Fake H1b Visa interviews - The CHP Shooter was seeking a job

What The Public Doesn't Know 

Chris Lacey can be never forgiven for shooting Officer Youngstrom but I know something about jobs and the H-1b Visas.  I should know I was on CNN, ABC and other major networks.

Supporting the H-1b visa often creates deadly results and few understand how the visas are stacked against American Programmers.  Some have jumped from the Bay Bridge, others have simply ended their lives in the parking garage of the nearly former Bank of America Center in Concord.

In my story I was nearly burned alive via arson, relatives murdered in Utah, close friend found dead with her precious cargo and the murders go all the back to Jonestown.

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"Dirty DUI" Cop Convicted Of Extortion And Honest Services Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2013

Stephen Tanabe, a former deputy with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, was convicted today by a federal jury in San Francisco, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. The jury found Tanabe guilty of two counts of extortion under color of official right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951; three counts of wire fraud on a deprivation of honest services theory, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346; and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Tanabe was acquitted on one extortion count.

According to evidence presented at trial, Tanabe conspired to and engaged in a scheme to take bribes in exchange for his services as a deputy sheriff, thereby depriving the people of Contra Costa County of their right to his honest services. Specifically, the evidence showed that Christopher Butler, a former Antioch Police Officer turned private investigator, was hired by wives and ex-wives engaged in divorce and child custody proceedings to arrange "stings" against their spouses, whom they told Butler had a propensity to drive under the influence of alcohol. Butler used "decoys" to entice the sting targets to bars in downtown Danville, where Tanabe was assigned to patrol, and encourage them to drink.

For one sting, Tanabe joined Butler in a bar while off-duty, watching two attractive young women working for Butler drink with a sting target. Evidence showed that, in exchange for a promise of cocaine, Tanabe notified an on-duty Deputy that the sting target was about to drive away, having been lured by the prospect of a hot tub with the two women. For two other stings, the evidence showed that Tanabe, then on-duty, waited outside the Vine Bar in Danville and then arrested the targets in exchange for a Glock handgun.

"This conviction confirms that Stephen Tanabe did not serve his community with honor or integrity, but instead set up unsuspecting citizens and abused the public trust," said United States Attorney, Melinda Haag. "Law enforcement officers are hard-working, honorable men and women who work selflessly every day to keep us safe. Stephen Tanabe is the exception, and he does not deserve the badge he was wearing."

The maximum statutory penalties for honest services wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346, conspiracy to commit same under 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and extortion under color of official right under 18 U.S.C. § 1951, are 20 years imprisonment; $250,000 fine; and five years of supervised release. However, any sentence following this conviction will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Butler entered into a cooperation plea agreement with the government on May 7, 2012, and was sentenced on September 25, 2012, to 96 months in prison.

Tanabe, 50, was originally indicted on December 15, 2011. The Superseding Information on which he was tried filed June 12, 2013. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.

The U.S. Attorney specifically thanks Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson for his invaluable assistance and leadership into the investigation and prosecution of this case. The District Attorney and his office are vital partners in the federal efforts to address public safety in Contra Costa County.

Hartley M. K. West and Philip J. Kearney are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane, Rosario Calderon, and Harriet Marmah. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice.

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OBIT: Eustacio Torres Jr. July 19th 2009

OBIT: Eustacio Torres Jr.

San Diego --Eustacio Torres Jr. Former Martinez Resident Eustacio Torres Jr., born in Orange County and raised in Martinez, California, passed on Sunday, July 19th 2009 at the age of 41. Eustacio was a loving and kind man dedicated to his family and community. Eustacio was a graduate of Alhambra High School and an alumnus of San Francisco State University where he majored in Science and Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Always a passionate athlete, Eustacio achieved the designation of "All American" in wrestling while attending SFSU. At the impressive age of 18 Eustacio became a license contractor in the State of California as a way to finance his education. When Eustacio saw a need, he would try to fill it. Whether it was coaching Alhambra High School's wrestling team, helping his parents, family, or friends, he always took great pride in sharing with others. In 1998, he relocated to Southern California to pursue graduate school studies. Thereafter, a career change led him to continue honing his craft as a General Contractor. Surely and steadily he became the sole proprietor of Sharp Construction, a development and remodeling firm located in San Diego, California. With numerous successful projects completed under his tenure, Eustacio will leave long standing examples of his dedication and commitment to the building industry. He also built pride and love in his family and friends through his compassionate heart and we will be a long standing example of his everlasting love. Eustacio lovingly known as "Stash" or "Tacho" is survived by his Mother Rafaela Ruvalcaba Torres; Father Eustacio Torres Sr.; siblings Guillermo, Silvia, Patricia, Noe; brothers-in-law Alberto and Alfonso; his nieces and nephews he loved as his own, Rafael, Nicolas, Victoria, Luis, Moises, Isabella, AJ and great-nephew Andrew. He was preceded in death by his beloved sister Catalina Torres. All who knew and loved Eustacio are invited to Saint Catherine's Catholic Church located at 1125 Ferry Street in Martinez, to a visitation vigil on Friday July 24th at 4pm. A funeral service will follow on Saturday July 25th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be accepting donations at Wells Fargo Bank account #2629533015. - See more at: OBIT: Eustacio Torres Jr. July 19th 2009

