Rest In Peace Rakeem Baskerville

Rakeem Baskerville died either on Friday, September 3, or Saturday, September 4, 2021. What happened in the week prior to Rakeem's death is in dispute and therefore I will not discuss it here. Anyone else with knowledge is welcome to discuss the situation in comments, though I would advise that you comment anonymously. The only thing that we know for certain is that Rakeem Baskerville died of COVD-19 in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Rakeem was a good man. We were not in contact often in the last few years, but I would like to tell you how I came to know Rakeem Baskerville. It should be obvious to anyone that I know Rakeem from this case. In the first couple of years our messages were short and basic. To me he was just a polite man who had a case connected to the Paul Bergrin case. By later 2013, our contact was frequent as an attorney on the Bergrin case needed the files and transcripts from the Hakeem Curry and Rakeem Baskerville case and trial. No one would give this attorney access to all of the files. Rakeem desperately needed specific documents and transcripts for his 2255 and any attempt to obtain the stuff only resulted in games from one party or another. An idea was born.

Yes, I was the one with the idea that failed on a grand scale, but I'm not sorry that I tried. I really tried. The attorney on the Bergrin case also tried. Maybe Rakeem's trial attorney tried. One of Rakeem's brothers tried. Nevertheless, the idea failed. This great idea was for Rakeem to allow this attorney to get custody of everything ---- all of the documents and transcripts ---- and then pull the specific listed items that Rakeem needed for his 2255, copy, and then send to him in the mail. Sounds simple enough, right? Ha. 

 First, we all underestimated the size of this massive trove of documents. The attorney, Rakeem and I were all thinking that we were talking about a car full of boxes at most. Nope, closer to a large van or bus would be needed. At first it looked like Rakeem's brother could pick it all up, but then the attorney and I realized that he wouldn't be able to pick the specific items on Rakeem's list. And then the trove of documents was in Pennsylvania and the attorney and Rakeem's brother were in two entirely different areas of New Jersey. It was not workable on his one day off to accomplish this mission.

The law office offered to have it all delivered for a price. Deal. First big hurdle was over. The next major issue was pulling and copying the specific documents on Rakeem's list. Way more complicated than most could imagine, though eventually it was done.

The next hurdle was getting the stuff on Rakeem's list into his hands at Victorville USP out in California. This proved to be impossible, even with the attorney from the Bergrin case delivering the large, heavy box to Rakeem's trial attorney's law office in Pennsylvania to ship. Someone, and I believe it was the law office partner, made the colossal error of shipping this big heavy box via UPS to a warehouse address for staff package receiving in Victorville. Do you think the CO that answered the main phone at Victorville USP or Rakeem's counselor in the facility would help to get these important documents to Rakeem? We should all know better than to believe in fairytale endings.

To add to the issues, before long Rakeem was transferred to Yazoo City USP in Mississippi. I have no clue where the box ended-up. It was not shipped back to the law office. Huge fail on the entire fiasco. There was so much arguing between the attorneys and I by that point that I don't even remember if the massive trove of documents and transcripts made it back to the original law office, and actually I do not believe they wanted any of it returned.

Through all of the events I've described here there was never so much as a harsh word from Rakeem Baskerville. He was always polite and a perfect gentleman. Rakeem was truly a unique individual. He never blamed any one of the rest of us for this massive failure. 

After the big fiasco I was only in contact with Rakeem infrequently; perhaps 5-6 times a year by messages or by phone occasionally. However, I did get to know Rakeem and the details of his case in the process of all the mess and that's the main reason why I am not sorry I tried. 

Rakeem will truly be missed. He was a good man. Rest In Peace Rakeem Baskerville. 

Paul Bergrin Still Fighting

I have wanted to post this for a couple of weeks now, but I'm so angry about so many issues and problems with this case and a list of other cases that I lost my voice. Well happy 2020 and I'm finding my voice again! Screw the rotten to its core Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and especially the dirtbags tasked with slowly murdering inmates on a government hit list, because the dirtbags are no better than the scum running this criminal organization.

I must deal with something else at the moment so I will leave you with a few new documents to read that Paul Bergrin has filed in court. Paul is still incommunicado under the SAM designation of fuking course so the only communication from him is what was filed in the Newark courts during the month of December, which took over a month to arrive in Newark from Florence, Colorado.

The BOP operation in Florence, as well as in some other facilities in the BOP web, is so primitive in its state of advancement that inmates are not allowed to use word processors or typewriters, so everything is handwritten as it has been. I would think that the courts would pound BOP over this, but thus far we all suffer so the mission of making the inmates suffer is more complete.

Bergrin Motion December 4 2019

Bergrin Govt Letter December 4 2019

Bergrin Letter December 16 2019

Happy f'ing new year! Oh and a big welcome to US District Judge Marilyn Arleo! May she actually do something with this case, because as we all know, Judge Linares did nothing, zilch, zero, nada in the couple of years he had it.


See y'all soon! 


Vicky

Paul Bergrin SAM Renewed Again: BOP and Newark

US Attorney General Sessions has rubber-stamped Paul Bergrin's SAMs (Special Administrative Measures) for the Newark US Attorney's Office. It is now over two years that Paul has been held incommunicado at the US Supermax in Florence, Colorado, and with no end in sight. You'd think he was a terrorist or something. And apparently they're starving him there, so the plot must be a slow death, never lifting the SAMs.

