Is anyone really surprised???
I’ve known about this for some time but have kept it quiet for the sake of the investigation. But it’s now public after the latest Center For Public Integrity article on the ridiculous Wheatland Farm saga was published this morning (link here, and a related article on Sal Cangiano here). FBI and federal Department of Education agents have been interviewing people for months about the slimy deals brokered by LCPS. I don’t think they would be spending this much time here if there wasn’t something there. We’ll see. Some will bitch and moan about this and point to the last investigation going nowhere, but trust me, the federal government moves at a snails pace in cases like this. Some cards have yet to fall into place, including at least one who has apparently fled the country. A lot of people in high places in Loudoun County should be VERY nervous right now.
If anyone has any information that may be useful to investigators, please contact the Northern Virginia Public Corruption Task Force – here’s the press release announcing its formation with contact info. This cannot happen without the cooperation of concerned citizens with information. You’re out there – do the right thing.
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Jun 17th by Loudoun Insider
Tom Reed shouldn’t be suprised. During the April public meeting in Lovettsville he practically begged people to “call the police” and “the Commonwealth Attorney” if they think anything wrong has happened. Well Tommy, looks like those folks took your advice.
I hope this story and fallout helps get a new crop of SB reps next election season. So LI, how’s the PAC coming?
Not surprising at all. Where there is smoke there is fire.
it is not a surprise and I hope some are held accountable. for nothing more then educated stupidity. Just because you have a PHD or some big degree does not make you world or everyday smart. all that means is you can read a book and memorize and pass a test.
Leej – or just smart enough to figure out lots of ways to get around the system but not smart enough to do a better job of covering your tracks. I’m sure they are just smart enough but the problem is Hatrick and Adamo have also been so arrogant that, at some point in the future, their manipulations will catch up with them. So…who do you suppose will fall on their sword to protect the name of the Don, King Hatrick?
Anonymous seriously like I have said in several blogs and LI has been on this from day one people get in a position of power and they sometimes abuse it. Worse they cover it up and hide in education pretending it is all about the the kids.
how many horror stories have we heard about the educators abusing our children.
I will have much more to say later.
LCPS employees know much and hopefully will finally come forward (albeit confidentially) to do the right thing so the bad apples can be thrown out. In the end, LCPS’ will be far better for it.
The contact info is there – use it. If you have direct or indirect evidence of malfeasance at LCPS make the call or send the email. You never know what little piece you have may complete a bigger picture for investigators.
“Some cards have yet to fall into place, including at least one who has apparently fled the country.”
Are you sure its not just Hatrick on yet another one of his junkets?
I hope that the fear of getting themselves tangled up in this investigation is enough to convince SB members to finally wake up.
“Some cards have yet to fall into place, including at least one who has apparently fled the country.”
Hillsboro, no, it’s a high profile Loudoun Republican donor who has fled Loudoun and is allegedly hanging out in a country that doesn’t have an extradition agreement.
Dibs on the Ferrarri.
I’ll fight ya for it, Monk!
Let’s not get sidetracked on that bit right now, boys.
Lots of press calls to lots of people today about this. As expected, the inept, clueless School Board members are saying they are “shocked” by this.
How’s that FBI investigation into Steve Snow, Bruce Tulloch, Eugene Delgaudio, et al. going?
Oh yeah…..still waiting…..
http://thebulletproofmonk.blogspot.com/2009/02/sins-of-our-past.html
As I state in the post…we still have three years on that clock, Cliff.
“Let’s not get sidetracked on that bit right now, boys”
I resent that “obviously ” racist remark!!!!
Cliff, there’s always the possibility that there wasn’t much outright lawbreaking going on, at least on a federal level. That has been the biggest problem with all of this – much of the known malfeasance was more of a state/local issue but our state and local officials want nothing to do with looking into it. Whether or not anything ever comes of it, I personally feel a lot more comfortable knowing the feds are keeping a close eye on Loudoun County.
Having said that, I still believe these investigations will bear prosecutorial fruit.
[...] familiar with the local blogosphere, your next stop on anything related to a story like this is Too Conservative and the expected post from Loudoun Insider: I’ve known about this for some time but have kept it [...]
