Thread: Did Gilchrist misuse U.S. agent names?

Did Gilchrist misuse U.S. agent names?

December 20, 2009 4:47 PM
Did Gilchrist misuse U.S. agent names?
By FRANK MICKADEIT


She has now decided to go more public with what she says is evidence of Gilchrist's self-dealing under the guise of Minuteman activities. In video that can be found on YouTube.com or at dacourtney.com, Gilchrist is seen admitting he did not give to two imprisoned Border Patrol agents money he raised by invoking their names.


Agents Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose Compean were imprisoned for shooting a fleeing Mexican drug smuggler in Texas after he first shot at them. Courtney also provides a copy of the fundraising letter Gilchrist sent out in January 2007 in which he asks donors to sign a petition to have the agents pardoned (they eventually were), and to send money to the Minuteman Project.

The letter starts: "Two U.S. Border Patrol agents are under attack and need your urgent help today." It goes on for four pages, detailing what happened at the border and the injustice that followed. Toward the end, Gilchrist writes:

"I hope you'll consider a gift of $15, $20 or more to help us with our work – including our support of the families of Agents Ramos and Compean. From our petition campaign, to our border watch efforts, to our donations to the legal costs and expenses for Agents Ramos and Compean – none of this is possible without Minutemen supporters like you. So please, whether your gift is another $10 or as much as $20 or more ... please send your urgent donation today."

Then, in the video interview, which Courtney says was taped at a rally in late 2008, Gilchrist is asked, "Did you ever give money" to the agents? Gilchrist first replies, "Yes," but then quickly shifts his position and continues, "No, it went to lawyers to defend the Minuteman Project against Marvin Stewart from stealing it, and Deborah Courtney and her boyfriend, Paul Sielski, and Barbara Coe, and it was very well used and our attorneys are well-funded."

This, Courtney says, goes to the heart of her case – in which she and Stewart are fighting Gilchrist over who controls Minuteman – and is "the most egregious example" of the fraud she alleges. Since the video was made, Courtney has learned Gilchrist did give $300 to the agents. An affidavit by Compean's wife says Gilchrist eventually gave the family $200. Ramos' father says Gilchrist gave Ramos $100 in canteen money while in prison.

I called one of Gilchrist's "well-funded" attorneys, Guy Mailly. He says the letter was trying to raise money for Minuteman Project, not for the agents. He characterized it as inviting donations "so Minuteman Project can continue its campaign to assist Ramos and Compean," not as implying the money would go to the agents. Nonetheless, Gilchrist did give a total of $600 to the two agents, Mailly says – twice as much as Courtney says.

Courtney's release, Mailly says, "shows Ms. Courtney's desperation in the final hours of her lawsuit."

Courtney has alleged that Gilchrist brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars, although exactly how much hasn't been established. How much of it – if any – did people send in thinking it would go to the agents? Who knows?

It's possible, I suppose, that only $300 – or $600 – came in specifically for the agents, and Gilchrist turned it over. That might legally get him off the hook. But morally? If you are invoking the names of these two guys to raise money, don't you owe them more than a pittance?

The litigation between Courtney/Stewart and Gilchrist has been tied up in depositions and hearings for months, but appears to be at a crucial juncture. Judge Randell Wilkinson heard motions last week that could result in large parts of the case against Gilchrist being thrown out. He is expected to rule next week. The parts that survive – and Mailly says some will because he didn't seek to remove every cause of action against Gilchrist – will be heard in a trial set to begin Jan. 4.

Courtney and Stewart represent themselves. Coe is no longer involved in the litigation. Gilchrist has two attorneys, Mailly and Catherine Lukehart of Santa Ana.

Mickadeit writes Mon.-Fri. Contact him at 714-796-4994 or fmickadeit@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/news/gilchris ... rtney.html


HERE IS THE VIDEO THAT SET THIS IN MOTION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zs6qzYFwfQ

Well I am glad this thief's lawyers are happy wth all the money that was raised!
Any devout follower of his needs therapy if they do not realize how they were cheated.