This is the most recent letter to the court from Paul followed by previous documents that I neglected to publish:

Bergrin 2255 Letter August 22 2018

Bergrin 2255 Mem Letter June 29 2018

Bergrin 2255 Govt Letter July 24 2018

I sometimes make comments elsewhere regarding the situation with Paul, and this is one I posted today on an article from The Intercept on Facebook. Often my comments about Paul Bergrin on social media disappear, so on occasion, I will be posting comments that make a point here. I decided to just copy it here so it is verbatim:

The real problem is not necessarily "flipping" as Trump refers to it. Often the major problem is government prosecutors giving defendants the choice of a long mandatory minimum sentence or say what they need stated about a target. More often than not, prosecutors are well aware that the information is false and it takes LE / FBI / DEA feeding certain facts to these defendants so it all sounds viable when it's regurgitated repeatedly over a period of years if necessary. Sometimes the LE agencies collude with media to get the story they want published the way they want it and simply hand defendants a newspaper. When all of that still sounds questionable because it's a false narrative coming from the defendant, the agents and prosecutors will play the memory refresher game.

Need proof? Loads of cases, but one of the worst in history is that of Paul Bergrin. For whatever reason, The Intercept has always ignored the Paul Bergrin saga. However, I will attest to the fact that all it takes to dismantle the entire massive case against Paul is reading and researching. The Intercept and just about any other non-mainstream media instead finds it easier to ignore or skip. I get that because my reading and research on the case has continued for close to 8 years now and I frequently come across information I was previously unaware of. It's daunting, no doubt, but it cannot be glossed over or ignored by everyone.

Paul Bergrin has been suffering in the H-unit of Florence ADMAX with a SAMs designation for over two years now! It's like everyone forgot (conveniently or otherwise) who Paul Bergrin actually is and what he accomplished, and tried to accomplish, in the War on Terror. Why do you think he's incommunicado? It sure isn't for the reasons stated by the government!

Expect to see more posts on this blog regularly. I could never forget Paul or his immense suffering at the hands of US government agents and actors; however, this case or saga just goes on and on and it is depressing. I expect that my next post will be a plea to specific people for help – I've been working on it, but am not finished yet. Another post will concern potential new evidence – if it's not addressed directly to the court or in a motion by early October, I will be discussing it here. So, check back on occasion. 

Here is a link to a letter that Paul mailed to the court and was filed on September 25, 2018. The letter concerns gun evidence relating to the Kemo McCray murder:

Bergrin 2255 Letter September 25 2018




EDIT on October 1, 2018 to add a document.

 

Paul Bergrin Needs Help: Where is the Real FBI and DOJ

This case is so convoluted that it requires a team of real attorneys (JAG and criminal practice) and actual former or retired FBI, DEA, and DOJ investigators. They would need a large room and a physical (as opposed to computer spreadsheet) board the size of a wall to track each and every issue and every party the Newark US Attorney's Office labeled witness or informant in the duration of this case, which is approaching 10 years at this point, and actually much longer if we are to count initial investigations.

Where is mainstream media? Am I the only person still actually researching this case? Am I the only one not afraid to speak against the tyrannical government and malicious prosecutions in this country? Do investigative journalists still exist or was the entire profession eliminated long ago?

I know there are real attorneys out there. I know that there are investigators who actually investigate. Where are you? Did the government scare you away? Did you read 10 pages and decide it was too much work? Taking on any part of this case requires extensive reading and research. I understand that it won't be an easy ordeal. Paul Bergrin needs your help. Please step-up to the plate!

From the very beginning to date this entire case against Paul Bergrin is a farce. Again though, actual reading and research is required to reach this conclusion. In case you are wondering what our tyrants are doing now, I will tell you...

A friend sends Paul money on occasion to assist him with his costs of document production and mailing as well as purchase of necessary commissary items with whatever is remaining. The BOP (Bureau of Prisons), the warden at Florence ADMAX, and no doubt the DOJ, decided to steal what little money Paul Bergrin receives to cover everything in his life as it is today. So not only is this friend unable to have any contact with Paul whatsoever, these low-life creeps have decided to steal the money she sends to him.

Bergrin Colorado Civil Case March 15 2018

Bergrin Colorado Civil Case Order March 19 2018

Somehow I doubt that Paul Bergrin is their only victim.

Where are Paul's many friends, fellow soldiers, fellow veterans, JAG attorneys, attorneys, judges, and actual investigators who know the real Paul Bergrin? He is in the H-Unit in Florence ADMAX (the Supermax) in Florence, Colorado. He has been there under SAMs (Special Administrative Measures) since November 1, 2016, and is in solitary confinement. Paul is drowning and he needs your help!

Oh and while I'm posting, here is the government response to Paul's 400 page handwritten response:

Bergrin 2255 Government Response April 4, 2018

 

Paul Bergrin is still the same great man you knew before this malicious, absurd prosecution was concocted with the assistance of, and government collusion with, criminal informants. Please do not let him down.

