The Anatomy of Public Corruption

The ComputerLand Reporting Fraud



The Untold ComputerLand Story and the resulting sale to Synnex




Untold Computerland 1995 Fraud

Pete Bennett was contracted to Computerland to resolve reporting problems. Within weeks his reports resulted in all ComputerLand employees losing their entire retirement.  The Tauscher's pushed two for one, five for one stock options.

The day of the sale Merisel they were rich.  When the auditors received the results of my reports the analysts ripped Merisel down to a new price tag.

The MERISEL FAB RMA










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The Kazakhstan Murder and the Town of Danville

Coming Soon ...

What I know about the Pamela Vitale murder leads into other notable case.  The case against Scott Peterson was won in part by the testimony of Dr. Brian Peterson.

Unknown to the court was Contra Costa District Attorney Investigator George Driscoll.  What was left out was George and Dr. Brian Peterson shared investigative history with NCIS.

Oops!
MURDERS NEAR
CONTRAC
His Sister and Niece


ace Peterson a
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Palantir Technologies Inc. > Peter Andreas Thiel



Software

Company Overview of Palantir Technologies Inc.

Executive Profile

Peter Andreas Thiel

Co-Founder and Chairman, Palantir Technologies Inc.
AgeTotal Calculated CompensationThis person is connected to 11 Board Members in 11 organization across 17 different industries.

See Board Relationships
50--

Background

Mr. Peter Andreas Thiel, J.D. is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Founders Fund. Mr. Thiel has been the President at Clarium Capital Management LLC since October 2002 and also serves as its Portfolio Manager. He founded Clarium Capital in 1996. He is a Co-Founder of Valar Ventures LP and serves as its President and Partner. Mr. Thiel Co-founded Mithril Capital Management LLC in 2012. Mr. Thiel has been the President of Thiel Capital since 2011. He is the Founder at The Thiel Foundation and Breakout Labs. He serves as an Advisor at Asana, Inc. and Udorse, Inc. He is an Adviser to President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Thiel is an Advisor and a Part-Time Partner at Y Combinator Management LLC since March 2015. Previously, he served as Partner of The Founders Fund since 2005. Mr. Thiel served as an Advisor at Redux, Inc. He co-founded PayPal Holdings, Inc. in 1998 and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from September 2000 to 2002. He co-founded Confinity, Inc. in December 1998 and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman until March 2000. Mr. Thiel's experience with venture finance began in the 1990s. He began his financial career as a Derivatives Trader at CS Financial Products. Mr. Thiel has also worked at Credit Suisse Group AG. He worked at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He has been a Director of YourPeople, Inc. since February 2016. He serves as a Director of Auris Surgical Robotics, Inc. Mr. Thiel serves as the Chairman of Palantir Technologies Inc., which he co-founded it in 2003. He has been an Independent Director of Facebook, Inc. since April 2005. Mr. Thiel serves as a Director of Nanotronics Imaging LLC, Zenreach, Halcyon Molecular, Inc., and XOOM.com, Inc. He serves as a Director of the Pacific Research Institute, The Independent Institute and Udorse, Inc. Mr. Thiel serves as a Director of TransferWise Ltd. He serves on the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Mr. Thiel serves as a Member of Scientific Advisory Board of Epoch Innovations, Inc. He serves as a Member of the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School. He served as Chairman of PayPal Holdings, Inc. from May 2000 to 2002 and served as its Director since March 2000. He served as the Chairman of Remanage Inc and PropertyView Solutions, Inc. Mr. Thiel served as a Member of US Advisory Board at Xero Limited since October 22, 2010. He served as a Director of Powerset, Inc. since November 2006. Mr. Thiel served as a Director of Confinity, Inc., Booktrack Ltd. and PropertyView Solutions, Inc. He also aids work against violence through the Oslo Freedom Forum. Mr. Thiel promotes better health by funding the SENS Research Foundation. His articles have appeared in Policy Review and the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Thiel created the 20 Under 20 Thiel Fellowship. The World Economic Forum honored him as a Young Global Leader and BusinessWeek named him one of the 25 most influential people on the web. Mr. Thiel is the Author of "Zero to One". He was listed at the fourth spot in the Forbes Midas List of 2014. Mr. Thiel was rated a master by the United States Chess Federation and received the Innovation Award from the Economist in 2010. He is a technology entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He received a J.D. from Stanford University Law School in 1992. Mr. Thiel also earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Stanford University.