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Bennett Speaks ~ The Witness Killers Strike Again

The Witness Killers Strike Again 

By Pete Bennett CNET Scandal Date:  

Walnut Creek CA -- On June 17th 2014 once again taking the podium at great risk to the safety of my sons, friends and clients.  The next morning Bennett returns to Walnut Creek Police for yet another records request forced to go on his own because of the  DEAD ATTORNEY SYNDROME because the legal community sits on the crapper in fear and the State Bar doesn't see the problem.

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Less

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CNET Officers, The Dead CNET Witnesses, Attorneys and Students

 

Author: Pete Bennett | Phone 510-460-5641

Walnut Creek CA : This story like started decades ago with an arson/murder, a murder and an arson on a farm.  One of strongest likely starting points of decades tactical murder for hire operation that extends into Contra Costa County Law Enforcement at many levels. 

 

 

Shangri-la isn’t so golden and Walnut Creek Police Officers hide the truth.

 

 

• There are many dead witnesses to numerous civil and criminal cases in this county but few know about what happened to at least seven attorneys or that my attorney was mugged in Walnut Creek CA to intimidate him away from suing Gary Vinson Collins (Murdered Dec 2011) via a cleverly disguised fall in Palo Alto CA – the Palo Alto Town and the local Police don’t get the connection.  It’s easy to make someone fall from a ladder especially when you use a laser to blind someone which is exactly what the Lafayette City Council was told about my July 2011 which precedes Collins Death.  His death is explicitly tied to a meeting with Chief Bryden and City Manager Ken Nordoff on Nov 1st 2011. 

 

There are too many connections leading back to the same people like Benny Chetcuti Jr. who are co

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Butler-o-rama no drama Butler gets 1 year knocked off from Sentence

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Dirty-DUI-mastermind-gets-sentence-reduced-5436915.php

(04-28) 21:08 PDT SAN FRANCISCO --Christopher Butler, the former private investigator convicted of framing men for drunken-driving arrests, selling drugs and opening a brothel as part of the "Dirty DUI" scandal, had a year shaved from his federal sentence Monday because he had cooperated with prosecutors.

In a one-page order, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco said he was reducing Butler's sentence from eight to seven years at the request of the U.S. Attorney's Office. The judge didn't elaborate.

Butler's attorney, William Gagen, said Monday, however, that his client was eligible for a reduced sentence because he had agreed to testify against two other defendants in the case.

"It is good news," Gagen said. "A person is benefited in the eyes of the government if they accept responsibility and, in the course of that acceptance of responsibility, they are truthful about the participation of others."

Butler, 52, is serving time at Englewood, a low-security federal prison in Littleton, Colo.

Butler had testified for the prosecution against former Contra Costa County sheriff's Deputy Stephen Tanabe.

Tanabe was sentenced to a year and three months in prison after being convicted of charges that he accepted a pistol from Butler in exchange for arresting two men who the private investigator had baited into driving drunk.

Butler, a former Antioch police officer, was also prepared to testify against San Ramon divorce attorney Mary Nolan, but she pleaded guilty to tax evasion and hiring Butler to plant a listening device in a car of a client's ex-husband. She was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

Butler and Norman Wielsch, the former commander of an elite county narcotics task force, were the masterminds of a corruption scheme involving several other law-enforcement officers. Wielsch was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after being convicted of stealing narcotics from evidence lockers and trying to sell them back on the street.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee

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The Benny Chetcuti Jr. Connection to Deceased BART Officers

BART DIRECTORS 

Important Message 

 Benny Chetcuti Jr. 