Government Corruption and Lies: End of Year (2017) Statement

This is a short post to address the corruption, lies, and misinformation of the US government that so many are acutely aware of but conveniently ignore on a regular basis. Just a few paragraphs with links to significant documents for your reading pleasure over the holidays. Each of the documents will be addressed in-depth in January of 2018 in separate posts on this blog.

The government (specifically Sanders) has responded to Paul Bergrin's 2255 petition. Steven Sanders left the Newark US Attorney's Office in September 2016, as far as I am aware and according to the bio on the Gibbons Law website, to work with Gibbons Law, the same firm that Larry Lustberg is with. Sanders composed the government response to the 2255 petition filed on November 30, 2017. This makes little sense, but thus far no one has explained it.

The response to the 2255 petition is nothing but more spin, lies, and misinformation. I can easily dispute numerous parts of this document right here, and actually already have. If you have read every post on this blog, you are already aware of that. Paul Bergrin is suffering in Florence, Colorado ADMAX (yes, the Supermax) under a SAMs designation. Paul is incommunicado. If you write him, he will never receive your letters. The government has a lot to hide. Without further ado, here is the 1858 page response:

Bergrin 2255 Government Response November 30 2017

Is the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) a Criminal Organization

 

Anyone who lived in Miami in the 80s knows something about the story of Salvador Magluta and Willie Falcon. Falcon was recently released from the BOP and is in ICE custody, in Louisiana I believe, as the US government is attempting to deport him to Cuba. Sal Magluta is in Florence ADMAX (yes, the Supermax) and has been through more than anyone could imagine.

Before you fall for the outrageous government spin concerning Sal Magluta, note that his 195 year sentence is for money laundering. You got that right. Money laundering. Not importing drugs or murder or any other crazy crap the government claims him to be guilty of. The jury convicted him on numerous counts of money laundering, many of which simply involved him paying his attorneys. Truth be told, Magluta was more of a Robinhood type – he spread the wealth around. Sure, he had his faults, but no one who actually knew him believes that he belongs in Florence ADMAX serving a 195 year sentence.

I came across Magluta's many cases against the BOP when researching what they really do to inmates in Florence ADMAX. Magluta's attorney recently jumped ship, mainly because he was not being paid and the staff at Florence ADMAX made communications impossible via telephone and in-person. There was nothing more that the attorney could do for him.

The document linked herein is written by Sal Magluta as a declaration in the current case against the BOP and filed in July of 2017. There is much personal medical information in the declaration, so I've been on the fence about posting it, but I must believe that Sal Magluta wants the people to know what the government is doing to him or he wouldn't have filed it:

Magluta Declaration July 24 2017

 

If reading a non-fiction book about the Miami scene back in the late 70s and throughout the 80s appeals to you, make sure to read Roben Farzad's recently released book, Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami. I will save the discussion of Magluta's case(s) against the BOP for a new post.

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Vicky Gallas 

Paul Bergrin in Colorado Supermax and Suffering Immensely

On November 3, 2016, Paul wrote a motion for assistance to US District Judge Jose Linares from his new hellhole home at ADX Florence. The motion did not make it to the Denver, Colorado USPS facility until November 25, and was received by the Newark clerk's office on November 29 and entered in the file on December 2, 2016, according to PACER. So, apparently ADX Florence is holding Paul Bergrin's outgoing mail to the court for 21 days!

Bergrin Motion 29 November 2016

Why isn't anyone doing anything about this? There is no civil rights suit filed on Paul's behalf; I checked. ADX Florence staff are illegally holding his legal mail for three (3) entire weeks before sending it out at a time when his life depends on getting mail to the court and having contact with his attorney, Larry Lustberg. I seriously doubt that Paul has had any contact with his attorney since arriving at this... this... f'ing US government torture facility. So what are you doing about it Mr. Lustberg? Oh I know that you cannot speak because of the SAMs, but I would expect that something is being done to help Paul.

So now we turn to US District Judge Linares: Why are you not doing something about this interference in Paul Bergrin's Rule 33 Motion and 2255 Petition? Is Paul actually expected to argue his case with NO LEGAL MATERIALS whatsoever (no case docs, no acting attorney to contact, no investigators, no access to a law library, no mail - nothing, nada, zilch)? How specifically does an inmate manage to accomplish this task while in a Supermax?

If one more person says boo to me about sharing a post on Facebook if I care about veterans, I'm going to snap. Get off your Facebook posting rear and stand-up for Paul Bergrin, a veteran who defended soldiers (pawns) against all odds and now pays the ultimate price!

If one more person has the audacity to say anything good about the US and trash Fidel Castro while silently sitting by as Paul Bergrin is murdered by the US government, I'm going to flip. Just don't do it. There is nothing good here. This is a created case, but you know that if you have taken the time to read the transcripts and documents. The entire US criminal justice system is a sham. If you are reading this in another country, as many readers are, do not let them extradite you to the US; fight with every bit of strength that you have left. You will not be treated fairly here.

The truth is that we have no idea if Paul Bergrin is alive or dead. BOP will take months to contact family members if something happens to an inmate, and especially if it happens to this particular inmate. The letter is dated November 3, the day after arrival at the Supermax. Anything could have happened to Paul by now. The government and many of its representatives want Paul dead - that is crystal clear. One day every single participant will answer to a higher authority for their part in what has been done to this man.

