Solar Scam is about $34 million NOT $250,000

Freeholders Richard Vohden, Phil Crabb, and ex-Freeholder Dennis Mudrick are at it again.  They want us to forget how they bailed out the Wall Street solar scammers and left Sussex County taxpayers on the hook for $24 million.  They want us to forget how they took the blood money they got from selling the county nursing home and gave it away to the solar scammers as part of that ill-fated bailout attempt.  This cost taxpayers another $10 million.

Now Vohden, Crabb, and Mudrick are trying the old bait and switch on us.  They want us to forget the $34 million the taxpayers are on the hook for -- thanks to them -- by focusing our attention on the cost of the county investigation designed to get some of that money back.  That's like muggers telling their victims not to press charges because of the cost of investigating the crime.

The taxpayers of Sussex County were mugged -- twice!  Once by the solar evaluation team that sold the project to the Freeholder Board.  That team actually included representatives of a criminal enterprise whose CEO was recently sentenced to 4 years in prison for his crimes. 

The taxpayers were mugged again in 2015 when Vohden, Crabb, and Mudrick voted for the bailout that sucked another $10 million out of the pockets of taxpayers , while covering up the misfeasance of the Wall Street scammers and their political accomplices in Morris County.  Vohden, Crabb, and Mudrick went so far as to support language in the bailout that prevented people from freely speaking the truth about the scammers -- under threat of lawsuit.  It took great courage for people like Gail Phoebus to stand up and speak out against the scammers and to resist their threats and intimidation.  At least one person working with state and federal law enforcement was offered a bribe. 

Big spenders Vohden, Crabb, and Mudrick are trying to sell us the line of b.s. that they fought to prevent a county solar investigation because they thought it cost too much.  Really? $250,000 is too much but $38 million isn't worth crying over?  Who taught these festered bungholes math?  (Well, wasn't it Phil Crabb who told us the bailout was only going to cost $7 million?  Oh well, just $3 million off on the math for that one).

Why did they fight the investigation?   Was there any fear of who it might implicate?  Several Freeholders -- past and present -- have voluntarily met with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Justice Department, and the Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey and have --openly and freely and without counsel present -- on the record told everything they knew to those investigating possible criminal wrongdoing in Sussex County.  Has Freeholder Richard Vohden been in to see the FBI?  Has Freeholder Phil Crabb?  Has former Freeholder Dennis Mudrick?  Are they assisting the criminal investigation?

The reason Sussex County needs a county investigation is simple.  The solar scam cost $88 million.  Sussex taxpayers are on the hook for $34 million of that.  It's going to affect the property taxes we pay -- big time!

It is not the job of state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect the interests of Sussex County.  They could even end up citing Sussex County officials for malfeasance and who would pay for that?  The federal authorities will try to claw back the federal money involved in the scam.  Who is looking out for Sussex County taxpayers?

That's where an independent county investigation comes in.  It is a fact-finding mission to build a case to get some of those millions back through civil action. 

The FBI and State Attorney General's office are looking for criminal indictments.  That may punish those responsible, but it won't get our money back.  That is why the investment in an independent county investigation is money well spent.

So don't be misled by emails coming from the Freeholder campaign of David Gray and Kathleen Gorman.  Gray is a Morris County attorney with ties to solar scammer and Morris County powerbroker John Inglesino.  Gorman is Gray's client.  Together they screwed Wantage taxpayers out of $1.2 million.    

Don't be misled by emails that use the address of an attorney from Hillsborough, Somerset County.  The attorney, Frank Whittlesey works for the Somerset County Freeholder Board and is affiliated with that county's improvement authority -- the same agency connected with the solar deal that has cost Sussex County taxpayer's millions.

Did you get another robo-call?

On Saturday, April 16th, Sussex County residents got a prerecorded "robo-call" from the campaign of David Gray and Kathleen Gorman, candidates for Sussex County Freeholder.  The message originated from Philadelphia (zip code 19120) and callers to the originating telephone number got this message:

Prior to this -- on Monday, January 25th -- Sussex County residents got a prerecorded "robo-call" asking residents to attend a meeting of the Sussex County Freeholder Board and oppose the investigation of the Sussex solar bailout.  This message also originated from Philadelphia (zip code 19120) and callers to the originating telephone number got this message:

The solar scam artists who ripped-off Sussex County and their allies have made killing this independent investigation their top priority.  First they tried blocking it. Then they tried intimidating the Freeholder Board.  Now it appears they are trying to replace the Board with allies of Freeholder Richard Vohden, who has arguedfor spending millions on the bailout and against an investigation on how those millions were misspent.

