Florida Keys News
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Missing school equipment found
Officials don't know who put it in high school storage unit, or when
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

Investigators on Tuesday found $14,000 worth of missing television production equipment in a Key West High School storage unit.

The State Attorney's Office has had control over the unit since officials discovered it contained items former Adult Education Coordinator Monique Acevedo may have purchased on her school district credit card for personal use.

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I want to know about all the millions spent on Technology

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:31pm by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
Remember those technology companies dubbed Randy the Techie Super. How much of our taxpayer monies were spent to get him that award.

This is how you define secure.....

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:08pm by Captain Keysey
Remember this was all secured by St. James.... hmmmm

Seriously

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:29pm
While all of this is going on and coming out, are teacher contract negotiations going on? Who is left to negotiate?

The crystal ball says: Union

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:10pm
The crystal ball says: Union rep will negotiate a 2% raise for teachers and no step. Administration will get a 5% raise and extra insurance benefits. Union rep resigns soon after and is hired by the board to replace another "retired" person at twice the original salary. In 2010 the school board is nominated for an Academy Award and wins for most outstanding comedy performed by a large group. Entire staff gets fully paid trip to recieve award then gives themselves a supplimental bonus of $10,000 each for their outstanding work.

What should have happened...

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:30pm
A purchase this size should have required approval from Mike Henriquez and Randy Acevedo. A camera in that mult-million dollar new school should have captured when and how this stuff was returned. The sheriff should have stored ALL evidence in a secure location. "Found items" were first stolen then returned so the theif should go to jail even if items are NEVER "found." We should not put up with these idiots. We should vote all of them out.

Other Monkey Business?

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:12pm
Has anyone checked the Florida coorporations? Go to Acevedo FEI 650901913 Acevedo Schol Endowment Funding The X Vice President of FKCC and her boy friend in with Randy Acevado. What is that all about?

LET'S HIRE A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:09am
THE STATE ATTORNEY NEEDS TO HIRE A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT AND A COUPLE OF EXTRA ATTORNEYS TO INVESTIGATE WHY THEY LOST EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN UNDER THEIR CONTROL. WE SHOULD PAY ALL OF THESE PROFESSIONALS AT LEAST $500,000.00 TO $700,000.00 IN PUBLIC TAXPAYER MONEY (CONSERVATIVELY) IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. DENNIS WARD NEEDS TO STEP ASIDE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE RUN THE OFFICE BECAUSE HE SHOULDN'T BE THERE WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. THE NEW STATE ATTORNEY SHOULD CALL ON THE GRAND JURY TO INVESTIGATE THE MISSING AND FOUND EQUIPMENT AND MAYBE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER INDICTMENT RELATING TO WARD'S HANDLING OF THIS INVESTIGATION. WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR PREJUDGMENT AND HATRED. IT JUST CAN'T BE SPENT ON THE ACEVEDOS. SINCE WE HATE OUR POSITIONS IN OUR LIVES, THERE IS PLENTY OF VENIM AND JEALOUSY TO GO AROUND.

STOP YELLING! Learn to type and spell, for heavens sake

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:54am by *.*
Then, we'll get to your content. Problem is it's almost impossible to read your post because it's poorly typed and because of the all-caps issue.

Sorry your Bubba SA Kohl is no longer there and I'm sorry that you're not happy with the SA we have. But he's all we have right now and he's sure better than Kohl ever was.

History Lesson

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:40pm
I think your institutional knowledge is lacking. Probably because you have not been in the Keys longer than a weekend. And you probably won't be living in the Keys in a couple of weeks anyway. But just to educate you a little, because history is important. Kohl is not a Bubba. Kohl beat long-time incumbent and Bubba Kirk Zuelch. Kirk Zuelch was a Bubba of a Bubba and Kohl beat him running on the anti-Bubba platform. Dennis Ward's biggest supporter was . . . wait for it . . . Kirk Zuelch. Wow, that's amazing how that works. Who is counseling and advising Ward in this process? Want to venture a guess? That's right, Kirk Zuelch. You might also find it interesting that the Bubba of Bubba's, Kirk Zuelch, has a son who happens to be a partner in a business with, guess who? Steven -yes that's my real hair and I'm very sensitive about it - Pribramsky. So I hope next time you start to call people names that you know nothing about, you do a little research to see who is sleeping with whom. I believe you have been served. Thank you very much. Thank You.

thank you for the history lesson

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:30pm
oh my god thank you for posting such TRUTH...and in such a hilarious manner. and i believe that those doing the most pointing and shouting are the ones with the most skeletons in their closets.