CNET, Butler, and Wielsch

The Connection to your 

Deceased BART Officers to Officers in Federal Prison 

Experts at crime scene cover-ups 

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On File With Butte County Court - Line 12 Other Information

Oroville CA:

Last year I was arrested officer Rabinowitz Walnut Creek Police, Walnut Creek CA along with another officer.  My laptop was once again taken by the Walnut Creek Police.




Line 12 Other information
To Officers of the Court
I am using this section in an attempt to explain underlying events near a public corruption probe, deaths of numerous personal acquaintances, business people and past customers/client spanning nearly thirty years. This is my attempt to explain that I’ve been targeted by police officers, private citizens and persons from my past that used tremendous police powers from the California Department of Justice, Local Contra Costa County Law Enforcement agencies connected to the Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce (CNET) that is now disbanded. An agency that is notorious throughout the area for extensive intimidation tactics and extensive civil rights violations.

My additional goal is state my position on events publicly as once incident nearly included my sons who were inadvertently targeted in a high speed accident that killed the other driver back in late 2004 which at the time appeared to be an accident but after the 2011 revelations involving divorce scandal in Contra Costa County allowed this defendant to connect over 20 years very troubling incidents together.
US Grand Jury Charges filed against suspects – Bennett learns they are same persons near accidents and incidents

Specific Events linking defendant to defendant to persons indicted or convicted
CNET Scandal or Dirty DUI
Bennett informs Judge Joel Golub who was local parent that Bennett’s truck was torched, that he was nearly killed in by building inspector, Golub has fined Bennett over $12,000 for traffic by adding steep civil assessment fee, Golub knows Merrit Wiesinger, Terrance Doyle, and Richard Grossman who each have cases in the CNET scandal where divorcees were targeted and knows of other many divorcees targeted in stings that resulted in false arrests, civil rights violations and theft of public funds.
Officer Stephen Tanabe (indicted) was Danville resident residing in the same schools as my sons, was in same cub-scout den, was in defendant's house and makes best suspect in2004, suspect in vehicle tampering , engine failures, arson fire and assault Case Was same deputy present in 2007 hearing in Contra Costa County that threatened responded that he was making terrorist threats a patently false allegation. Bennett alleges that court personal concealed from Judge move-away prevention orders that were “lost” between clerk’s windows and judge thus allowing Petitioner to move away.

Exhibit ___ Chris Butler (Custody) – Private detective known to Defendant since later 80’s but is the same person who arrived days after the near fatal assault in Sept 2004 and is the same person deeply connected to larger scandal

Officer Louis Lombardi ((custody) – used fake police vehicle to pull over Bennett in 2004, brandished weapon at Bennett ,alleged that Bennett was dealing drugs, stealing his own tools, was breaking into houses and was on drugs. Danville Police appeared and Lombardi vanished who then searched Bennett, placed under street light, searched, accused and patted down over a registration violation. When learning of thefts in 2011 news article Bennett sent letters to US Attorney stating in 2004 a coin collection now valued at $40,000 was stolen in 2004 but defendants efforts were deflected on theft when Danville Police officer Paula Murphy refused to take police report on Coins and stolen tools. US Attorney placed that amount in Plea Agreement but to date has no way of collecting losses.
Commander Wielsch (custody) - Admitted co-conspirator of Butler, Tanabe and Lombardi –
Seeno Construction: Local Construction Company with legendary history of dubious business tactics now the subject of US Grand Jury Investigation. Seeno was raided by federal agencies in February 2010 which has netted numerous charges.