Folks,
The release states that this is multi-county investigation and does not get specific as to Loudoun and its recent purchases. Not trying to defend, but want folks to realize this is SOP so far.
Ben
That task force is multi-county overseeing all public corruption cases in Northern Virginia. I put that link to the initial press release up just to give people access to the contact info. The investigation referred to in the CPI article is specific to LCPS, led by the FBI and Department of Education.
I just went over to the LCPS website hoping to read their obligatory “we have done nothing wrong and are just swell people looking out for the children” press release but didn’t see one yet. I guess that will come out tommorrow after the mainstream press articles hit.
I did find a LCPS complaint form – feel free to fill it out and complain about their embarrassing handling of site acquisition deals:
http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/loudoun/Forms/TakeSurvey.asp?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=74M374KI9725G2&509Nav=|&NodeID=4335
Why is this the feds business ? I am not defending this board or LCPS. I am one of their biggest critics. However, if they did something wrong, this should be handled by the Commonwealths atty. If your answer is because the county or the state takes federal money then my response would be , I told you so, followed by stop it ! This is how the feds expand their turf.
A land deal outside of Purcellville Va is simply none of their business. We, meaning the people of Loudoun County and the commonwealth of Virginia can handle our own land deals and or corruption probes linked to said land deals.
I guess when you beat the Commerce Clause like a baby seal you get whatever you want.
Those of you applauding this if it is true need to re-think your position.
Stone, do I really have to go into all the reasons the Commonwealth’s Attorney won’t look into this? Or if he did, he would be conflicted out of it? He only looks into these types of cases when given a complaint by Dale Polen Myers, and since she’s tight with those involved, I don’t expect such a complaint to be on its way any time soon. And we won’t get any help on this from Bill Mims either since he is too tight with all these players, including being invested with some.
This is a statewide problem, where the county level is simply too small and the circles are too tight to get effective unbiased enforcement in politically tinged cases. This is why Virginia needs an expanded AG’s office or a separate Inspector General/Special Prosecutor office to give some distance between the investigators and local political players.
LTM has an article up:
http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2009/jun/17/LCPS-investigation/
LCPS Chief Apologist/PR Doofus Wade Byard says:
“Nobody has contacted us about this investigation.”
Dumbass!
LI
So then in your world poor performance or politics automatically bumps all issues to
the feds ?
All actions of Government(s) must be based in law. I simply asked the question where do the feds gets authority over land deals in Loudoun county. The fact that local actors were involved in a suspect land deal does not by itself automatically expand the enumerated powers of the federal government.
Some advocate for their intrusion when they dig whose ox is being gored, only to turn around cry foul when they are involved in every other aspect of our lives. Selective Federalism is how we got in this mess to begin with.
Interesting quote from Byard. He doesn’t seem to be denying that there is an investigation. So of course the Feds would wait to talk to those under the microscope, they are gathering facts before they indict!
Stone, then where do you expect citizens to go if their local and state authorities refuse to look into pretty obvious malfeasance??? I’m serious – the feds are the only option left for these systemic problems in Loudoun County.
So then this was brought to the attention of local authorities ? No it was not. Had that happened and you might have a case. When the local authorities failed to act was this taken to the State ? No it was not.
Your position is ” I” or “we ” don’t think locals will act in the proper manner and at the right speed so we will by pass all local or state laws and procedures and bump this directly to the feds.
Don’t bitch and whine to me when the feds further dictate how many gallons you are authorized to use in to flush your toilet, the size, shape and mileage of the car you drive, the number of part time employees you can have before you have to include foot massages or the proper wage scale for left handed lesbian midgets living in even ending zip codes in Northern Virginia.
Stone,
I called the Commonwealth’s Atty’s (CA) office over a year ago and was told that office represents state and local government – not individual citizens. If citizens have concerns regarding corruption of local government officials, the CA’s office rep clearly stated the feds would be the ones to investigate. From the way they described it to me they made it sound like the CA’s office would even be available to assist the local gov’t in their defense. So LI’s point in #25 tracks exactly w/ what the CA office rep stated to me.