Corporate Headquarters

100 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94301

United States
Phone650-815-0200
Fax650-812-0534

Board Members Memberships

Director
Director
Co-Founder and Chairman
Advisor and Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
2005-Present
Director
2016-Present
Director

Education

BA
Stanford University
JD 1992
Stanford University Law school

Other Affiliations

Annual Compensation

There is no Annual Compensation data available.

Stocks Options

There is no Stock Options data available.

Total Compensation

There is no Total Compensation data available.
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Investor Fraud Summit

Investor Fraud  










Co-Conspirators

Cnetscandal.blogspot.com

The Investor Dragons

I've been researching for three years as my story is Hydra the Seven Headed Dragon.  The heads get lopped off and there is another tangent of this messy story.  

Federal Level Changes 
Investor Fraud Summit Arms Consumers with Information to Protect Retirement Funds and Life Savings



Bar K Investors 
Benny Chetcuti Jr. 

My ex lived next door to Chetcuti for ten years and that means she knew Butler we were married.  It also means she's well aware of that they tried to kill me via arson, beating and accidents.  One mistake was the 2005 accident nearly killed her own sons.  

Link to PG&E, CNET Cops and Walnut Creek  

The Torres Clan 
The woman with the Tattoo's walked right past me about 18 months ago.  The Tat's were a dead giveaway - through the Soccer Moms Confidential segment I was able to link to Butler.  He was in my house in 2004 days after the assault with Collins, he's dead was killed here in 2011. 

Then then link to Butler and my accidents became evident as the litigation unfolded.  A court battle is going on between the county and several lawsuits.  This is another point where my story could emerge.  

For months I searched images when via several pictures of the Walnut Creek Explosions and tiring forensic accounting, records searches which ended up being tied my failed cabinet shop in Summer 2004 linked the arson cases to the cops and the agencies investigative failures.   

View details »

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View details »
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Walnut Creek Real Estate Investor Indicted For Fraud

Benny Chetcuti Jr. Walnut Creek Real Estate Investor Indicted For Fraud
By Pete Bennett CNET Scandal Date: March 3rd, 2014




Posted: Summer 2012 Pete Bennett 
Lost In Walut Creek, CA 94596 
P: (925)-399-1082 
Email:pcbennett@outlook.com


TrackingNumber:PCB0002


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Dead PayPal Employee under Thiel's leadership? Gawk me if you can

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Secretary of State Bowen

Now with time available Pete Bennett is cleaning up his documentation. 


Secretary of State
Election Division
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Secretary Bowen,

On August 7th 2014 I completed forms with the Walnut Creek City Clerk Suzie Martinez for City Council.  Everything was done properly.

On Monday I returned to get for nomination signatures and was told I could only submit 30 signatures.  The answer was in-congruent with prior information as I'd planned to collect 100 to be safe.

I believe part of this was a honest mistake that could have been overcome but when attempting to clear up other matters with Planning and Police Department eventually was escorted from the building and told not able to return for the rest of the day.

Members of the City Council, Staff and WCPD have attempted arrest, threats of arrests, false allegations of assault and have been this resident from accessing city records, called police when attempting to speak at public hearings, falsely informed officers that meeting was closed, attempted to arrest Bennett for disturbing meeting that had not started.

The CHP Threat Assessment has been investigating incidents since July 2011 accident that was attempted murder, are well aware of incidents in Walnut Creek, mugging of clients, roommates and long list of deaths since first meeting in 2011.  State Senator Mark DeSaulnier sent TAU to Bennett after Bennett faced off with officers with guns with clear threat of Bennett's safety.

