Tom Noe

Tom Noe was sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined $139,000 by a Toledo, Ohio court.

Never mind that prosecutors calculated that Noe stole $13.7 million in all.

Just pay back $139,000 and we're all good.

That's not good enough.

But there is some great news for Ohio's Bureau of Workers Compensation, according to the Associated Press, the state could recover up to $6 million more from its scandal-spawning investment in rare coins than the $50 million it put in, the broker overseeing its liquidation said Tuesday.

Tom Noe faces jail

Noe guilty of theft, faces jail
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

This fall, Noe became the flashpoint for Ohio political corruption, a discredited businessman whose face played a central role in dozens of Democratic television ads that ripped Republican candidates, including attorney general candidate Betty Montgomery, whom Noe called a political ally. Montgomery lost a close race to Dann, a Mahoning Valley Democrat.

Prosecutors said Noe siphoned $2.3 million from the BWC in rare coin investment funds. They said Noe used his political influence to obtain the investment funds, beginning with $25 million in 1998, followed by another $25 million in 2001.


I first wrote about Tom Noe in this blog in July of 2005, Notice to entrepreneurs. It was my second posting. I could not believe how flimsy the whole system was. I was outraged that this guy was not only buying State of Ohio Officials, he was also buying into Washington also.

Ten years! He ripped off the Bureau of Worker's Compensation for millions. Aren't drug dealers sentenced more harshly? Aren't there supposed to be checks and balances? Was Tom Noe so successful with the first $25 Million, that the state had no problem giving him the second $25 Million to invest? They did check that, right.

I bet the person in charge of Ohio's BWC hasn't been in the position for longer than 2 years.

I would bet you could quiet certain rooms in Columbus and D.C. by just saying coin and investment in the same sentence.

I will be GLAD to let you know how the sentencing turns out. Maybe we will compare it to some other sentences, just for giggles.

peace.

Yeah!!! No more political commercials!

Did you hear that?

No? EXACTLY my point. It's quiet.

Not one political ad polluting the air.

Thank goodness.

I hope you got your vote on. I did!

You know what that means?

Absolutely correct, I have a valid, unrestricted license to bitch!

How about yours?

It should be illegal to bitch with a suspended or expired license.

I don't know about anyone else but I love voting.

I love going to the polls.

I love to walk in and have people look me in my face and know that I have a voice and I am going to exercise it.

I like to think on election days that people are looking around with the understanding that we are all in this together.

Standing there as I was yesterday; exhausted from working night shift, in uniform, shirt unbuttoned and untucked, mp3 player in my ears, dreadlocks flowing; I hope that it says loud and clear I will not shut up. I will not be ignored. I have not forgotten what it cost a great deal of people for me to have the right to have my say.

I tell you, voting is a joy.

Watching election results...well some years that is a very different story.

Although it was a joy this year....Uncle Blackwell lost. Poor Tom....er, Ken.

peace.

Well, Well, It's Ken Blackwell

According to Wikipedia:

Blackwell gained national prominence for his dual roles as Chief Elections official of Ohio and honorary co-chair of the "Committee to re-elect George W. Bush" during the 2004 election. A staunch proponent of gun ownership rights, has stated that he is against abortion even if the mother's life is at risk, and campaigned heavily for the successful 2004 State Constitutional Amendment barring gay marriage.

I know a few of my co-workers were shocked when I called Ken Blackwell dangerous, and said that there is no way anything good would come from him. I can still recall watching him during the last presidential elections. You remember, the one where Ohio was probably THE deciding factor and Good Old Ken, let's just call him Uncle Ken, had face time on the evening news everyday. It was surreal. He was so transparent. You could just see the greed, the lust for power. You can always spot that on somebody, it wears like a cheap suit. It also smells. I knew then that as a thanks for the tally being just right, Uncle Ken would be set up for some major election of his own. Did everyone else not notice that there is a conflict of interest for the Chief Elections Official to also be the Co-Chair of the Committee to Re-elect Dubya? Where is the public outcry?

Uncle Ken is really just the latest act in the Republican Circus brought to We, the People, by George H.W., G.W. (Dubya), and by Barbara and _________ (that other 'Stand-By-Your-Man, Stepford broad) I honestly can't think of her name right now, my mind just went numb when I saw her face. See, the truth is Republicans think that blacks will just love Ken Blackwell. No matter what party he runs for, black people, especially black women will vote for him. You see they know that black women get stuck in that tired 'stand-by-that-black-man' game. Well, this sista' is telling any and everyone who will listen that Uncle Ken is no less of a talking head than Colin Powell, the difference, though, is Colin Powell had the integrity to walk away and stay away when he learned the truth. Powell has already known real power, being just another clown at the circus could never compare.

Uncle Ken doesn't understand that some things just don't change. Politicians have always built their campaigns on hate. The current flavors being Mexicans, and the ever so tasty, lesbians and gays. It wasn't too long ago that Uncle Ken would have been their flavor, and he would have been at odds with that gun he thinks everyone has the right to own. How quickly they forget.

I'll tell you, lust and greed are more potent than people realize. It can make you lose your mind, just look at Uncle Ken.

Notice to entrepreneurs

NOTICE to all entrepreneurs: The State of Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation is interested in ways to invest money. Before you become disheartened, I have excellent news; you don't need to know about return on investment, stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. All you need is tenacity, creativity, and a plan.

Get the word out! Tell your cousins, friends, and especially that uncle who always has a sure-fire money-making plan. Ohio's BWC is looking for those ideas. See, over the past few years there has been more than $330 Million lost in this fund. The latest money squandering endeavor was an investment in rare coins. Toledo business owner and campaign contributor Tom Noe was able to get his bid in (well before the bidding was open) and was able to set up two funds for the Bureau. I always thought coins were a hobby, like a stamp collection. See, I had it all wrong, and I bet you did too. This is why I'm getting the word out.

I would bet you could walk around and really get some good ideas. How about an inner city jitney, or cab service, granny's crocheted afghans, and get little Lisa to gather all of her plastic beaded necklaces. Now, don't get too fancy because this is Ohio, and our government is not a great supporter of the Arts, but if you tout it as an investment then maybe they'll bite.

Now, just so you know, the playing field may not be level here, unless you happen to be a prodigious campaign-contributor and golf buddy to all of the right people. Tom Noe has been so busy that he's already given over $17,000 to the campaigns of 3 candidates for governor. And in Governor Bob Taft's defense, he gave back $22,190 stating that Noe "has done a great disservice to the people of Ohio by mismanaging our public resources and abusing our trust." Bush returned $4,000. Five GOP justices on the Ohio Supreme Court said they, too, will identify and set aside campaign contributions from Noe. Noe also gave $10,000 to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But he is keeping the money.
But, I don't want to be greedy. Noe was given $55 Million to invest, $10 Million of which is missing--and I think my data is a little behind the curve, so he's getting the benefit of the doubt. I mean if the State can withstand an 18% loss, then by all means, let us all have a shot. I bet the average person would do better than that. I mean honestly, I could invest BWC's money with my Deferred Compensation money because honestly, I have had only one negative quarter in the past five years. I think that's pretty impressive, and all this time I though I knew nothing about big business. See, there are opportunities everywhere. You just have to know where to look.

Peace.