager will be welcomed.
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