On Monday a WCPD officer admitted to knowing about my 2004 arson case and that it was arson all along.  They've been co-conspirators all along or failed in their duties and WC city council failed to protect this resident


I am withdrawing from race for my personal safety from WCPD and Council
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Connecting Blackhawk Networks, Bank of America and AB Acquisition




SUBSEQUENT EVENT
Distribution of Blackhawk Shares On March 24, 2014, Safeway's Board of Directors declared a special stock dividend to its stockholders of all of the 37.8 million shares of Class B common stock of Blackhawk owned by Safeway, representing approximately 94.2% of the total outstanding shares of Blackhawk's Class B common stock and approximately 72% of the total number of shares of Blackhawk common stock of all classes outstanding.  On April 14, 2014, Safeway distributed the special stock dividend to all Safeway stockholders of record on April 3, 2014 (the "Record Date").  The distribution took place in the form of a pro rata dividend of Blackhawk Class B common stock to each Safeway stockholder of record on the Record Date.  Safeway stockholders received 0.164291 of a share of Blackhawk Class B common stock for every share of Safeway common stock held as of the Record Date, less any shares withheld in respect of applicable withholding taxes.  No fractional shares of Blackhawk stock were distributed.  Instead, Safeway stockholders received cash in lieu of any fraction of a share of Blackhawk stock.

Assuming the acquisition by AB Acquisition is completed as contemplated by the Merger Agreement (see Note A), it is expected that Safeway’s distribution of Blackhawk shares will be taxable to Safeway and Safeway’s stockholders. Based on Safeway’s preliminary estimates and after the application of tax payments previously made in connection with Safeway's sale of shares in the initial public offering of Blackhawk's Class A common stock in April 2013, Safeway expects that the distribution of Blackhawk shares will result in an incremental tax to Safeway of approximately $360 million.



PCB00001
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Silverado Council Boy Scouts of America and The Ellinwood Farm Murders

By Pete Bennett

There is dark cloud hanging over the entire City of Pleasant Hill CA.


Council Officers


Frank Starn | President
Former SVP & COO – McKesson Pharmaceutical
Jerry Dees | Council Commissioner
Trust Administrator
Dr. Joe Barton | VP of CommunicationsER Physician
Randy Campbell |  Legal Counsel
Attorney
Cory Higbee | Council Treasurer
Treasurer – Ross Stores
Anne O’Neal | VP of Administration
Global Manager, Operational Excellence and Health, Environment and Safety-Chevron
Rodney Mangus  | VP of Properties
Paleontologist
Tom Santos | VP of Membership
Software Engineer-AT&T
Peter Schakow | VP of District Ops
President – Hope or Cope, LLC  
Paul Shimotake | VP of Program
Vice President & Senior Counsel, Law Department, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Tom Weibert | VP of Marketing
Owner-Elevare Consulting
Vacant | VP of Major Gifts
Vacant | VP of Fundraising

Executive Board Members


Randy BushPrincipal – Deloitte
Barton GledhillRetired Veterinarian– Livermore LabsBiotechnology Education and Workforce Training Consultant – City College of San Francisco
Alan GouldRetired Attorney; Commercial Property Owner
Pat GriffithCo-Owner – Promana, LLC
Tom HansenBusiness Manager – IBEW Local Union 302
Marcus LampleyVP Excess Liability Div. – Great American Insurance Group
Adam LewisMerrill Lynch
Dan LuchtGen. Mgr.-Zephyr Express and Director of Operations, Western Region – The Winebow Group
John MarshallTech Start-up
Dave NewtonSafeway – IT Director
Lou PaulsonPresident – California Professional Firefighter Assoc.
Lou RamondettaPresident – Surplus Service
Tim ReppIndependent Consultant
James TeareVeterinarian
Brian ThiessenAttorney
Caroline TsuyukiFaculty-Carondelet HS – Advance Sciences
Brian Weaver Asst. VP -Federal Reserve Bank
Harper WongDir. Community Lending Solutions – MGIC