Seeno VP Pleads Guilty Carey Hendrickson pleads guilty in March 2013 and agrees to Testify against Albert Seeno Jr. which Defendant knows will be far reaching and far beyond what many might expect.
Anthony Banta Jr. Former Paradise Resident and Graduate residing in Walnut Creek was known to Bennett via Starbucks but was killed by Walnut Creek Officers on December 26th 2012 by officers known to Bennett. Please see August 2011 Walnut Creek Police False Allegations and City Council Meeting

August 2011 Walnut Creek Police False Allegations
Officers connected to Bennett’s allegations involving a Captain, Sergeant and detective who in August 2011 weeks after Bennett’s car was totaled by a retired San Francisco Police Officer attempted to create a scenario so that in Bennett’s opinion use deadly force. A tense scene in front of the Walnut Creek library and police department festered by baseless allegations that Bennett had attacked a city worker riding mowers. That event was sent to the FBI as Bennett is knowledgeable of other Fatal Shootings involving Police Officers. Banta is the fourth victim known to Bennett. A troubling and apparent dangerous connection with Police officers
Nov 1st 2011 - City Council Meeting and Meeting with Chief and City Manager
Bennett appeared at the Walnut Creek City Council meetings complaining officers attempting to use excessive force back in 2011 plus allegations connecting Gary Vinson Collins who was the Danville Building Inspector from 2004 that nearly killed Bennett in a assault case that occurred inside Bennett’s house at 161 Valle Vista Danville CA leaving Bennett with permanent shoulder and knee injuries. During that meeting Bennett alleged that officers connected to the CNET Scandal (including Walnut Creek) were attempting to take out witnesses (Bennett) and that Bennett’s July 20th 2011 accident was connected to Officers from the Walnut Creek Department who in fact may have driven Bennett from five offices used for developing software.
See Hale, Bhatia and Collins for what transpired after the November 1st meeting.
Gary Vinson Collins: Former Danville Building Inspector who attacked Bennett in 2004 coming close to ending Bennett’s life, Collins weighing in 285 and 6’4 to Bennett’s 160 and 5’ 8” frame. Bennett fought off Collins while on the phone with 911 listening but this incident was deliberately derailed by Danville Officers. Days later PI Butler arrives with all the facts about an assault lacking a police report that ultimately required an internal affairs case forcing a 90 day delay.
On December 5th 2011 weeks after being linked to CNET, Danville Police and Walnut Creek PD, Collins falls down an elevator shaft then expires on Dec 19th. Amazingly OHSA failed to fine a public works project, did not levy fines and stated the bracing was adequate. Bennett is highly suspect of events as Collins is related to Officers in the Contra Costa Sherriff Department and other agencies.
Loretta Hale November 11th 2011- - Danville resident dies on Mt Diablo in a suicide, Hale resided in same school district as defendant’s sons, was known to Tanabe and Bennett, was local divorcee, and Real Estate Agent.

Roma Bhatia November 12th 2011 - Found dead on Interstate 680 at Alcosta Blvd in same jurisdiction with other CNET officers. Bhatia was facing final divorce trial following month; husband was represented by attorney specifically mentioned in November 1st Meeting in Walnut Creek. That attorney was going to represent Bennett in 2008 but when Bennett learned that their client was murdered over the weekend withdrew as it was clear attorney was able to manipulate court personal and custody evaluations.

Exhibit ___ Ian Lotta Scott – Dalimontes Karaoke DJ, in 2010 Scott’s mother was assisting Bennett with endless legal issues facing Bennett. Her background was working for Solano DA offices (retired in 2000) was clearly perplexed at all the incidents I’d endured. Ian died of untimely asthma attack in 2011.
Bacterial Infections:
Councilman Mike Shimanksy – died in August 2009 of spinal meningitis weeks after Bennett raised allegations that his 2005 near fatal bacterial infection was deliberate, planned and was connected Bennett’s ongoing intestinal issues that started in 2002 and lasted for five years. Contra Costa Supervisor Federal Glover – another bacterial victim that Bennett has known for decades who in 2007 nearly succumbed an untimely death. Glover and Bennett had chance dinner in 2009 where Glover shared his medical. In 2008 Eric Nunn who running for the same seat was killed in plane crash in Las Vegas Nevada on June 28th 2008, Bennett was communicating with Nunn in regards to events constantly upsetting finances.

Gary Bell – Nov 2012 Richmond Councilman suffers bacterial meningitis infection shortly after winning seat and currently is not expected to recover.
Paradise High School – Viral Meningitis infection affects two students at Paradise High School. Bennett who is unable to reach his sons is unable to learn if his sons were victims, School will not return calls or send claim forms. Unable to get the school to respond has valid concerns that this could be another deliberate attack. Bennett’s coworker contracted Spinal Meningitis in 2009, a mom in Danville near residence lost Daughter to same infection in 2002.

