Former Agents Weave Insiders Tale of federal agency in crisis

San Antonio Biz Journals ^ | 12 April '02 | Bill Conroy

[rdavis84]

Former agents weave insiders tale of federal agency in crisis
Bill Conroy  

A former U.S. Senator and the operations of a major U.S. airport -- JFK International in New York City -- are the latest targets of allegations advanced by whistleblowers within the U.S. Customs Service.

The former senator was identified as a target of a federal task force called Firestorm, which was set up in Tucson, Ariz., more than a decade ago to investigate law-enforcement corruption that was tied to drug trafficking. The task force, which was composed of agents from several federal agencies, was shut down abruptly because it was getting too close to the truth, according to members of the G-man unit.

"The `Firestorm' task force that was shut down overnight, was shut down as a result of one phone call, because the list of suspects included a former United States Senator...," claims Steven Shelly, a former U.S. Customs agent who was a member of the Firestorm task force. He makes that claim in a letter sent recently to several U.S. senators and a congressman.

Several other sources familiar with Firestorm's operations also told the Business Journal that the former senator was in the task force's investigative sights.

The former senator says he knew of the task force, but stresses he was not aware that he was being targeted for investigation by the G-man unit. He adds that any such probe would have been politically motivated, not based on any credible evidence.  <<<SNIP>>>

The Firestorm task force, which was conceived in January 1990, included members of the U.S. Customs Service, the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General, the IRS, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, according to public records obtained by the Business Journal. Less than a year after its launch, in late 1990, the task force was disbanded suddenly; its investigations also were allegedly derailed and swept under the rug of history.

Firestorm, at one point, had 19 cases open on alleged law-enforcement corruption, one of which involved the suspicious death of a former Customs supervisor stationed along the border.

REST OF THE ARTICLE -----  http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2002/04/15/story1.html

 

[rdavis84]

NOT A CONSPIRACY. Just Coincidences.

[rdavis84]

Prime example here.

[pepsionice]

Who is the Senator?

[Fred Mertz]

Marking.

[rdavis84]

"Shelly says he has been seeking ever since to expose the truth of what happened to the task force. Part of that truth, he claims, centers around former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz. -- who, at the time of the Firestorm task force, was still serving in the Senate.

"I do know that he (DeConcini) was a target of the task force," Shelly says."

The Honorable Dennis DeConcini
United States Senator (Retired)

        Senator Dennis DeConcini joined the firm early in 1995 and is the former senior Senator from the State of Arizona, an office he held for 18 years.  During his tenure, Senator DeConcini served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government, and served on the Subcommittees on Defense, Energy and Water Development, and Foreign Operations.  Senator DeConcini also served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and chaired the Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.  He also served on the Subcommittees on Antitrust, Monopolies and Business Rights, the Constitution and the Courts.  In addition, the Senator served on the Select Intelligence Committee and was Chairman of the Committee in 1993 and 1994.  Senator DeConcini also chaired the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission).    

        Senator DeConcini served one elected term prior to coming to the United States Senate as Pima County Attorney.  This office is the chief prosecutor and civil attorney for the county and school districts within the county.  Prior to this, he served as legal counsel and administrative assistant to the Governor of Arizona and founded the law firm of DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin and Lacy (where he is presently a partner) with offices in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona and the District of Columbia.

        Senator DeConcini received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Arizona in 1959 and his LLD from the University of Arizona in 1963.  Senator DeConcini is a recognized expert in the appropriations, budget and authorization process in the Congress.

       Senator DeConcini was appointed by President Clinton in February, 1995 to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

[rdavis84]

I had a little interaction about the time he retired :-)

[rdavis84]

"The CIA is the biggest drug running org in the world."

You just haven't been watching their TV series !!!! They're all Hero's !!! Hero's of the State. Unsung Hero's. MisUnderstood Heros. < /sarcasm >

I haven't been able to stomach watching even one of those weekly PR Repair shows. They're so Incestuous with the Mafia now their kids are drooling idiots. And they're putting them in key positions.

[rdavis84]

I noticed their ad last night after CSI's repeat. They are some real Heros, alright.

[rdavis84]

Fred, notice the deletions in the replies.