Advisory Board


Bob CarnsRetired Principal – 4C Enterprises
Kent ClayburnSenior VP – Morgan Stanley
Bill CollettRetired Treasurer – Dreyer’s Ice Cream
Rick CronkRetired Co-Owner – Dreyer’s Ice Cream
Bob CrossRetired CEO – CleanAir Logix
Drake DierkhisingOwner-Sarafornia Restaurant, Calistoga
Tom EdwardsRetired Board Chair – Wentworth, Hauser, and Violich
Tom GiugniRetired Fairfield Police Captain
James JonesAttorney
Alfred KappadahlRetired
Steven PhillipsRetired PG&E
Chuck SmithRetired Pres/CEO – AT&T West
Ken StrongmanMediation Attorney
Richard UtterBusiness Continuity Specialist – Bank of the West
Matt WestphalCo-President Bay Alarm
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Senior Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Official

The Department of Justice Files

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The Great Seal of Department of Justice

Senior Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Official and Concord Private Investigator Indicted
Two Alleged to Have Engaged in a Spectrum of Corrupt Activities, Including Stealing Methamphetamine and Marijuana from Evidence and Selling it for Profit, Protection of a Prostitution Establishment, and Armed Robberies of Prostitutes

U.S. Attorney’s Office August 15, 2011
  • Northern District of California (415) 436-7200

SAN FRANCISCO—A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Norman Wielsch of Antioch, Calif., and Christopher Butler of Concord, Calif., on Aug. 8, 2011, for federal narcotics offenses, civil rights violations, and extortion, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

According to the indictment, Wielsch, 50, and Butler, 50, are alleged to have participated together in criminal activities made possible by Wielsch’s position as the commander of the Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET). The indictment alleges the following abuses of Wielsch’s position, in which Butler, a private investigator based in Concord, participated and assisted:

  • Wielsch, aided and abetted by Butler, stole from county evidence facilities methamphetamine and marijuana that had been seized in CNET operations. Wielsch and Butler sold some of the stolen narcotics and intended to sell the remainder. The quantity of methamphetamine sold by Wielsch and Butler was sufficiently large to trigger a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, if proven at trial.
  • Wielsch and Butler participated together in a phony “sting” operation in which they falsely detained a person under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation, conducted warrantless searches, and kept narcotics that were taken from the person during the “sting.”
  • Butler opened a massage parlor in Pleasant Hill, Calif., in which prostitution activities took place. He required the women working in the parlor to make weekly payments, which he shared with Wielsch, in exchange for Wielsch’s agreement to provide protection to the women from law enforcement action.
  • Wielsch and Butler together conducted “stings” directed at prostitutes. Wielsch and Butler identified individuals they believed to be prostitutes through online advertisements and arranged meetings with them, typically in hotels. Wielsch and Butler then staged what purported to be legitimate sting operations, but instead of seizing evidence and citing the prostitutes, they unlawfully took the prostitutes’ money and property for themselves.

“This indictment alleges a pattern of lawlessness that not only violated the trust of the people of Contra Costa County, but also brings dishonor to all the fine men and women in law enforcement who work hard, do the right thing, and risk their lives every day protecting our communities,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. In May 2011, the Contra Costa County District Attorney asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to lead the investigation. “The District Attorney’s Office led the initial investigation and did a thorough and professional job,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “When the extent of the alleged misconduct became apparent, however, District Attorney Mark Peterson asked our office and the FBI to take the lead. We took that responsibility without hesitation.”

Wielsch and Butler were arrested this morning by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who have been investigating the case since May 2011.

The defendants’ initial appearance took place this morning in federal court in San Francisco; they are currently being held without bail pending detention hearings. Butler’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Francisco. Wielsch’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in Oakland, Calif.