Sounds like Blue Paper BS

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:19pm
Nobody hates Zuelch more than Dennis Cooper. Maybe if you did your research before printing one sided trash people would actually read your paper instead of you having to post comments here.

Go back to school.

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 3:14pm
Kohl supported Lydia Estenoz who ran against Steve P. Her biggest supporter was... wait for... Randy Acevedo. She is a personal friend of Randy Acevedo. He had her sign on his truck and had he did his best to get the school district employees to support her. So if she had won the election where do you think we would be in this investigation? Now that is truly amazing stuff! So before you start spouting off your BS maybe you should do a little research yourself.

Looks like the citizen is

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:57am
Looks like the citizen is reactionary reporting. If officials had control over this storage unit in March how could you report that stuff missing yesterday. This looks like lazy reporting or reactionary politics. I am not defending the acevedo's, I am just looking for clearer information from our main source of news. Then again they are in the business of selling papers and they got two days of good headlines out of what should have been one story. Way to work for that pulitzer prize guys? Next thing you know they will report on finding amelia heirhart, the dodo, and the missing balets from the 2000 presidential election. Why cant news organizations trust that good unbiased truthful reporting will sell papers, not reactionary over blown headlines?

I agree with you

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:43pm
and the website now is just for reactionary comments regardless of which "side" they are for.

I love how this stuff

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:49am
I love how this stuff appears after the citizens reports it missing. Isn't this the same closet/storage facility that was listed as empty that they found the fat guy scuba gear and parfume earlier in this investigation. How did they miss 14,000 thousand dollars worth of electronics. no wonder the acevedo's had a moving truck infront of their house the other day. Maybe and I hate to say it the citizen is helping them out by letting them know what is being looked for everyday with a new update. I am all for freedom of the press but it seems that every time more information is given a new cover up appears. At least we can hopefully get rid of randy for good for incompetence since like I mentioned above, inventory lists reported said the storage facility was empty.

I am really not surprised!!

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:39am
This comes as no surprise to me. There are so many storage rooms filled with junk in that school it's impossible to know what is and what isn't in there. Those school board id stickers are useless when those responsible for putting them on items are never at work. Everything is hitting the fan now because for so many years people weren't doing thier jobs!! I think Key West High School administration and support staff needs a complete facelift. Half the time Welsh doesn't care whats going on, Christina McPherson(?) is running around like a chicken with her head cut off, Valdez is trying to be "cool mac daddy", Alice Calleja is too busy telling students that are not fit for college (I was one of them), the list goes on!!! They all need to go!! The quality of education at that school is mediocre! I graduated from this school in 2004 and after graduating from college (gpa 3.6) I can honestly say that KWHS taught me NOTHING of relavance!!!

Hey KWHS 2004 you are correct on all counts

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:59pm
Your correct if your not kissing her butt or a some body you have no chance of applying for scholarships. Hey don’t worry about your spelling some of the best doctors and CEO's of large companies don’t spell any better that’s what a secretary is for. they have nonthing more than to cry about spelling because they know what you said is true. darn should have had my secretary type this for me.

Aice Calleja

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 7:58pm by JMiller
Alice Calleja is one of the greatest assets this world has to offer. I wonder what college you went to as well, must less one you earned a 3.6 GPA. Your use of the English language is deplorable. Come back when you earn a degree.

Hey deplorable

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:32pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
one word--proofread.

Maybe if the students would

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:59pm
Maybe if the students would notice that knowledge is something you gain on your own. The goal of public education is not to make you memorize useful information but to give you the ability to learn. We read Shakespeare for the amazing plots story lines and the art of his work, the challenge causes your brain to develop problem solving skills. you may think it is not relevant to what you need to do later in life, but it helps build intelligence. Its is mental weight lifting, if you need a metaphor to understand.