The reason Sussex County needs a county investigation is simple.  The solar scam cost $88 million.  Sussex taxpayers are on the hook for $24 million and another $10 million for the bailout. 

It is not the job of the federal and state law enforcement agencies investigating the solar scam to protect the interests of Sussex County.  The federal authorities will try to claw back the federal money involved in the scam.  Who is looking out for Sussex County taxpayers?

That's where an independent county investigation comes in.  It is a fact-finding mission to build a case to get some of those millions back through civil action. 

The FBI and State Attorney General's office are looking for criminal indictments.  That may punish those responsible, but it won't get our money back.  That is why the investment in an independent county investigation is money well spent.

Whoever paid for the call to block the investigation does not appear to have followed the law under which robo-calls are permitted.

First, "the prerecorded message must truthfully disclose who is responsible for the call and the telemarketing-related purpose of the call." 

Second, "the prerecorded message must disclose a call-back telephone number which would allow the recipient to call back within normal business hours and make an opt-out request."

The prerecorded message sent into the homes of Sussex County residents on January 25th did not abide by these legal rules.  In fact, it could be argued that the call was deliberately misleading and made it appear to come from an innocent party.  A prosecutor would have to determine if the robo-call was an attempt by those who paid for the call to hide their identity and to impersonate an innocent party.  In 2009, the State Attorney General brought a successful prosecution against a similar incident in Bergen County. 

The Federal Communication Commission expanded Telephone Consumer Protection Act regulations in June of last year.  Stay tuned... 

Is the NJ Herald shilling for the solar scam?

The corporate privateers who ripped-off Sussex County for $28 million and caused the county lose its "rainy-day" proceeds from the sale of the Homestead nursing home, are starting to feel the heat from multiple investigations into the project and its subsequent bailout.  Vendors connected to the solar scam and their representatives have been trying to influence public opinion and corrupt the election process in Sussex County.

One vendor even attempted to bribe -- let's say that word again, bribe -- someone they believed to be connected to this website.  That's how desperate they are.  That is how bad this has become.

Now it is beginning to look like they got to the New Jersey Herald.  A politician and former elected official who is well-connected to the Freeholders who supported the solar bailout has been permitted by the Herald to use its webpage to post false and defamatory comments in an on-going disinformation campaign aimed at damaging the reputations of those who oppose the solar bailout. 

What is making us question the motives of the Herald is this:  They have pulled down any comments that have set the record straight on behalf of those who oppose the solar bailout.  What is left on the NJ Herald website are ONLY the comments of those who oppose the Freeholders who have fought the corporate solar scammers on behalf of the taxpayers.  This one-sided exposition creates the false and deceitful illusion that the citizens of Sussex County enjoy being ripped-off by crony corporations in bed with politicians (mainly from Morris County).   

We sincerely hope that the New Jersey Herald has not been compromised and we believe that this branch of the corporate media can show us so by allowing BOTH sides to be heard on its website, without editorial interference.  Spiking commentary to give a false impression of public opinion is wrong and unethical. 

The hypocrisy of the pro-solar scam crowd

We have been humorously following the verbal incontinence of a local politician and former elected official.  The New Jersey Herald is just soaked through with this idiot's rantings.  As usual, the target is anyone who opposed the costly bailout of the Sussex Solar Project that scammed Sussex County taxpayers out of $24 million. 

Pro-solar scammers have been attacking the Sussex County legislators and three Sussex County Freeholders for joining with the State Attorney General, United States Justice Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation in questioning the bailout of this poorly planned and even more poorly executed failure.  Their logic is very hard to follow, as they desperately flip back and forth in an effort to hinder or delay any investigation of the wrong-doers behind the solar scam.

Their latest ploy is to attack the county investigation as "too expensive".  Never mind that they called for this investigation last year and they all supported it.  Or that it costs a fraction of what Wantage residents paid to buy a lake and settle a lawsuit.  They want to prevent the truth about the solar scam from ever seeing the light of day.