Stone, no one who has a problem with this kind of perceived gross incompetence/corruption has any faith in the locals to investigate impartially and thoroughly. There’s a long long history of concrete examples to back up why that is the case. And, as so many people stated during the AG race, since the AG isn’t a prosecutor, there’s no need to even go there. Since you have such faith in the locals on these matters, perhaps you can file the required complaint. Go for it. I eagerly await the response.
BTW, complaints aren’t really needed for the CA to look into things like this – the stated need for complaints seemingly changes with what kind of complaint it is and who it is against.
Ask BVBL and other PWC bloggers how well their local CA does in rooting out obvious public corruption. The CAs are simply too emeshed in local politics to be effective in these cases. I believe this was the primary reason for the creation of the federal task force. Join me in agitating for a real investigative unit at the state level to investigate political corruption statewide, then the feds can step away.
A probe into fishy land deals begets federal water restrictions begets lesbian midget wage control.
The best parody is self parody.
I don’t care who investigates it as long as they uncover the truth and do something about it! We all know something stinks here and it will take some serious efforts to uncover it. If Adamo and gang loose their jobs in the process, all the better!
Virginia’s conflict of interest laws are some of the weakest in the nation. We need to put some pressure on our state representatives to put some teeth into these laws. At least prevent some of this from happening in the future. This situation should have been a clear conflict for Bill Chapman.
Once again Loudoun County looks corrupt. What’s that about perception is reality?
School Board revised their ethics policy last week (6/12/09). See
http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/d92cf1810d14c92a8725731b0060cd12/5c706fd71aab6545872575ca006ed245/$FILE/Attachment%201%20-%202-3.pdf
Here are interesting items that seem to have been lost in the shuffle:
A.3. That my fellow board members and I should take the initiative in helping the people of this community to have the facts…
A6. That I must never neglect my personal obligation to the community….
B1. …responsibilities of a school board member …[to] render effective and credible service TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
B10. To welcome and encourage active cooperation by citizens with respect to establishing policy on current school operation and proposed future developments.
and
B11. Finally, to strive step by step toward ideal conditions for most effective school board service to my community…
Here’s the good part. The boldface type in B1 is new text. How is it their ethics are to serve the School District? Seems that serving the community and their constituents is their obligation. IF they do that effectively and the School District has the same goal – to serve the children of that community, then the stars would align. However the stars are not in alignment. In my opinion it sure seems like the allegiance of the school board has tipped far more toward LCPS than their constituents, and now members are even going as far as formally changing their ethics to make the two (LCPS & community) on equal standing.
What is wrong with this picture?
Anon, that made me nearly vomit reading that. These SB members are some of the most arrogant people I’ve ever seen, and the opinions of the constituents who they supposedly serve takes a huge back seat to pleasing Hatrick and their fellow SB members.
>>>These SB members are some of the most arrogant people I’ve ever seen, and the opinions of the constituents who they supposedly serve takes a huge back seat to pleasing Hatrick and their fellow SB members.<<<
We are in total agreement. Why must school boards always work for the staff and not for their constituents, you know, the folks who pay be bills?
For too long there has been a brick wall between the citizens and full truth with respect to not only the School Board, but also many County functions. And the potential for gross abuse, even fraud, stands out with unbridled power vested in a few bureaucrats and secrecy.
We need more checks and balances, and definitely need an independent watchdog, non partisan, to whom citizens and employees alike can communicate without fear of retaliation or “New Jersey” style justice. We need to come down hard on public fraud when we find it, and especially employees should be encouraged to come forward, with incentives and rewards to anyone who exposes fraud.
And we need a lot more transparency and citizen input built into the system. It is the only way. This is our government, our school board, and we, as taxpayers and citizens, should be be able to easily know what is going on, to be in control, not the other way around.
Was this investigation tipped off to the feds because of money the county gets (via the state) from the Federal Gov’t?
That’s one avenue for getting the feds to investigate, LL.
Check out the LTM article comments – it looks like LCPS’s PR tact on this is going to be to attack the FBI!
i don’t care what agency tries to find who’s corrupt as long as the bad guys get weeded out.