Spot on

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 2:34pm
Totally agree

Apparently neither KWHS nor

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:08pm
Apparently neither KWHS nor your college taught you grammar or spelling!

grammar

Submitted on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 8:30am
Hey! Leave the kid alone! The grammar wasn't bad and neither was the spelling [though spellcheck would have helped a bit]. Go pick on some of those other posts: the ones probably written by school administrators who can't spell and speak only Conch.

Henriquez the idiot..

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:41am by buba
Mike Henriquez is an idiot. The only way he could hold a job like he has is becuase Crookie has so much on Randy that Randy had to hire him. Don't worry Mike when the Feds get through with you Randy will look like a saint.

Did anybody use it?

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:17am
Can anybody on staff step forward and say that they ever used or saw this piece of equipment? If not, then it should be sitting new in the box and perhaps it can be returned. If it is NOT new and in the box, then I guess we know who used it. The videos that were made for the district may have some sort of electronic fingerprint which reveals the date, time and type of equipment on which they were made. Why would Monique order outside of her department for a $10,000 piece of equipment (bid required) that nobody wanted or needed?

Fingerprints

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 7:42am
That equipment probably has (had) actual fingerprints on it. It is sad that very few involved can tell the truth.

tv pro

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 4:50pm by Kiki
This was falsely stated that it was for equipment for the television production class. It was never given to the Tv production class. I can tell you, it was [allegedly] given to randy's eldest.

This does make

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:21am
the "chain of evidence" pretty shakey. I was concerned from day one when they left the stuff in a room accesssible by school district emplyees.

Barney Fife at his finest!

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 11:28am
Barney Fife at his finest!

Henriquez

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:43am
Mike Henriquez has also proven he is incompetent at his job and perhaps involved. I do not understand why he still has his job. My God, did he have his head in a hole all this time? Come on school board, clean house. I do hope there are alot of people considering running against Audlin and school board. We need honorable people.

state attorney

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:39am
Why does the paper get this information before it is all investigated? It feels like they are more concerned with their political gain than doing this investigation properly. Of course the Acevedos got rid of the equipment. THey had plenty of time to do so. First the judge now the state attorney. I am not sure anyone wants justice served, whatever that may be. Investigators and school board, perhaps you should keep your mouth shut. You are impeding this investigation.

We're overdue for the Feds

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:00am

It wouldn't be the first time we had to reach beyond the local prosecutor and Court system to get justice here in bubbaland

Key West PD

In June 1984, the Key West Police Department in Monroe County, Florida was declared a criminal enterprise under the Federal RICO statutes after a lengthy United States Department of Justice investigation. Several high-ranking officers of the department, including Deputy Police Chief Raymond Cassamayor, were arrested on federal charges of running a protection racket for illegal cocaine smugglers. At trial, a witness testified he routinely delivered bags of cocaine to the Deputy Chief's office at City Hall.

Click on Headline:

Key West Police Department Called a 'Criminal Enterprise' - New York Times

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly referred to as RICO Act or RICO) is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. While its intended use was to prosecute the Mafia as well as others who were actively engaged in organized crime, its application has been more widespread.

Under RICO, a person who is a member of an enterprise that has committed any two of 35 crimes—27 federal crimes and 8 state crimes—within a 10-year period can be charged with racketeering. Those found guilty of racketeering can be fined up to $25,000 and/or sentenced to 20 years in prison per racketeering count. In addition, the racketeer must forfeit all ill-gotten gains and interest in any business gained through a pattern of "racketeering activity."

When the U.S. Attorney decides to indict someone under RICO, he or she has the option of seeking a pre-trial restraining order or injunction to temporarily seize a defendant's assets and prevent the transfer of potentially forfeitable property, as well as require the defendant to put up a performance bond. This provision was placed in the law because the owners of Mafia-related shell corporations often absconded with the assets. An injunction and/or performance bond ensures that there is something to seize in the event of a guilty verdict.