Offices and Businesses Targeted by Police Officers and Employment Issues
Bennett leased numerous offices since 2004 but each ended with some type of setback forcing Bennett to move. Many hard won clients would withdraw constantly impacting revenue. As the CNET scandal was still unknown in 2010 numerous clients were getting death threats or leaving. Bennett was hired many times as contract programmer for positions between 2003 and 2011, each failed for what then appeared to unexplained reasons, Bennett learning of Butler’s illegal wiretaps suspects CNET, Officers Connected to CNET and related parties were actively interfering with clients. Many high paying jobs as Software Architect were lost forcing defendant to seek other options. For years Bennett suspected persons were flashing badges as Client would drop out and never explain why.

Offices Targeted driven out of business – Final Blow
San Francisco Police Lt. David Oberhoffer (retired) began targeting operations located on Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill CA was named by Bennett’s in 2011 hit and run that Bennett attempted to file with the Lafayette Police who refused. Chief Christenson refused to investigate and told me to get a lawyer but that appears to be impossible as attorneys throughout the area know than my counsel was beaten, that my other attorney offices were torched and that Bennett who wants to seek legal remedy cannot find counsel. Oberhoffer possessed images of Piedmont Lumber far too early to be just a lucky stringer.

In 2011 Bennett was retained by PG&E subcontractor to develop software for the PG&E pipeline testing program. The contract was worth around $200,000 in revenues which was the best contract in five years. Bennett’s revenues were decimated by endless business targeting events by others unknown. In June 2011 persons near the Walnut Creek Police Department created scenes to disrupt residence forcing 911 calls for assistance. Later it was learned that said persons was connected an attorney from the Danville Town Council.

Arson cases that closed businesses in Contra Costa County – Final Blows
Magic Touch Nail Salon Piedmont Lumber
Arson Victim: Defendant Alleges in 2004 that Danville Officers, CNET, and others rigged Bennett’s truck to catch on fire on 680

John Newman – Murdered on March 2012 while Bennett was in custody at Martinez Detention facility, Newman was connected to Kitty Maffie who was Newman’s SSI Payee but Maffie posted Bennett’s bail. That same evening Contra Costa Deputies took Bennett from protective custody and placed a seriously unstable psychotic inmate with Bennett that pretty much going to kill me. It was a harrowing night of threats.

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Walnut Creek club bouncer arrested on several drug charges, bail set at $110K

 

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OBIT: Kaitlyn Brittany Strand (Oct. 24, 1988 - May 11, 2013)

RRX_Kaitlyn_Strand

RRX_Kaitlyn_Strand1

The Fate of Kaitlyn Strand

A Number of Faked or Confusing Stories

The Fate of her Grandfather Bat Chief John Riley

She often shared the story on the loss of her grandfather in the Oakland fire. I shared how my friends barely escaped the buildings exploding behind him at the Condos by the Caldecott Tunnel.

Other Students

Kaitlyn Brittany Strand

Oct. 24, 1988 - May 11, 2013
Resident of Martinez

Employer: McNamara Law , Walnut Creek CA

Story #1

Killed in Hit and Run-Oakland, CA (UPDATE) her friends were trying to redirect me, she died from an unknown overdose. Like many cases nothing happens, like Tony it was some elaborate unusual incident.

Story #2

Through a mutual friend was able to speak to her mother. Story #1 was pushed at me at various open-mics in the East Day

She had a wonderful and was a musician:

Performed at Ray's Lounge and other open mic

She Was New Mother:

Four months old, was beautiful baby

Handle:

The Black Rose

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A former law clerk at the McNamara Law Firm former assistant to the Harbor Master at the Martinez Marina, & former childcare worker for the City of Concord; she was studying to become a paralegal & longed to become an attorney. But her true passion was her new baby girl & her music. She was an amazing mother, writer, musician & poet, possessing a loving heart & flamboyant spirit. Her sense of humor, kindness & fierce devotion to her loved ones, will be greatly missed. She is predeceased by her grandfather, former Battalion Chief, James Riley, killed during the Oakland Fire in 1991, & grandmother, Marilyn Lawnicki of Louisiana, in 1988. She is survived by her 4 month old daughter, Persephone Walsh, soul mate John Walsh, mother Catherine Riley, father Rick Strand, beloved brother Andrew Strand, grandmother Christine Riley, & a host of uncles, aunts, cousins & friends. Services on Sat. May 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Dr, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the, Kaitlyn B. Strand Memorial Fund, for her daughter, Persephone. Donations can be mailed to Wells Fargo Bank, 1978 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/contracostatimes/obituary.aspx?pid=164831064#sthash.TExcNPdO.dpuf

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Fire Firefighters down

James M. Riley Jr.