The maximum statutory penalties for each count are as follows, although any sentence imposed by the court following conviction would take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553:

Count 1 – Narcotics Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 2 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 3 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Counts 4 through 9 – Marijuana Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)

  • Five years’ imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Counts 10 through 13 – Theft From Programs Receiving Federal Funds, 18 U.S.C.m § 666(a)(1) (Wielsch)

  • 10 years’ imprisonment
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 14 & 16 – Civil Rights Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 15 & 17 – Extortion, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • 20 years’ imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Hartley M.K. West and John Hemann are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane, Rania Ghawi, and Cristhian Escobar.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Wielsch and Mr. Butler must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Further Information:

CASE #: CR—11-0529-SBA

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.
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Department of Justice - The Historical Coverage

Senior Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Official and Concord Private Investigator Indicted
Two Alleged to Have Engaged in a Spectrum of Corrupt Activities, Including Stealing Methamphetamine and Marijuana from Evidence and Selling it for Profit, Protection of a Prostitution Establishment, and Armed Robberies of Prostitutes

U.S. Attorney’s Office August 15, 2011
  • Northern District of California (415) 436-7200

SAN FRANCISCO—A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Norman Wielsch of Antioch, Calif., and Christopher Butler of Concord, Calif., on Aug. 8, 2011, for federal narcotics offenses, civil rights violations, and extortion, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

According to the indictment, Wielsch, 50, and Butler, 50, are alleged to have participated together in criminal activities made possible by Wielsch’s position as the commander of the Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET). The indictment alleges the following abuses of Wielsch’s position, in which Butler, a private investigator based in Concord, participated and assisted:

  • Wielsch, aided and abetted by Butler, stole from county evidence facilities methamphetamine and marijuana that had been seized in CNET operations. Wielsch and Butler sold some of the stolen narcotics and intended to sell the remainder. The quantity of methamphetamine sold by Wielsch and Butler was sufficiently large to trigger a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, if proven at trial.
  • Wielsch and Butler participated together in a phony “sting” operation in which they falsely detained a person under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation, conducted warrantless searches, and kept narcotics that were taken from the person during the “sting.”
  • Butler opened a massage parlor in Pleasant Hill, Calif., in which prostitution activities took place. He required the women working in the parlor to make weekly payments, which he shared with Wielsch, in exchange for Wielsch’s agreement to provide protection to the women from law enforcement action.
  • Wielsch and Butler together conducted “stings” directed at prostitutes. Wielsch and Butler identified individuals they believed to be prostitutes through online advertisements and arranged meetings with them, typically in hotels. Wielsch and Butler then staged what purported to be legitimate sting operations, but instead of seizing evidence and citing the prostitutes, they unlawfully took the prostitutes’ money and property for themselves.

“This indictment alleges a pattern of lawlessness that not only violated the trust of the people of Contra Costa County, but also brings dishonor to all the fine men and women in law enforcement who work hard, do the right thing, and risk their lives every day protecting our communities,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. In May 2011, the Contra Costa County District Attorney asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to lead the investigation. “The District Attorney’s Office led the initial investigation and did a thorough and professional job,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “When the extent of the alleged misconduct became apparent, however, District Attorney Mark Peterson asked our office and the FBI to take the lead. We took that responsibility without hesitation.”

Wielsch and Butler were arrested this morning by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who have been investigating the case since May 2011.

The defendants’ initial appearance took place this morning in federal court in San Francisco; they are currently being held without bail pending detention hearings. Butler’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Francisco. Wielsch’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in Oakland, Calif.

The maximum statutory penalties for each count are as follows, although any sentence imposed by the court following conviction would take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553:

Count 1 – Narcotics Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 2 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 3 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)

  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Counts 4 through 9 – Marijuana Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)

  • Five years’ imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Counts 10 through 13 – Theft From Programs Receiving Federal Funds, 18 U.S.C.m § 666(a)(1) (Wielsch)

  • 10 years’ imprisonment
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 14 & 16 – Civil Rights Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • Life imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Count 15 & 17 – Extortion, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Wielsch and Butler)

  • 20 years’ imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment

Hartley M.K. West and John Hemann are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane, Rania Ghawi, and Cristhian Escobar.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Wielsch and Mr. Butler must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Further Information:

CASE #: CR—11-0529-SBA

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.