History will absolve Paul Bergrin too.

Paul Bergrin Transfer to ADX Florence

This short post is about exactly what the title says. Paul Bergrin is being or has been transferred to ADX Florence, the Supermax in Colorado. I admit to being stunned. I have been busy with life - some day I will tell you about it on my other blog - and then there was the hurricane mess as I live on an island off the East coast of Florida.

This document was entered by the clerk's office on September 28, 2016, and it is a handwritten motion to Judge Jose Linares. No attorney has been able to update me on Paul Bergrin's status at the CMU after he was placed under Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) there at the time of my last post and when he went incommunicado. I just logged into PACER tonight and retrieved this document.

The Bureau of Prisons inmate locator shows Paul Bergrin to be still in Terre Haute, Indiana at the CMU, but in this case I have zero faith that the locator has been updated. Paul Was notified in late August that he was now designated to the Supermax in Florence, Colorado.

Bergrin Motion for Relief September 28 2016

I'm just horrified. Need to do some research and will post again in the near future. ADX Florence is known to be worse than Guantanamo Bay camps. Seriously. WTH.

UPDATE on November 2, 2016 @11:50AM:

As of today, November 2, 2016, Paul Bergrin is now in Florence, Colorado ADMAX, also known as the Supermax. This morning he showed as at this facility in the BOP inmate locator: Inmate Locator

So, Paul is now in the worst of all hellhole facilities that the US has created; worse than Guantanamo Bay camps. Considering that Paul Bergrin is about as scary as a kitty-kat and the entire prosecution was a major overkill engineered by those with an axe to grind and plenty to hide, I see that the government can get away with absolutely anything. History will absolve Paul Bergrin!

For more information on ADX Florence, read the Wikipedia entry, and update with Paul Bergrin's name if you are into updating on Wikipedia: ADX Florence

Paul Bergrin Incommunicado: Special Administrative Measures

The Communications Management Unit (CMU) was not effective in silencing him forever for the government in this case and now Paul Bergrin is being held under Special Administrative Measures (SAM). Apparently there was a request for special confinement conditions because Guantanamo North just wasn't enough. Now he is unable to communicate with his attorneys at a vital point in the Rule 33 motion and the 2255 petition.

Who knows the reasoning used by the Newark US Attorney's Office (USAO) and the BOP. It is unlikely that we will ever have an answer to that question. They truly have ceased all of Paul Bergrin's communications, so if you have been expecting a telephone call, an email, or a letter, you will not be getting it. We really have no clue what they have done to him at this point. The last time anyone heard from Paul was on August 22, 2016.

No, he is not on lockdown at Guantanamo North or in SHU for one stupid issue or another - he has been placed under a SAM. You may recall that violating a SAM is what resulted in former attorney Lynne Stewart's prosecution and subsequent imprisonment. Read more about SAM here:

Special Administrative Measures

It seems that US Attorney General Lynch had to sign-off on this SAM. Thanks a bunch to Loretta Lynch, who I must add was previously the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Someone in Newark has some contacts! I will admit that I never expected to see such a major subversion of justice under the Obama administration.

The fact is that the government was about to get caught in the long game of lies at play in Paul Bergrin's life and absurd prosecution. There are also people in the way. At this point, we only hope that he is still alive. They are capable of anything so don't scoff at that thought. Anyone who knows Paul, knows that he is as harmless as a kitty-kat, so there is definitely no valid reason for the CMU or the SAM.

One of the last communications from Paul is this letter to Judge Jose Linares filed on August 15, 2016, and now no assistance that he requested from the judge is even possible. You read that correctly: there is nothing that Judge Linares could do about this if he wanted to:

Bergrin Letter August 15 2016

The only hope for Paul Bergrin is if he is granted a new trial on any or all counts. If this were to happen, he would be returned to the Newark area. However, they have made sure that Paul is truly unable to communicate with his attorneys at this crucial time in the legal case, so don't get your hopes up. We could also be certain that there is major pressure to make sure that never happens right now.

I have not had any contact with Paul since mid-August of 2015, when the CMU director blocked all contact, but I do know that he was working with investigators and his attorneys to blow the roof off of this warped persecution. Now, thanks to the SAM, his attorneys are no longer able to communicate anything whatsoever concerning the case, prosecution or investigation.

Have they managed to silence Paul Bergrin forever? I don't know yet - the jury is still out on that question. 

Paul Bergrin in CMU in Terre Haute

This post is just a short update to the last post about Paul Bergrin's new BOP designation to the Communications Management Unit (CMU). I have heard from a few people that received letters from Paul and as imagined, they do indeed manage and limit his communications. The first and main rule is that there are no messages of any type, so he is not even able to say, 'tell Vicky...' as he has in past letters.

The conditions in Terre Haute CMU are a central reason for this update, but first lets talk about the trip there.... Paul is in decent health and survived the short stay in the lousy Oklahoma City Transport Facility, and this time the stay was short as it is for other inmates that pass through this dump. For 10 hours before leaving OKC, the asshats actually put Paul Bergrin in a cage. Cage is defined here as limiting his ability to stretch, lay down or stand-up. Paul is taller than their cage is. Clearly there are people working in this craphole that have a sadistic streak and enjoy abusing inmates.