There are so many red flags with the Cangiano deal it’s still mind-boggling that the SB held on to it until the very end, and may still be. Let’s see: 2 week RFP, offer price to Cangiano about 3 times market and assessed value, sabotaging of all other viable sites (including ones that responded to RFP and were hidden), single BS appraisal, questionable attorney conflict of interest issues, and so on.
I hope they can ferret out the culprit and help our public officials realize that we are all watching.
Pretty racy stuff. Let’s hope those in the know reach out to the new task force. Only evidence will lead to indictments. And only indictments (or fear of them) is likely to lead to practical and useful change.
Probe is mentioned in this Leesburg Today article:
http://www.leesburg2day.com/articles/2009/06/18/news/fp148%20debt061809.txt
Just as concerning is the rising debt load the county is carrying as it builds all of these pricey schools. All the more reason for LCPS to at least try to drive for hard bargains on land purchases.
When those corrupt Fairfax County Supervisors and Planning Comissioners were investigated, found guilty, and saw prison time — it was the FBI and the IRS that investigated them. And those investigations took 4 to 5 years before they bore fruit.
Is Cangiano part of some Cosa Nostra family?
First and foremost, I can’t tell you how happy I am that the Wheatland contract was
initiated by the LCPS staffers for that sweet price of $62K an acre. Without it, the
other outrageous attempts at land deals by the LCPS may have simply been forgotten.
Now it seems that this deal may have been the “straw that broke the School Board’s back.”
I’m one of those who can be proud to have been interviewed by The Center for Public Integrity, and also to have written the FBI and the U.S. Dept of Education on this matter. I was even crazy enough to write the White House (figured it couldn’t hurt). I’m not saying I had
any significant role in the the initiation of the current investigation. Hell, my correspondence could have gone on deaf ears for all I know, but this current investigation tells me that there were many more complainants aside from myself. I do not for one minute regret my actions.
While people bitch and moan about the role our Federal Government plays in our local
lives, I ask you,”What choice does one have when the local and state authorities
won’t lift a finger to prohibit such corruption?”
You do the right thing and escalate
things to the next level. Some “Do” and some just bitch. Also, if our local/state authorities were inclined to do something, they would have acted long ago.
A round of applause to all those that fought the powers that be, and made enough noise
to alert folks outside our little pocket of Northern Va.
I’d also like to know if anyone has any ideas on how we can help the BoS strip the SB of
their land purchasing abilities. There are BoS members who are calling for it, citizens are
calling for it, so how do we help make this happen?
All – sorry for the format in #45. I copy & pasted from another location and didn’t realized how choppy it would post to this site.
Don’t worry about the format, RtR, it’s the words that county and they were great!
Write to your supervisors and tell them to get on it. And get ready to help kick these School Board members out the door in 2011. We need almost an entirely new crew in there – one that states up front that they will make this Hatrick’s last contract and really reform that place.
LCPS is under investigation???? SHOCKER!!!!! It’s about time! How many bad dealings have to go on before someone (besides we constituents) take notice??? The SB needs to be accountable for what happened. It didn’t appear to me that they even “got it”… I couldn’t believe that even once the BOS said no, the SB was “still” trying to put the schools in Wheatland… What’s up w/that?
Hopefully this investigation will put the nail in the coffin for a school complex in Wheatland once and for all. I hope that they will learn a lesson and next time allow the proper due diligence to be done on any possible locations and also allow the public to have a say in finding the proper locations, paying the proper prices, and building the proper size schools for Western Loudoun…
LI- on # 39, I saw that!
What kind of idiot would stray so far off the subject in their commentary? What does corruption in local land acquisitions for schools have to do with pedophilia?
In fact, that comment at the LTM is not so different than accusing the Gov of intrusion for personal water usage, and what kind of vehicle you should drive, just because they want to hold the LCPS accountable for wasting federal funding! These folks need to stay on the subject when arguing a point.
Unless the Center for Public Integrity is very wrong, this statement on their site stands,”The U.S. Department of Education inspector general’s office has jurisdiction over federal funds spent by local school systems..”