This content has been reproduced from its original source.
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CNET Scandal Indictment





Senior Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Official and Concord Private Investigator Indicted
Two Alleged to Have Engaged in a Spectrum of Corrupt Activities, Including Stealing Methamphetamine and Marijuana from Evidence and Selling it for Profit, Protection of a Prostitution Establishment, and Armed Robberies of Prostitutes

U.S. Attorney’s Office August 15, 2011
  • Northern District of California (415) 436-7200
SAN FRANCISCO—A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Norman Wielsch of Antioch, Calif., and Christopher Butler of Concord, Calif., on Aug. 8, 2011, for federal narcotics offenses, civil rights violations, and extortion, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.
According to the indictment, Wielsch, 50, and Butler, 50, are alleged to have participated together in criminal activities made possible by Wielsch’s position as the commander of the Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET). The indictment alleges the following abuses of Wielsch’s position, in which Butler, a private investigator based in Concord, participated and assisted:
  • Wielsch, aided and abetted by Butler, stole from county evidence facilities methamphetamine and marijuana that had been seized in CNET operations. Wielsch and Butler sold some of the stolen narcotics and intended to sell the remainder. The quantity of methamphetamine sold by Wielsch and Butler was sufficiently large to trigger a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, if proven at trial.
  • Wielsch and Butler participated together in a phony “sting” operation in which they falsely detained a person under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation, conducted warrantless searches, and kept narcotics that were taken from the person during the “sting.”
  • Butler opened a massage parlor in Pleasant Hill, Calif., in which prostitution activities took place. He required the women working in the parlor to make weekly payments, which he shared with Wielsch, in exchange for Wielsch’s agreement to provide protection to the women from law enforcement action.
  • Wielsch and Butler together conducted “stings” directed at prostitutes. Wielsch and Butler identified individuals they believed to be prostitutes through online advertisements and arranged meetings with them, typically in hotels. Wielsch and Butler then staged what purported to be legitimate sting operations, but instead of seizing evidence and citing the prostitutes, they unlawfully took the prostitutes’ money and property for themselves.
“This indictment alleges a pattern of lawlessness that not only violated the trust of the people of Contra Costa County, but also brings dishonor to all the fine men and women in law enforcement who work hard, do the right thing, and risk their lives every day protecting our communities,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. In May 2011, the Contra Costa County District Attorney asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to lead the investigation. “The District Attorney’s Office led the initial investigation and did a thorough and professional job,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “When the extent of the alleged misconduct became apparent, however, District Attorney Mark Peterson asked our office and the FBI to take the lead. We took that responsibility without hesitation.”
Wielsch and Butler were arrested this morning by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who have been investigating the case since May 2011.
The defendants’ initial appearance took place this morning in federal court in San Francisco; they are currently being held without bail pending detention hearings. Butler’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Francisco. Wielsch’s detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in Oakland, Calif.
The maximum statutory penalties for each count are as follows, although any sentence imposed by the court following conviction would take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553:
Count 1 – Narcotics Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Wielsch and Butler)
  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Count 2 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Wielsch and Butler)
  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Count 3 – Methamphetamine Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)
  • Life imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Counts 4 through 9 – Marijuana Distribution, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Butler)
  • Five years’ imprisonment (10-year mandatory minimum)
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $10,000,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Counts 10 through 13 – Theft From Programs Receiving Federal Funds, 18 U.S.C.m § 666(a)(1) (Wielsch)
  • 10 years’ imprisonment
  • Three years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Count 14 & 16 – Civil Rights Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 241 (Wielsch and Butler)
  • Life imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Count 15 & 17 – Extortion, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Wielsch and Butler)
  • 20 years’ imprisonment
  • Five years’ supervised release
  • $250,000 fine
  • $100 special assessment
Hartley M.K. West and John Hemann are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Alycee Lane, Rania Ghawi, and Cristhian Escobar.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Wielsch and Mr. Butler must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Further Information:
CASE #: CR—11-0529-SBA
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
This content has been reproduced from its original source.
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Officer Lester Garnier July 1988






Douglas M. Baker, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ecolab Inc.

Douglas M. Baker, Jr., is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ecolab Inc., a provider of water and hygiene services and technologies for the food,
hospitality, industrial and energy markets. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Ecolab since May 2006 and Chief Executive Officer since July 2004,
and served as President from 2002 to 2011.

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