Paul Bergrin was then transported on a plane in shackles with some sort of heavy box contraption attached. It was extremely uncomfortable for him. That's really all I know on this part of his journey.

The CMU in Terre Haute FCI was created / built less than 10 years ago, so you'd think it was a state-of-the-art facility - it's not. It's in an old part of the FCI, the area where death row inmates used to be held, in a dilapidated section of the facility.

Paul had nice things to say about the staff in the CMU and it sounds like he has the utmost respect for everyone he has encountered there. From the wording, I seriously doubt that he was forced to say this. So at least the BOP has some decent employees in charge of the inmates as opposed to the sadistic freaks that attempted to starve Paul Bergrin to death in OKC during his lengthy stay there before he went to Tucson.

Paul is strong and doing what he can to work on his case and appeals. I do have some idea what may have caused this designation to the CMU, but I am unable to state it publicly. I will say that an inmate needs to be extremely cautious of the people that want to be his new best friend in prison, especially if his name is Paul Bergrin. Often the stated goals are not real and there's more going on behind the scenes.

I do believe that Paul will be at the CMU for a long time. I'd be surprised if he received a new designation in the next couple of years, so he has definitely been silenced by the government. I have not written him a letter at this point and if I did, I doubt he would receive it because of this blog and perhaps also because of who I am and my own background, though that part is debatable, and I will write and find out in due time.

There is plenty of time, so I feel no rush to write any letter. If you choose to write Paul a letter, make sure to not include any message from anyone else or statement or what another person says about anything. Just write from the heart and say what you mean - the communications are also monitored by a special unit in Washington DC.

Paul Bergrin Designated to a CMU by BOP

The US Attorney's Office in Newark and the BOP have found a way to silence Paul Bergrin - he has been designated to the CMU (Communications Management Unit) in Terre Haute, Indiana. Paul won't be able to complain about starvation, abuse and deplorable conditions in BOP facilities or work on gathering statements and documents in his case. At this point, it looks like he may not even be allowed to correspond with his daughter or contact his attorney, Larry Lustberg. Paul Bergrin is being held incommunicado in Guantanamo North.

Larry Lustberg responded to my questions with this statement:

I have had no contact with Paul since he left Arizona and, even though I am his attorney, and his appeals are still going on -- we are about to go to the Supreme Court -- he has been made inaccessible to us. It really is outrageous. We will challenge this designation.

A Paul Bergrin supporter and blog reader reached out to me with the results of her research on what the BOP has done with Paul Bergrin. She pointed me to the Federal Register for additional reading on the CMU and it has been enlightening to say the least. There are only two CMUs in the country and one is in Terre Haute FCI. The other is in Marion USP. BOP opened these facilities in secret during the Bush administration.

The Bureau of Prisons has so many different acronyms in use that CMU completely escaped me when Paul made a statement about it in a letter. He referred to it as the "terrorist unit" and was really angry just thinking that BOP designated him there - and at that point he just believed that's what BOP was doing because of the specific location he was going to. Apparently he knew what any designation to that location actually meant.

Paul was told where he was going (Terre Haute), but his communications have been so limited in the last six months in Tucson USP SHU (isolation) that no one interpreted his statements as what they actually mean. I responded via his girlfriend that the great majority of defendants and inmates labeled "terrorists" by our government are not even remotely involved in anything terror-related. I basically told him not to be concerned.

No one understood what he was saying, so I don't feel too stupid. Poor Paul. He's tried to warn all of us about what the BOP was doing to him and I took it as just another unwarranted move to a different facility that happens to have lots of Muslim inmates labeled as terrorists. Good grief - this was a completely underwhelming assessment of the situation.

Am I surprised?

Well, aside from the fact that nothing should surprise me in this case, I should not have been. I was concerned the government would place him in a Supermax or even a Guantanamo camp after the trial. They were all so over-the-top, like with Judge Cavanaugh's excessive and bizarre sentence of hundreds of years, that a Supermax sounded like more than a mere possibility.

And then there was the journalist with a German magazine that I put in contact with Paul some time ago. I can guarantee that the US government, the boys in Newark and the BOP did not want Paul in-contact with a journalist from a major publication in Germany. One day that journalist contacted me to say that he received an email notification - yes, the same one that I received days ago - stating that Paul Bergrin no longer wanted to be in contact with him. I asked Paul numerous times in email why he would do that so I could offer this journalist some sort of explanation. Paul never answered me. At the time, it did not occur to me that he never read my question. Yes, I can be naive. More likely than not, Paul wondered why the journalist never followed-up or responded to him.

The CMU is worse than a Supermax

By now you have either searched Google to find more information on a CMU designation by BOP or you're waiting for my explanation. Well, it's not referred to as "Guantanamo North" without reason. At this point, I'll say that when the Paul Bergrin supporter and blog reader called FCI Terre Haute, the government minion that answered the phone almost made the CMU sound pleasant. While such a hellhole designation may indeed seem pleasant to this minion, you'll soon understand that she was full of crap, but then aren't they all? They're bought and paid for by that system, so the answer is yes, of course.