• Battalion Chief
• Oakland Fire Department
• California
• Year of Death: 1991

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Submitted by his daughter

Battalion Chief James Riley served twenty-five years and seventeen days as a firefighter in the Oakland‚ CA‚ Fire Department. Driven by an unseen force‚ he became the youngest Battalion Chief in the history of the Oakland Fire Department‚ at the age of just 36 years old. He served as a mentor and roll model to many in the department‚ who refer to him as ‘The Man Who Wrote the Book’ on firefighting.

Chief Riley served as the hill fire coordinator for the City of Oakland. Many of his theories have been‚ incorporated into firefighter training throughout the world. The Alameda County Disaster Center‚ named the Grubensky-Riley Building‚ was built in honor of him‚ and Oakland Police Officer‚ John Grubensky‚ who also died during the great Oakland Hills Firestorm. In addition‚ a state of the art firehouse‚ made entirely of brick‚ was built in the Oakland Hills‚ in his memory.

Twenty-five people died during the Oakland Hills Firestorm‚ and over three-thousand homes were lost. It is marked as one of the biggest residential fires in U.S. history.

Battalion Chief James M. Riley‚ Jr.‚ is survived by his wife Christine of 30 years‚ his son James‚ his daughter Catherine‚ grandsons James and Andrew‚ granddaughters Amanda and Kaitlyn‚ his mother Evelyn‚ his sisters Patricia‚ Alice and Lowana‚ his best friend Neal Smither‚ and his brother and sister firefighters of the Oakland Fire Department.

For an in-depth view into Battalion Chief James Riley’s life‚ please read an excerpt from the autobiographical‚ work-in-progress‚ The Battalion Chief’s Daughter‚ & Grieving a Superhero‚ by author‚ Catherine Jean Riley. Samples of her work can be found by accessing: http://wittyvixen.writing.com

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Ex-deputy indicted in 'dirty DUI' scheme

Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, December 17, 2011

Defendant Stephen Tanabe sits in the courtroom waiting to be arraigned in the law enforcement abuse of power case, at the Contra Costa Superior Courthouse, Thursday June 23, 2011, in Walnut Creek, Calif. Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

A former Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy who allegedly helped a private investigator with "dirty DUI" arrests has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Stephen Tanabe, 48, of Alamo, was indicted Thursday on four felony counts of conspiracy to extort under color of official right and aiding and abetting, in connection with the drunken-driving arrests. He is expected to surrender to authorities before a scheduled court appearance Monday in Oakland, attorneys said.

Tanabe is the fourth former law enforcement officer with ties to former private eye Christopher Butler, 50, to face federal charges. Butler pleaded not guilty to federal drug and conspiracy charges earlier this year.

In July, two former Richmond police officers who had hired Butler to carry out a retaliatory sting against two young men who once worked for them were indicted on gun charges.

In August, Butler and Norman Wielsch, 50, a former state Justice Department agent who commanded an antidrug task force in Contra Costa County, were indicted on charges connected to the alleged theft and sale of drugs.

Authorities said Wielsch had pilfered the drugs from evidence lockers. 

Tanabe pleaded not guilty this year in state court to bribery and conspiracy charges connected to two drunken-driving arrests he made in Danville in January.

Prosecutors said Butler had paid Tanabe to pull over and arrest men the detective was hired to go after. Butler was working for women in divorce cases who wanted to saddle their ex-husbands with criminal records to help them win custody battles, authorities said.

In an affidavit, a cadet-in-training who was riding with Tanabe in January said the officer used the term "dirty DUI" before he stopped a man Butler had hired him to arrest.

In a confession written by Butler and obtained by The Chronicle, the former investigator said he had supplied $200 worth of cocaine to Tanabe as payment for his involvement in one DUI stop.

Tanabe's attorney in the federal case did not respond to a phone call.

Dan Russo, the attorney who is representing Tanabe in state court, said, "It's obvious the feds are buying into Butler's perjurious lies."

Russo says Tanabe didn't know Butler was setting up the men he was arresting for drunken driving, and denies the former deputy ever took a bribe.