#48 don’t count on it. Word is Cangiano is going forward with pump testing – not needed for approved residential development. He’ll be happy to sit on it for LCPS and sell it to them for that much MORE after they drag Lville alternate sites through the mud. Seems pretty transparent. I’m guessing they’ll dance around Lville sites until they can go back to Wheatland – just like they did after Grubb. They’ve wanted Wheatland so bad – even before Cangiano got it. In fact chances are fair-good Cangiano went after it so hard because he KNEW how bad LCPS wanted it. He must be clairvoyant because he seems to have a 6th sense about land the County wants.
Let’s see how cooperative LCPS is w/ the Town of Lville. After their broadside hit presentations in 2007 and 2008, they’ve set quite a precedent for themselves.
Doubt they’ll offer a comparable deal to Hamilton’s: LCPS traded water tower/well/land for treatment system, $1.7M cash and a promise to not build a high school for 15 years all in exchange for hooking up 829-seat capacity Culbert ES – that equates to ~$7M for a middle/high sized like Blue Ridge and Valley – no way they’ll do that.
Yes it will be fascinating to see the obstacles they will set up for the Town to jump through for McDonough or other sites.
It’s all lining up the cards to go back to Wheatland. They’ll never give up this easy – their pride and influences are too great.
I get that the FBI may take years, but I wonder what the Dept of Educa’s timetable and burden of proof are.
So where’s Blackout? Or was he the one that fled the country?
>>>He must be clairvoyant because he seems to have a 6th sense about land the County wants.<<<
UUUmmmm………….or someone on the inside feeding him information.
So where’s Blackout? Or was he the one that fled the country?
- SS
He is busy picking up Dr Hatrick’s dry cleaning.
SS- Don’t sound so pessimistic about the final outcome. Let me give you a few points to elevate some optimism a la David Letterman’s top ten list:
10- They know we’re watching them. They have been placed under a microscope and for the first time, FOIA requests are burning them.
9- There is mounting support in the BoS to take the SB’s buying power away.
8- The farmers aren’t going anywhere, and neither are some of the political and financial influences in the Wheatland area.
7- YOU are involved
6- The FBI and the Board of Education are now focusing on Loudoun’s SB. I wouldn’t be surprised if they dig a skeleton, or two, out of Jersey Boy’s closet too.
5- Speaking of the devil, that old man may not be all that far away from meeting his playmate… isn’t he pushing his mid-seventies?
4- If he’s hydro testing at the 350ft. level, he’ll likely be affecting many of the wells around the west parcel of Wheatland because many have been dug at the depth range.
3- If the BoS won’t support schools in Wheatlands, it is unlikely that they’ll support any other construction that would stress the water table to the same degree.
2- Many of the current school board members will not be there after 2011. We will not forget their arrogant, self serving, and downright ineptitude when it comes to land acquisition.
And the number one reason it will be tough for them to move forward with Wheatland?
1- Manure!
-They know we’re all tired of their “crap” and we’re not just going to let them proceed wasting our tax $$ on projects that don’t produce a favorable outcome for the community.
That’s funny RtR! Sad, but true.
RtR #5 – you mean Cangiano’s playmate Gabriel don’t you? To hear Bergel talk of him, he’s a on a “mission from God” sent here for the children!
Anon – Sometimes we don’t know who we’re dealing with until it’s too late. Bergel is a perfect example of how SB candidates need to be vetted before we put our support behind them. I supported her run, both financially and through word of mouth, because I was led to believe she was in it for change. I don’t even live in her district!
She was the first and last person I’ll support for any orifice in this county without speaking to them first. Yes, I was duped.
Bergel better work as hard for one of the suitable Lovettsville sites as she did for Cangiano!
That’s the only way she will save her reputation.
My, my, my, what it means to be a Loudoun County citizen tonight. Leave town for a while and all hell breaks loss. The mysterious FBI returns, again as part of this sitcom and ole Stoner finally makes a good joke.
Since several of my fellow bloggers have awaited with baited breath on how BlackOut sees this incredulous development, let me pontificate on how a shocking self-created FBI investigation happens.
First, you need a little juice. Certainly the dynamics of the recent school land issues provide that. True or not, it’s certainly easy to feed on the hearsay to create a ripe conspiracy.