According to the Federal Register BOP statement, an inmate may be designated to a CMU if:

The inmate's current offense(s) of conviction, or offense conduct, included association, communication, or involvement, related to international or domestic terrorism;

The inmate's current offense(s) of conviction, offense conduct, or activity while incarcerated, indicates a substantial likelihood to encourage, coordinate, facilitate, or otherwise act in furtherance of, illegal activity through communication with persons in the community;

The inmate has attempted, or indicates a substantial likelihood, to contact victims of the inmate's current offense(s) of conviction;

The inmate committed a prohibited activity related to misuse/abuse of approved communication methods while incarcerated; or

There is any other evidence of a potential threat to the safe, secure, and orderly operation of prison facilities, or protection of the public, as a result of the inmate's communication with persons in the community.


Since we already know that BOP defends these two "little Guantanamos" and those in-charge have made locking people up their life work, I'll go elsewhere for my explanations of what really happens to inmates in a CMU. While we're at it, I'll look at the true explanation of how an inmate ends-up designated to a CMU by BOP, but the Federal Register has plenty of real information in the comments responding to BOP's "new rule" on CMUs, so definitely read it.

According to Daniel McGowan, former CMU inmate and activist, writing for Huffington Post: Court Documents Prove I was Sent to Communications Management Units (CMU) for my Political Speech

What's also notable about the CMUs is who is sent there. It became quickly obvious to me that many CMU prisoners were there because of their religion or in retaliation for their speech. By my count, around two-thirds of the men are Muslim, many of whom have been caught up in the so-called "war on terror" others who just spoke out for their rights or allegedly took leadership positions in the Muslim community at other facilities. Some, like me, were prisoners who have political views and perspectives that are not shared by the Department of Justice.

It should be clear to anyone reading this blog that Paul's views are not shared by the DOJ. He knows what the government did and has more information about torture under the Bush administration than any man alive.

 

So what next?

I do intend to explore the topic of what actually happens in the CMU in-depth as well as what has been done to Paul, but for now I will leave you with this to think about: Paul Bergrin's daughter also received one of those email notifications that he no longer wanted to be in contact with her. As if! Yes, I'm indignant and angry. BOP is a criminal organization.

I can hear the US Attorney's Office in Newark and the many government minions that work there calling a checkmate now, but don't count out Paul Bergrin yet.

Paul Bergrin Back in OKC Transfer Facility

Paul Bergrin has been back in the Oklahoma City Transfer facility for a couple of weeks now. He is awaiting transfer to Terre Haute USP in Indiana. You recall my posts about this Oklahoma City FTC, right? If not, you need only look back a few posts and read the letter Paul sent while in that hellhole when he was on the way to Tucson USP this time last year. Read about how they starve the inmates there and never allowed Paul Bergrin to purchase food from the commissary during the 4 months they held him there.

As we know that BOP provides funding for adult meals for inmates in every facility, it is clear that there is something else going on in Oklahoma City. I more than insinuated that someone (or a group of someones) is stealing the food or the funding for food. Has anyone ever done anything about it? Of course not, because they don't give a rat's ass.

Most inmates in the federal BOP never experience this starvation when they pass through this transfer facility as they leave quickly. The average stay at this dump is 3 days with 2 weeks being a maximum. Doing without medical care, a shave, haircut, and adult-sized meals for a few days won't usually kill anyone. However, Paul Bergrin is special and spent 16 weeks there the last time. How long will they starve him this round? How long will they get to hold his mail and otherwise abuse his rights at this Guantanamo west hellhole?

Several of us (me, Paul's girlfriend, a friend that he communicated with) received this email from the BOP email system this morning in reference to Paul Bergrin:

The above-named inmate has chosen to remove your email address from his/her approved contact list and, therefore, can not receive or send messages to your email address.


No telling how many people on Paul's email list received this message - I know only of myself and the two others, but it could be everyone. Did Paul initiate this or is it something they did in the OKC facility? None of us have heard from Paul in email since his arrival at this place 2 weeks ago and normally inmates have almost immediate access to email. The last snail-mail letter that his girlfriend received from him is dated January 20, 2015.

What have these criminals done to Paul Bergrin? Why is he being held incommunicado?


How dare anyone claim to care about veterans and whistleblowers and not do something about this abomination going on in the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)!


UPDATE on 3 February @9:30PM EST:

One of Paul Bergrin's main longtime supporters has contacted me to inform me that she also received this email notification from the BOP email system. Not a chance that Paul would cease communication with her, so this is definitely crap.

The BOP website shows Paul Bergrin at Terre Haute FCI. The only way that Paul is in the FCI instead of the USP is if he is in SHU (isolation). Most likely the USP had no more room in the SHU so they have him at the FCI, but solitary is solitary, regardless of which specific facility it is in. I can guarantee that BOP did not reclassify him as medium security and an FCI is a medium security facility.

This makes sense because Paul hs no access to email. Apparently, he has also not been able to send out mail since the 20th of January. It was pointed out to me that FTC Oklahoma only allows inmates to send outgoing mail on Thursdays - yes, only one day a week! Supposedly the inmates receive mail Monday - Friday, but outgoing is only on Thursdays.

The timing of this and the FACT that Paul is held incommunicado currently says to me that there is a cover-up of what they have done to him underway. It has been months since Paul has had email access and it's clear that both Newark and the BOP do not like the snail-mail letters that he writes. I actually have 10 to publish on the website, but have not done so yet - before the week is over it will be done.