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'Dirty DUIs' figure gets 8-year sentence

Justin Berton

Updated 11:15 pm, Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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  Mary Nolan leaves the federal courthouse with attorney Richard Guadgani in Oakland, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 after pleading not guilty to six charges of wire-tapping and tax invasion. Nolan, a San Ramon divorce attorney, has been linked to the "dirty DUI" scandal involving former private investigator Christopher Butler. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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Christopher Butler, the private investigator at the center of a sensational scandal that involved "dirty DUIs" and drugs stolen from police evidence lockers, once longed for fame, money and a starring role in his own television reality show.

Instead, he got eight years in federal prison.

On Tuesday in Oakland, U.S. District JudgeSaundra Brown Armstrong sentenced Butler, 51, after the disgraced former police officer admitted his role in a stunning array of dirty deeds that included seven felony counts related to dealing drugs, framing men for drunken-driving arrests, and opening a brothel in Pleasant Hill that masqueraded as a massage parlor.

Butler told prosecutors his co-defendant, Norman Wielsch, 51, the former commander of a state antidrug task force, protected the house of prostitution and profited from it.

Wielsch has pleaded not guilty to those charges as well as stealing drugs from an evidence locker - which prosecutors said he gave to Butler to sell - and is scheduled to go on trial in January.

But of the two men, it was Butler, a former Antioch police officer with 10 years of service, who was driven to the criminal side in search of celebrity, his attorney said.

Butler had landed a Lifetime reality show in 2010 titled "P.I. Moms of San Francisco" that followed his crew of female detectives as they tracked down cheating husbands and secretly videotaped their missteps. To keep up with the demands of the fledgling show, and the costs of running his agency, Butler fell prey to one of man's oldest enemies: an insatiable ego.

"It overpowered his judgment to walk away from decisions that were destructive," said his attorney, William Gagen.

Butler turned to selling drugs provided to him by Wielsch, prosecutors said.

Wearing a wire

But the plan soon unraveled after one of Butler's most trusted employees agreed to wear a wire and videotape Butler and Wielsch negotiating the sale of a pound of methamphetamine. After their arrests in February 2011, details of Butler's tangled web of criminal activity in Contra Costa County unfolded, leading to the federal indictments that also roped in two Richmond police officers and a deputy sheriff.

Inside the courtroom, Butler looked nothing like the once well-coiffed man with a mane of white hair. Instead, his head was shaved to stubble and he wore oversize tan prison garb with slip-on shoes.

Instead of talking in the confident tones that once seduced reporters into writing about his team of mommy investigators, he choked with emotion during a brief statement.

"I want to apologize to the community for the anxiety, fear and suffering I have caused others," he said.

To the law enforcement community he was once part of, he apologized for his betrayal and the embarrassment he caused. He broke into tears at the mention of his family and appeared to cut his comments short.

For three victims who were ensnared in Butler's "dirty DUI" traps, the mea culpa was appreciated but not accepted.

"It couldn't have happened to a nicer scumbag," said attorney Brian Gearinger, who represents three men who are suing Butler in federal civil court.

All three men allege that Butler orchestrated their drunken-driving arrests after their ex-wives hired the investigator.

Possible witness

As a condition of his plea agreement in May, Butler can now be called as a witness in three federal criminal cases he's connected to.

His attorney said Butler, if needed, would testify against Wielsch, former Contra Costa Deputy Sheriff Stephen Tanabe, and San Ramon divorce attorney Mary Nolan.

Earlier in the day Nolan, 60, pleaded not guilty to a charge that she hired Butler to plant listening devices in the cars of her clients' ex-husbands. Tanabe, 49, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired with Butler to set up drunken-driving arrests, will ask the judge to dismiss his case next month.

Gagen said before Butler entered federal prison in May after pleading guilty, he'd already started on a life-altering path of self-reflection and humility.

Butler had completed courses in theology and philosophy at Holy Names University and received a 4.0 grade-point average, Gagen said.

The attorney said Butler now spends his days at the federal prison in Dublin reading books and reflecting on his actions. If Butler testifies against his co-defendants, and it leads to convictions, prosecutors can ask for a reduction in Butler's sentence.

"When Chris Butler gets out of prison - whenever that may be - he'll be a different person," Gagen said.

Justin Berton is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jberton@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @justinberton

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