Hardin, Montana update: AG launches probe

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 2, 2009 09:08 PM

The latest on what’s happening in Hardin, Montana: State Attorney General Steve Bullock has launched a probe into the jail deal with American Police Force and its shady founder:

Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock launched an investigation Thursday into American Police Force, the California company founded by a Serbian immigrant with a lengthy criminal history that is seeking to run an empty, 464-bed jail in Hardin.

Bullock sent a nine-page demand letter late Thursday afternoon to Becky Shay, the spokeswoman for APF and the company’s only Montana employee.

Shay did not immediately respond to phone calls Thursday.

According to the document, Bullock is launching the civil investigation into APF over concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

Among other things, Bullock demanded that the company provide proof for many statements about the company included on APF’s Web site. The site says that the company frequently has contracts with the U.S. government and has operations in all 50 states.

Research into the company has turned up no record of APF contracting with the federal government. Bullock has requested that the company provide proof of its federal contracts and operations in other states.

Bullock also requested a copy of the contract between APF and Two Rivers Authority, the economic development arm of the city of Hardin, which built the jail two years ago.

The contract is reportedly a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with APF to run the jail.

Although Michael Hilton, the man behind APF, and local officials say the deal is as good as done, US Bank, the trustee for the bonds sold to build the jail, has never signed off on it.

People involved in the deal are jumping ship:

A California company’s bid to take over an empty jail in rural Montana appears to be unraveling, with an attorney involved in the project cutting ties Friday and a second company, once named as a subcontractor, denying any involvement.

Those moves followed revelations earlier in the week that Michael Hilton—the lead figure of the company, American Police Force—is a convicted felon with a history of fraud and failed business dealings in California.

“We met with him and he asked us if we can support him,” said Edward Angelino, chief executive of Allied Defense Systems, an Irvine, Calif.-based defense contractor. “We checked his background, we checked his company. He’s not an adequate person to do business with.”

Sunlight is always the best disinfectant.

***

Previous: What’s happening in Hardin, Montana?

Posted in: Uncategorized

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

  1. TIW Blog
  2. PianoMan
  3. Who sells ephedrine diet pills.
  4. Buy alprazolam.

Trackback URL

Comments


  1. #816884
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm, TheCorruptedLamb said:

    Sounds just like the kind of group that the O man would hire for Gitmo2. Do they have any ties to Chicago land?

  2. #816885
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm, chicagojedi said:

    Thanks for keeping on this Michelle.

  3. #816895
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    I don’t know if it’s just my computer but the link people jumping ship didn’t work.

  4. #816896
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm, granite said:

    On October 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm, TheCorruptedLamb said:

    Sounds just like the kind of group that the O man would hire for Gitmo2. Do they have any ties to Chicago land?

    My first thought exactly!

  5. #816898
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 pm, swede said:

    Pasadena Phil said:
    I don’t know if it’s just my computer but the link people jumping ship didn’t work.

    It has some pop-ups and garbage, but came up for me.

  6. #816899
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    CA is loaded with people like Hilton. Glendale is the de facto new headquarters of the re-located Russian Mafia. Just look up the police blotter in the local newspaper.

  7. #816901
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:32 pm, JHSII said:

    Hmmm…why is it I keep seeing “Hannah Montana” rather than “Harding, Montana”?

    Maybe I’m just tired.

  8. #816902
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 pm, Thomas R. said:

    A soon as I looked at their website, I knew they were full of crap. Not one of those photos of “SWAT Team Operators” are real. They are poached photos of foreign police and foreign military personnel, and they are trying to pass them off as their own people in action.

    My company actually does this kind of work in the US and overseas, and believe me, we can spot the posers from a mile away.

    This group found an empty jail for cheap, but they couldn’t have it (or afford it) unless they had a federal contract giving them a use for it. And, they couldn’t get a federal contract unless they already had the facility. In order to win federal contracts these days, you actually have to show that you can already do the work / make the product / perform the service.

    People like this BS all the time claiming they do work that in reality, they only wish they could do. There is no way in hell these guys have maritime security teams aboard any ships, nor are they running armed protection details anywhere overseas. I’m sure they would love to, but if your company boss is a convicted felon, good luck getting the State Dept. to certify you to a foreign government to work while armed in their country. Convicted felon = no security clearance = no federal contracts = no guns = FAIL !!!

  9. #816904
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm, chicagojedi said:

    I’m thinking it could be Keyser Soze.

  10. #816906
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 pm, wales said:

    Thank you Michelle.

    You are a force of nature.

    God bless your work.

  11. #816909
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 pm, Hangfire said:

    It’s the new field office of the Law Enforcement Czar?

  12. #816911
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    I did an accounting project once for a company that had government contracts to provide peripheral security for government installations like foreign embassies, nuclear power plants, military bases and so on. I am not an expert on the industry but I was around long enough to notice that it is not an industry of companies started up by civilian immigrants. Everyone I knew was a former law enforcement officer or high-ranking military officer. I can’t believe that Hilton could have gotten off of the ground in that business with no experience and with his criminal background unless he was awarded “no-bid” by a crooked politician directing him the business for kick-backs or some other self-serving reason.

  13. #816915
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 pm, almeehan said:

    How the roaches run when the rug is lifted and light gets through.

  14. #816934
    On October 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 pm, travlinman said:

    I wonder if Obama, Daley and their Chi-town cronies like Valerie Jarrett and friends will launch an effort to move Gitmo to the proposed site of the Chicago Olympic Village. Would not surprise me any at all if that was their contingency plan. It also makes me wonder if I am just as looney as they are for even thinking about it!