We will find out what is really happening in due time, and sooner rather than later.


UPDATE on 5 February 2015 @3:45AM EST:

Well, well, well... The boys in Newark and the BOP have really outdone themselves this time. Lots of stormy weather and electric is flashing on and off here, so I will be brief. I do intend to compose a post over the next day or two on this horrific discovery. A supporter of Paul Bergrin contacted me with some info and I followed-up, found numerous relevant articles. Yes, it's that bad and worse.

The BOP has designated Paul Bergrin to a CMU (Communications Management Unit). There are only two CMUs in the country; one is in Terre Haute FCI and the other is in Marion USP. Now we know why Paul is in an FCI. These CMUs are often referred to as Guantanamo North.

The government has managed to silence Paul Bergrin. Possibly forever. Even his daughter received one of those email notifications. So much more to say. Feel free to research the CMU and what they actually do there and comment if you want to. I'll post a new post soon.

USP Tucson: Deplorable Conditions in Isolation

A letter from Paul Bergrin was copied to me at his request. When I read it, I was truly angry. Now I just want to see it shoved down their throats, so not angry anymore and seeking publicity regarding the horrific conditions in SHU (the hole) at USP Tucson. This is criminal and really I want to know who is profiting from it, because someone always is.

What disturbed POS gets their rocks off subjecting prisoners to such abuse and deplorable conditions? Is this engineered by the warden at USP Tucson? The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has really gone downhill and is at an extremely low point today.

Now that you've read Paul's statement on the conditions where he is currently being held and heard my complaint concerning the failure of the BOP to treat prisoners humanely, the worst problem is obstruction of his legal work and investigation for his current appeal. Paul Bergrin has people working on his investigation, but is now unable to confer with those assisting him. This case is extremely involved due to the range of counts that must be addressed, requiring him to be available for discussion on the telephone or email.

I have no doubt this trip to SHU that could last for 90 days is at the hands of the Newark US Attorney's Office. They have so much to lose. Paul Bergrin was busy gathering affidavits absolutely necessary to his appeal. Now he is held practically incommunicado.

Read the letter describing the deplorable conditions Paul Bergrin is dealing with in the 2 scanned images included herein.

If you have a few minutes, consider writing Paul a letter to cheer him up.


Share this so that they will be held accountable for their actions!

Paul Bergrin in Solitary Confinement

I have just been informed by someone close to Paul Bergrin that he is currently in solitary confinement at USP Tucson. The actual Bureau of Prisons (BOP) term is SHU. In Bergrin's situation, as is often the case with other inmates, he is in SHU for unknown reasons. He's done nothing incorrect, illegal or in violation of any BOP rule.

You can write to Paul at this address:

Paul Bergrin - #16235-050
USP Tucson
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 24550
Tucson, AZ 85734

Paul Bergrin expects to be in SHU for several months minimum, so they're certainly impeding his investigation and obstructing his legal filings. If the past is an indicator, this is all at the hands of the Newark US Attorney's Office. At this time their cases are colliding and there are many conflicts between testimony in the Paul Bergrin case, the William Baskerville case, and the Rakeem Baskerville and Hakeem Curry case. All of these cases have current motions and appeals in courts waiting to be heard.

This is not much different than the methods used to obstruct Rakeem Baskerville from responding to government motions or orders by the judge in his case currently and in past. This poor guy is unable to effectively send or receive mail - another story for a new blog post this week, so look for it.

I have been told that Paul is suffering, but staying strong and that solitary confinement is torturous for him. If you have done any reading on the effects of solitary on a human being, you will know that they're putting him through hell, literally. I'm sending a letter off today and if you have any concern or belief in Paul Bergrin, you will too.

I'm not sure what else to say at this moment. I knew they'd pull this crap. They must do anything to stop the truth from being revealed and prevent him from advancing his extremely valid legal arguments. I will post again on the situation as soon as I have additional information.

Shining the Light on BOP: Guantanamo on US Soil

At this point in time, anyone that can read is aware of how prisoners in Guantanamo Bay camps are mistreated, abused and tortured. Few have a clue that similar abuse is also occurring in U.S. prisons, specifically in the the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) system. This is not an equal opportunity system and all are not treated equally across the board in all BOP facilities as is projected to the general public.

This is not a discussion about inmates not receiving their mail or being served Monsanto poison for dinner, though both problems are prevalent as well.

What is much more shocking is how the BOP has virtually no oversight or accountability. The prison wardens are being used as pawns by the US Attorney's Office. They use an institution -- whose purpose is supposedly to securely detain, rehabilitate and to implement a predetermined punishment for a specific crime handed down by the court as permitted by the legislature -- as an alter ego. It's crazy.


What is going on at FTC Oklahoma City?

Paul Bergrin has lost 15-20 pounds since we last talked about his weight. They ignore the national menu for food and they give the inmates children portions that would not even fill the stomach of anyone over 7 years of age. There is no commissary and they give inmates one packet of coffee in the morning and one milk for the day. At least 3 packets of this so called coffee are needed to even taste the coffee in it.