With the backing of solar-supporter Freeholder Richard Vohden, they fought to kill an independent county investigation, using the excuse that state and federal criminal investigations were on-going.   Of course, last year they denied such investigations were even happening.  It has become obvious to every well-read resident that their goal is to thwart every investigation and delay a county investigation indefinitely.

The reason Sussex County needs a county investigation is simple.  The solar scam cost $88 million.  Sussex taxpayers are on the hook for $24 million and they just borrowed another $7 million and the bill for that is coming due shortly.  It's going to affect the property taxes we pay -- big time!

It is not the job of state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect the interests of Sussex County.  They could even cite Sussex County officials for malfeasance and who would pay for that?  The federal authorities will try to claw back the federal money involved in the scam.  Who is looking out for Sussex County taxpayers?

That's where an independent county investigation comes in.  It is a fact-finding mission to build a case to get some of those millions back through civil action. 

The FBI and State Attorney General's office are looking for criminal indictments.  That may punish those responsible, but it won't get our money back.  That is why the investment in an independent county investigation is money well spent.

Another attempt to mislead Sussex residents

On Monday, January 25th, Sussex County residents got a prerecorded "robo-call" asking people to attend Wednesday's meeting of the Sussex County Freeholder Board and oppose an investigation of the Sussex solar bailout that has cost county taxpayers millions.  The recorded message repeated the argument advanced by Freeholder Richard Vohden -- that the Freeholders should hold off commissioning an independent county investigation until after the status of possible state and federal criminal investigations is determined.  Vohden is joined in his opposition to the independent investigation by the corporate vendors, legal counsel, consultants, and political players who made millions off the solar scam. 

Now an email has gone out that purports to be from Sussex County Watchdog.  It is not from us, although it has gone to some trouble to appear so.  The email attacks Freeholder Director George Graham. 

From: infosussexcountywatchdog@gmail.com
To: "Kankles" <Mz.wideload@embarqmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 2:41:38 PM
Subject: George Graham Alert

According to what we read in the New Jersey Herald, Freeholder Vohden has been feuding with Freeholder Graham, although we are not making assumptions about this particular email.  That said, it does appear to have come from the same Florida political consulting firm that was employed by Marie Bilik in her Assembly campaign against Gail Phoebus.  Phoebus easily won that race and is now serving as an Assemblywoman and shares a district office with Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblyman Parker Space. 

The email sent today closes with this information:

Update My Profile - Unsubscribe

It will be remembered that Freeholder Vohden also feuded with Mrs. Phoebus when she was a member of the Freeholder Board.  Vohden demanded that Phoebus vote with him for a bailout of the Sussex solar deal (using up the county's "rainy day" money put away from the sale of the Homestead nursing home).  When Phoebus refused to spend more money on top of what had already been wasted, Vohden lashed out at her at Board meetings and endorsed her opponent, Marie Bilik.  Vohden even made a commercial for Bilik and appeared in it with her.

Bilik paid Gravis Marketing nearly $20,000 for its services, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Regarding the robocall that went out on Monday, January 25th.  Unfortunately for whoever paid for that call, they appear to have not followed the law under which robo-calls are permitted.

First, "the prerecorded message must truthfully disclose who is responsible for the call and the telemarketing-related purpose of the call."

Second, "the prerecorded message must disclose a call-back telephone number which would allow the recipient to call back within normal business hours and make an opt-out request."

The prerecorded message sent into the homes of Sussex County residents did not abide by these legal rules.  In fact, it could be argued that the call was deliberately misleading and made it appear to come from the County Clerk's office.  A prosecutor would have to determine if the robo-call was an attempt by those who paid for the call to hide their identity and to impersonate an innocent party.  In 2009, the State Attorney General brought a successful prosecution against a similar incident in Bergen County. 

In any case, there is enough to warrant action by the Federal Communication Commission under the expanded Telephone Consumer Protection Act regulations that came into force in June of last year.  So look for this issue to figure in the Freeholder races in both Sussex and Morris counties.

If you would like to add your name to those reporting this robo-call to state and federal authorities, please contact Watchdog at: info@sussexcountywatchdog.com