Thread: VA - Nexus wants federal, state probes of sheriff's office

Posted: Monday, July 11, 2016 10:38 pm
By BOB STUART

VERONA — Nexus Services of Verona on Monday asked for both a U.S. Justice Department and Virginia Attorney General's investigation into alleged misconduct by the Augusta County Sheriff's Department over its detention last week of several undocumented immigrants.

The sheriff’s office detained seven individuals after stopping two vehicles at the Weyers Cave rest area on Interstate 81 on Wednesday.

As a result of the stop, seven undocumented immigrants were turned over to U.S. Homeland Security. The sheriff's office’s chief deputy said late Monday that the department had met the legal standard for stopping and questioning the motorists.

And according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, ICE ultimately detained five of the individuals — one from El Salvador and four from Ecuador. The two others, including a child, both from Ecuador, were released. The spokeswoman said the case is still under investigation and further details were not available late Monday.

Nexus President and CEO Mike Donovan asked for the dual investigations at an afternoon press conference Monday at Nexus' Verona corporate headquarters. Nexus provides GPS tracking to detained immigrants, entertainment and real estate services. and pro bono legal services to immigrants.

The call for the probes is just the latest in a series of skirmishes, both legal and personal, between Nexus and Augusta County government officials.

The company has sued Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith, Commissioner of the Revenue Jean Shrewsbury and others in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg for alleged constitutional violations, conspiracy and defamation. Nexus is asking for $1.2 million in damages.

Nexus' Donovan said Smith's deputies have come to his Augusta County residence and questioned private security, and even blocked the entrance to it at one point. The federal suit also details a series of emails in which commissioner of the revenue employees used Hitler emojis in correspondance about Nexus.

Smith has sought dismissal of the federal suit. And last month, Shrewsbury said her office has an ongoing investigation of Nexus regarding alleged non-payment of annual business licenses for the company's different entities. Nexus maintains it has paid all Augusta County business licenses.

On Monday, Donovan questioned whether the sheriff's office had probable cause to stop the vehicle, as well as another one detained briefly at the rest area. He also said local law enforcement cannot enforce federal immigration law.

"There are no details as to why they were arrested. It sends a chill into the immigrant community,'' Donovan said. In letters signed by Donovan to both U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the Nexus CEO asks for the investigations "into the potential criminal misconduct'' by Smith.

"It is imperative to determine whether the sheriff or his deputies, may have committed any crimes,'' Donovan wrote both Lynch and Herring. Michael Kelly, a spokesman for Herring, said the office would review the investigation request promptly.

However, Maj. William Spence of the sheriff's office, the chief deputy, said deputies’ actions were legal.

He said an interdiction unit of the department was working at the rest stop Wednesday. Members of the team were finishing a search of a tractor-trailer when they noticed "furtive movement'' by two people near a vehicle behind the tractor-trailer.

Spence said the movements were enough to meet a legal standard held by courts known as “reasonable articulable suspicion.” When questioned by deputies, he said, the driver of the vehicle revealed he had no driver's license and was taking an undocumented immigrant to New York.

A second vehicle pulled up with a driver and six undocumented passengers. Spence said the Sheriff's Office learned that the passengers in that vehicle were being taken to a northern state.

It’s not clear whether the passenger in the first vehicle was among the seven ultimately detained.

The department's interdiction unit was formed in the last two months. Spence said the team works area interstates in Augusta County to check for different types of crime, such as drugs and the illegal transporting of cigarettes. Spence said the interdiction unit has received special training from a retired Maryland law enforcement officer.

Donovan was not moved by the explanation from the sheriff's office.

"The sheriff's office’s response only leads to more questions, and their apparent unwillingness to be clear and direct in justifying their actions only serves to raise suspicions and inflame distrust between the Hispanic community and the Sheriff's Office," Donovan said.

http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvir...44156d139.html

Nexus provides GPS tracking to detained immigrants, entertainment and real estate services. and pro bono legal services to immigrants.

Aiding & abetting - should not be able to operate. O has a list of corporations that will do his duty even though they are breaking the law. Worst potus ever!