Second, call an FBI field agent. Many may not know but FBI field agents are really free agents. They put their pulse on the community and look for things to investigate. You can imagine if someone calls them and introduces a well spun tail about public official corruption, white collar crime and down right criminal activity. Think of it as a Clive Cussler singlet. Now add in just enough truth and plausibility to keep the FBI agent interested and you get a chance for a second call. In fact, the FBI agent may even call you back. (Boom, first sign there’s a “real” investigation happening)
Third, you feed the FBI’s interest with a couple of names of conspiratorial figures, folks that know the real scoop, insiders that can confirm the original claims. Heck, give the Agent some phone numbers, and tell him/her to call for themselves. All for the interest of the public good. Then out of early curiosity the Agent calls a few of the contacts. Then these individuals, being flattered at the attention, brag about the contact to several close acquaintances. (BOom, second sign there’s a “real” investigation happening)
Fourth, now get an accomplice lined up. The Wash Post may work, or if that doesn’t work try another “respectful” source. Then feed them the conspiratorial info. Heck, they may even help round out the story. Now we got some momentum. What can be better than two different sources for the same bullshit story?
Fifth, either get (or take advantage) of the Wash Post or another source to FOIA the crap out of the County. Get that source to feed the FOIA documents to the FBI. Or if you can’t get an accomplice to do it, then submit them ourselves to the FBI. Wow, guess what the FBI took them. (BOOm, third sign there’s a “real” investigation happening) They must be interested they took the documents.
Sixth, now that a “full blow investigation” is underway it’s time to jump the monkey. Coordinate the announcement with another source for credibility, than spring the insider news. (BOOM, fourth sign there’s a real investigation)
Mission accomplished. Thank you FBI, we’ll not need your help anymore.
Now we’re on our way. Ride the “Federal investigation” for all it’s worth until the election. Never mind that the FBI never really had much interest. Never mind that they never really find anything, never mind that they eventually lose interest. Never mind that they don’t have jurisdiction. It doesn’t matter we’re off to the races with an election clouded with the self-created background of an “official” federal investigation.
It’s a great ploy, those targeted now are faced with proving a negative with an agency that will never confirm or deny anything. It’s brilliant. It’s worked before. Try it yourself; the FBI will always take your call. In fact, they’ll be very friendly and will most likely act interested.
Damn, there’s only one problem, after a while sequels just get boring, and the ratings never stay the same as the first time around. Yawn.
That’s hilarious, BO, thanks for the gut busting laughs!!!
You played the FBI angle to the hilt with the last BOS, but now that it’s turned on your good buddies it’s another story. Kind of like your admonitions against “hate mogering” and personal attacks from a guy named “BlackOut” who whipped out a chicken to stand in for Snow. You are a massive hypocrite.
FBI agents are free agents only to a certain extent. They have supervisors to listen to and parameters to stay within as far as what type cases they pursue depending what squad they’re on. And they don’t spend as much time on one particular county and its government if there’s nothing there at all. This isn’t over yet, not by a long shot.
The Independent chimes in:
http://www.loudouni.com/news/2009-06-18/report-alleges-fbi-investigation-county-land-purchases
Leesburg Today had an excellent editorial in this week’s edition, but it isn’t up on the website. It urges a blue ribbon panel to work out compromise on school siting and size. Why has such a thing taken so long?
Do you really think the Independent article supports your claim of a credible investigation??
Have at it readers. Check out what the Independent says. I wouldn’t call it a confirming source.
Where did I say that, LCPS Apologist? There’s more to this investigation than you know, BO.
LI – Is BO for real?
I’m sorry BO, but you need to “examine the reality of your imagination”
Investigations are warranted when the content of FOIA requests point towards malfeasance by any officials representing our county, and our county funding,
My hopes are that there are also consequences for withholding information in FOIA requests. I believe the SB, and staffers, have been withholding information and a little Fed help might just retrieve it.
BO obviously feels that we the people shouldn’t dare ask for copies of PUBLIC documents. Don’t you know that we don’t know anything and Hatrick, DuPree, et al. will do our thinking for us on these matters of public expenditures?
Great LTE from Kevin Turner at the WaPo:
http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/news/2009/jun/21/letter-editor-no-sign-progress-key-school-issues/?opinion
If only he would have beaten DuPree, who knows how much better things would be now.