Bubba Bust

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:23pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
Thanks for that sweet trip down memory lane--hadn't thought of some of those names in ages. Wasn't there a school bus driver involved, too? OR was that part of the Big Pine 29? I miss the good old days.

Good ol' Manny

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 12:31am
Manny James is still aroooooound.......Those were the days.......

Shawn Smith (In the) Pocket Attorney

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 9:23am

was his sox puppet

Big Pine 29?

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 6:03pm by Captain Keysey
The new kids waiting for more on this....

BP 29

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 3:13pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
There were 29 people arrested for marijuana & cocaine related shenanigans--folks from all walks of life. The trial was held in the Federal Bldg on Simonton and Caroline, which at the time, also served as the Post Office. It was the best entertainment ever! I spent more than a few days sitting in the cool courtroom, watching and learning. Besides, I was just a young whippersnapper and couldn't afford to run my A-C except at night, so it gave me a way to stay cool in the daytime, too (besides lurking near the frozen food in the Quick Chek on Flagler). Obviously this was prior to the Internet (at least for us regular folks--the military might have had it, I don't know) so being there was the best way to keep up; in those days, the Citizen was an afternoon paper. Then, like now, real life was more intriguing than TV.

Big Pine 29

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 11:14am
Do you remember a strikingly beautiful blonde in her early twenties by the name of Jerri Allen (Montell)? I don't believe she was one those arrested but had extensive involvement with that crowd. Anything you or anyone else can add? I've heard various dates given for the BP 29 bust...does anyone know for certain?

Jerri Allen

Submitted on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 3:06pm
Jerri was from Chicago. I dated her in 1977, a couple of years before she moved to Key West and got caught up in the BP 29 affair. Did you know her personally? Do you know what happened to her?

I remember the detectives

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 10:17pm
I remember the detectives being sent to do stakeouts on Stock Island to watch the boatyards on MacDonald Ave. All the while, the drugs were supposedly being unloaded at Brito's Boatyard. Now THOSE were the days!

Big Pine 29?

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 1:31am
Them cats are infamous. They turned Big Pine Key into Big Time Key

So.....

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 12:40am
Whats Manny been up to for the last quarter century? Doing well for himself,you say?..Imagine that...Only in Key West.

He had a pimple faced young attorney fronting for him on Duval

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 9:27am

Then the little guy suddenly got lots of Law work for the Monroe County Schools under Aceveto

Then McPherson made the same inexpierenced kid City Attorney

Shawn Smith, just working his way up the ranks of the bubba system

http://kidnappingmurderandmay

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 7:38pm by sam
http://kidnappingmurderandmayhem.blogspot.com/2008/06/paradise-defiled.h...

Bubba System

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:53am
This just shows you, if you are a bubba, you will get help from your fellow bubbas to steal and commit any criminal activity your heart desires. The whole system is corrupt. By the way, Cassamayor is the director of security for the Spottswood companies. Does this surprise anyone ? All these guys are in bed with each other.

Aaaah, here were are green

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:38pm
Aaaah, here were are green with envy. As soon as something is wrong, whether it be politics or property development, it all falls on the Spottswood's. Don't be a hater.

Green with envy is right!

Submitted on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 5:09pm
Yeah, pretty much anyone I have ever met tells me when I say I'm from KEY WEST that they are JEALOUS!!! It's a natural reaction. God forbid Key West has one or two or three successful, strong families on this island. I'm surprised there aren't more. Well, there are, but who is counting???? More to life than money anyway, and it's great to be a Conch, rich or poor, that's for sure!!! But yeah, I agree, don't be a hater!!!

Cassamayor

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:07pm
What does this have to do with Monique??? You all are getting off the beaten path. Cass is a great guy, let him be. He paid his dues.

Criminal Enterprise

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:54am
Didn't all those local bubbas get away scot free in 1984? For all of you who were around Key West back then...remember bumper stickers saying "this vehicle bought with drug money?" You saw those stickers on bicycles. It was a joke.

CASAMAYOR?

Submitted on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:42am by nickname
Casamayor got a 30 year sentence. Is this the same Raymond Casamayor working as a Key West fire inspector contracted by the school district?
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