So I ask my investigative readers out there: What is being done with the food budget at this institution? Who or what specific group within the facility is scamming the federal government and pocketing the major $funds intended for food for the inmates? In short, who are the thieves???

They lock the showers from 8 in the morning until 5 at night, so there are long lines and they are disgustingly filthy. They shake down inmate cells at least once a week and take any extra clothing. Paul Bergrin has gone almost 3 months with no haircut!

If inmates complain about any of this stated abuse, they retaliate against them and keep them in what is supposed to be a transfer facility under the deceptive guise that they are investigating. They refuse to send out inmate legal mail and only come around once a week on Wednesday morning to collect all mail. They do not answer any inquiries inmates make and they refuse to even provide the forms to complain to the region, which is easy to do as the inmate never sees a counselor.

Everything noted thus far is in violation of BOP rules and some of the mistreatment falls in the category of civil rights violations. While it seems that all inmates in this hellhole are suffering, Paul Bergrin has been selected for special mistreatment. They consistently pass over Paul when transports are going to his exact location (USP Tucson), so we know they are doing this intentionally and to make him suffer. It is like a concentration camp there and I am aware of many more violations and much more abuse - what is stated herein is merely the tip of the iceberg!

Paul Bergrin has been in this particular facility for over two and a half months and he is the longest detainee in transit in the unit. They are definitely doing it to torture him. The same as moving him 3000 miles and even further from his loved ones to make sure he will never see his kids or grandchildren. Of course this was done to Paul before the holidays. Clearly the Newark US Attorney's Office wanted to make sure he would not have any visitors and now with the planned move to Tucson instead of Florida, visits will be rare. They have intentionally separated Paul from his loved ones permanently, or at least as long as he is in BOP custody. That is NOT the stated goal of the BOP!

What they have done to his Paul's new cellmate is worse than situations you read about in third-world countries. His name is Ivin Wosencraft. He is from Amarillo, Texas and has less than one year remaining on his sentence. He was sent home from the hospital Friday night because they refused to admit him, with the Lt. at the institution telling the doctor that he should not admit him unless he will die, since he is leaving Monday. Well, his leg swelled even more and he is in extraordinary pain and agony and is an insulin dependent diabetic. He just finished cancer treatments also. The man is terminally ill. He developed a blood clot and the BOP just brought him into Paul's cell, despite his critical condition. The lieutenant wouldn't let the poor guy go to the ER even though the guy is dying.

NOTE to BOP Region Director: FIRE the INHUMAN lieutenant NOW!

I fear Paul Bergrin will suffer retaliation for my blog posts; however, they cannot be allowed to murder him while we all remain silent and sit in fear. So here I am. If there is any form of retaliation against Paul Bergrin for my words, I can only assure the perpetrators that I know how to get louder by the day and draw international attention to the many forms of mistreatment he is suffering in the BOP Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City.

When you click on the link for this FTC in Oklahoma City, at the bottom of the page it references a Commissary List available and Inmate Legal Activities. This is all lies - there is no commissary and the officers DO NOT send out legal mail.


ATTENTION to BOP Regional Director: Correct the lies on this institution's website page and fix the problems. How would I fix these serious problems? FIRE all employees in the facility, charge the worst abusers with civil rights violations and then replace them with human beings! This is the way this place operates - take note and FIX IT ASAP! And don't forget that there's much more than stated herein...


UPDATE EDIT on January 1, 2014 to add:

I have never heard of a BOP facility being this terrible. Is it possible that this FTC in Oklahoma City is used as a Guantanamo camp type facility by the government to make inmates appreciate regular facilities when they arrive? After all, inmates are only supposed to be in this hellhole briefly and I believe the average stay is 1-3 weeks, with 5 weeks being the longest stay I have ever heard of. Child's portion meals, officers' refusal to send out legal mail, no commissary availability, no haircuts etc... wouldn't be a major problem for a week or 2.

This is where the Newark US Attorney's Office (USAO) enters the picture. BOP originally designated Paul Bergrin to USP Coleman 1 in Florida, which I knew would not fly for the USAO. You see, William Baskerville is in USP Coleman 1, and the last thing on earth that the USAO wants is William and Paul Bergrin working on their cases together. William Baskerville filed a 2255 back in late September (2013) and is fighting for an evidentiary hearing right now.

Some discovery and testimony in Paul Bergrin's 2013 trial contradicts statements made by the same witnesses (Brokos, Anthony Young and more) in William Baskerville's 2007 trial. The USAO has a similar problem with the Hakeem Curry / Rakeem Baskerville discovery and witness testimony contradicting later testimony in Paul Bergrin's trial. It is a lot of material to read, but there are serious inconsistencies between specific testimony in the 3 trials.

Beyond all of that, the issue of the missing food at FTC Oklahoma City is a serious one. I am serious about my questions as I know for fact that these institutions have a generous food budget that covers feeding every adult inmate that arrives. So who has done what with the food and/or the money allocated for the food??? Someone is making out like a bandit while the inmates are being starved!


UPDATE on 18 January 2014 @1:25PM:

Paul Bergrin arrived in Tucson USP this morning. He's finally out of that terrible transfer facility in Oklahoma City!

On a different note, comments intended to harass and denigrate Paul Bergrin or me, the blog publisher, will not be published on this blog. Take your weird issues elsewhere.