  15. #816985
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 am, rworks said:

    Like I said earlier, SCAM. And now its unraveling.

  16. #817001
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 am, happyscrapper said:

    Didn’t one of our posters call and find out that this was perfectly legit? Hmmmm…. And didn’t we tell that poster not to believe everything you are told, especially if it is by someone in the government? Now, who was that poster again? I don’t remember. But I do remember that person was pretty sure that everything was just hunky dorey! :roll:

  17. #817002
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 7:57 am, happyscrapper said:

    On September 30th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, xler8bmw said:
    I personally called the Lt Governor’s office & Hardin Sheriff’s office. Unfortunately this article is not accurate. The prison has been empty for 2 yrs and it is a private facility built by private contractors (which is common in our country for prisons). It will be being used for low to medium prisoners from other states overflow for low to medium prisoners. The state’s constitution has NOT been suspended and a city council doesn’t have the power to do so only the state government can suspend it’s own constitution. The sheriff’s dept has not been taken out of power & is operting as usual.

    On September 30th, 2009 at 1:47 pm, xler8bmw said:
    Take the tin foil hat OFF! As I said I spoke directly to the sheriff and Lt govenor. They also, use our retired military for their operations as well. Here’s a news flash prion guards and swat teams they have to control the prison population have to be trained in firearms.

    Oh yes, now I remember.

  18. #817006
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 am, happyscrapper said:

    Off topic…but has anyone been able to find the text of Barack Obama’s speech in Denmark? I only come up with Michelle O’s speech, not Barack’s. Was it so embarrasing that they won’t even allow it on the internet? Very strange. Does anyone have a link?

  19. #817023
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 am, xler8bmw said:
  20. #817028
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 am, happyscrapper said:

    On October 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 am, xler8bmw said:

    Thanks!! :grin:

  21. #817056
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 am, tarpon said:

    My thoughts exactly … GITMO2, before anyone knows what is going on.

  22. #817067
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    On October 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 am, happyscrapper said:

    I’m not fluent in Danish but here is my translation of Obama’s speech:

    “Me me me me me me me me me me me me, and Michelle, and me me me me me me, I apologize for my country but back to me me me me me me.”

    It goes on like that for about 20 minutes.

  23. #817069
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    BTW, that speech probably creeped out the Olympic Committee since Obama framed the winning the Olympics for Chicago in terms of his own personal legacy. The rest about cultural diversity looked like a cut and paste to fill the time.

    I can’t wait to hear what the committee members say when (if) asked.

  24. #817084
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 am, cabrerski said:

    Thank you, Montana (and MM).

    Stop the Balkan Mafia.

  25. #817099
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm, McCloud9 said:

    I think the Citizens of America should take over the Hardin Prison, and fill it up with a PHONEY President,HIS Cabinet,A whole mess of Czars, and a Bunch of CORRUPT Congressional Politicians. One small problem though… It only houses 295 Inmates.
    I guess we could ADD onto it, JOB CREATION.

  26. #817118
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Pasadena Phil said:
    I’m not fluent in Danish but here is my translation of Obama’s speech:

    “Me me me me me me me me me me me me, and Michelle, and me me me me me me, I apologize for my country but back to me me me me me me.”

    Struck in a rut isn’t he? Most likely his Typical White Grandmother’s fault-or George Bush’s. But only BitterClingers notice.

  27. #817133
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm, rfjjulie said:

    O/T but still very creepy. Did anyone see the Fox News show last night w/Megyan (sp) Kelly? She interviewed the former head of ACORN prior to the incriminating tapes coming out. There are a lot of cockroaches that need cleaned out.

  28. #817182
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm, Laree said:

    Well it’s bad enough that the private police force’s spokesperson Shay is using the “fearmongers” word huh I wonder where she picked up on this language…she also wanted the cameras turned off she was so vulnerable she started crying…give me an effin break.

    At that point, Shay began to cry. She asked TV media at the conference to turn their cameras off because, she said, “it’s important to me that I do not appear as vulnerable as I feel.”

    American Police Force spokeswoman fears for safety; attorney, subcontractor step back

    http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_b0e31f1a-afd4-11de-a3da-001cc4c03286.html

  29. #817185
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm, Laree said:

    American Police Force official has extensive criminal record.

    Photo included.

    http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_8c78ef7a-ae3e-11de-a00d-001cc4c002e0.html

  30. #817203
    On October 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Maybe Obama is opening up a Bed & Breakfast for the IOC.

  31. #817952
    On October 5th, 2009 at 2:19 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    a Serbian immigrant with a lengthy criminal history

    and so he needs a gun range because…

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The more offensive Newsweek photo of Sarah Palin

November 17, 2009 06:54 PM by Michelle Malkin

101 Comments | 3 Trackbacks

Friday open thread

November 6, 2009 04:13 PM by Michelle Malkin

265 Comments | 1 Trackback

What’s on your teacher’s reading list?

November 2, 2009 05:34 AM by Michelle Malkin

90 Comments | 3 Trackbacks

Happy Halloween open thread

October 31, 2009 09:15 AM by Michelle Malkin

191 Comments | 2 Trackbacks

Saturday open thread

October 24, 2009 09:33 AM by Michelle Malkin

265 Comments | 5 Trackbacks

Nobel Peace Prize winner now increases tension in Louisiana

October 15, 2009 11:24 AM by Michelle Malkin

51 Comments | 0 Trackbacks

Divider.

Big Nanny Alert: The War on Hamburgers

October 13, 2009 02:05 PM by Michelle Malkin

139 Comments | 7 Trackbacks

Food police.


Categories: Uncategorized



Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook