cragfiend
Registered
Wow, just wow. I lurk this board, rarely have any desire to comment, and hold my own council when the desire strikes. But, I have to step in here, as all I am seeing is everyone jumping to conclusions based upon hearsay, inference and innuendo.
From the mind of a retired special agent, and after reading every page of every available document (referenced in this post) filed with the court, and every posting on this board, everybody might want to wait and see what comes of the legal back and forth before leaping to conclusions. This lawsuit cost $401 to file, $10/per entity to serve.
This is a cheap price to pay, especially if your goal is not to win a case, but to destroy a business.
AFTER you withdrew $103,000 from the companies accounts. The plaintiff removed funds without authorization by the managing partner from the business (admittedly, the plaintiff did invest $145,000 in the company for a 20% share), the day before filing a injurious, libelous lawsuit, purportedly on behalf of the company he just misappropriated operating capital from. Plaintiff had to know, even as a 20% partner that businesses need liquidity to operate. Boats need gas, electric bills need paid, etc. He KNOWS how much damage removing operating funds will do. How do I know this? He had access to the accounts through the bank. No other way to withdraw the money. Go to any bank and try to withdraw money from an account that you don't have unrestricted access to. Seriously, read everything in this filing!
All allegations the plaintiff made regarding not having access to financial reports? He had information available, right from the banks. People, he cleaned out multiple accounts, allegedly even one not under the Kaizen umbrella (there is a term for taking something not yours) kinda makes the lawsuit seem a bit like a smokescreen.
Speaking of smokescreen, St John the diver, who created his account today (many of you might dismiss me here, as this is my first post ever on this board, if so, so be it.) has taken some time to dig up public records on the defendant, and to make sure we all know Peter plead guilty to a felony. So what? He served his time, found his passion, married above his pay grade and worked his ass off to build a business. He has spent literally YEARS in the diving community, contributing knowledge and resources and building a life that had nothing to do with the past he has put behind him. Then some troll dredges up garbage and crap on anyone associated with the defendant, and you all try him in absentia over the course of 100 posts? Nice. Really great community I belong to. No wonder I have nothing I wish to share most days.
Now, let's get to the alleged Libyan deal. Forget the argument that rebreathers are military weapons, it really doesn't apply. Why? Logic it out. The only information you have are the plaintiffs allegations. He says he was aware of the connection to Libya and tried to warn the defendant off. He says the FBI and DHS were involved. He says anyone who bought a rebreather from Add Helium would be investigated by the FBI. (Oops, did I get mixed up there? You decide).
Logic it out: Defendant is an ex-con. Believe me, the threshold for locking up a prior felon is pretty damn low, like laughably low. You are pretty much instantly guilty in the mind of any LEO (been there!). So, after the Peter absconded and made the sale of some nebulous military only rebreather tech to some nebulous Libyan, why didn't he go to jail on the spot? He truly would be considered a flight risk because of his proximity to the Caribbean and his international contacts. Believe me, if the was ANY hint of wrongdoing, he would not be walking free.
SB, as a moderator, you seriously disappoint me. I saw you were the first to post Ken's info, and he called you on it, rightly so. You deleted the links to the bankruptcy info you posted, and then turn around and lecture other board members on invading privacy, as if you had not been the first offender.
I agree with Ken, you Sir, have no class whatsoever.
Here is your challenge SB, are you man enough to leave my post unaltered, or will it be gone in whole or part when next I log on?
Oh, and to the OP, it could be interpreted by a reader that your intent in starting this post was not in fact to alert fellow divers to a hazard, but as an attack. I may be wrong, as I haven't had the chance to talk to you in person and I don't know you well enough to judge your actions or motivations. You have me as one of your instructor/reps, so I am easy for you to seek out if you wish. And I would gladly hear you out if you are willing to be open to hearing me out. Maybe we all ought to consider doing the same?
For the record: Yes, I bought a rebreather from Peter. Yes, I know and like Peter. Yes, I know he has a past, who doesn't? At least I know he has overcome his. Yes, I will still do business with Peter.
And, since anonymity in this case would allow you all to dismiss my post out of hand, my name is Keith Crook, from New Braunfels, TX. Yes, I have a past, feel free to dig. And before St John trolls me and gets you all confused, I was a military officer, assigned to the AF Office of Special Investigations. And yes, I do belong to Texas NORML, so what?
From the mind of a retired special agent, and after reading every page of every available document (referenced in this post) filed with the court, and every posting on this board, everybody might want to wait and see what comes of the legal back and forth before leaping to conclusions. This lawsuit cost $401 to file, $10/per entity to serve.
This is a cheap price to pay, especially if your goal is not to win a case, but to destroy a business.
AFTER you withdrew $103,000 from the companies accounts. The plaintiff removed funds without authorization by the managing partner from the business (admittedly, the plaintiff did invest $145,000 in the company for a 20% share), the day before filing a injurious, libelous lawsuit, purportedly on behalf of the company he just misappropriated operating capital from. Plaintiff had to know, even as a 20% partner that businesses need liquidity to operate. Boats need gas, electric bills need paid, etc. He KNOWS how much damage removing operating funds will do. How do I know this? He had access to the accounts through the bank. No other way to withdraw the money. Go to any bank and try to withdraw money from an account that you don't have unrestricted access to. Seriously, read everything in this filing!
All allegations the plaintiff made regarding not having access to financial reports? He had information available, right from the banks. People, he cleaned out multiple accounts, allegedly even one not under the Kaizen umbrella (there is a term for taking something not yours) kinda makes the lawsuit seem a bit like a smokescreen.
Speaking of smokescreen, St John the diver, who created his account today (many of you might dismiss me here, as this is my first post ever on this board, if so, so be it.) has taken some time to dig up public records on the defendant, and to make sure we all know Peter plead guilty to a felony. So what? He served his time, found his passion, married above his pay grade and worked his ass off to build a business. He has spent literally YEARS in the diving community, contributing knowledge and resources and building a life that had nothing to do with the past he has put behind him. Then some troll dredges up garbage and crap on anyone associated with the defendant, and you all try him in absentia over the course of 100 posts? Nice. Really great community I belong to. No wonder I have nothing I wish to share most days.
Now, let's get to the alleged Libyan deal. Forget the argument that rebreathers are military weapons, it really doesn't apply. Why? Logic it out. The only information you have are the plaintiffs allegations. He says he was aware of the connection to Libya and tried to warn the defendant off. He says the FBI and DHS were involved. He says anyone who bought a rebreather from Add Helium would be investigated by the FBI. (Oops, did I get mixed up there? You decide).
Logic it out: Defendant is an ex-con. Believe me, the threshold for locking up a prior felon is pretty damn low, like laughably low. You are pretty much instantly guilty in the mind of any LEO (been there!). So, after the Peter absconded and made the sale of some nebulous military only rebreather tech to some nebulous Libyan, why didn't he go to jail on the spot? He truly would be considered a flight risk because of his proximity to the Caribbean and his international contacts. Believe me, if the was ANY hint of wrongdoing, he would not be walking free.
SB, as a moderator, you seriously disappoint me. I saw you were the first to post Ken's info, and he called you on it, rightly so. You deleted the links to the bankruptcy info you posted, and then turn around and lecture other board members on invading privacy, as if you had not been the first offender.
I agree with Ken, you Sir, have no class whatsoever.
Here is your challenge SB, are you man enough to leave my post unaltered, or will it be gone in whole or part when next I log on?
Oh, and to the OP, it could be interpreted by a reader that your intent in starting this post was not in fact to alert fellow divers to a hazard, but as an attack. I may be wrong, as I haven't had the chance to talk to you in person and I don't know you well enough to judge your actions or motivations. You have me as one of your instructor/reps, so I am easy for you to seek out if you wish. And I would gladly hear you out if you are willing to be open to hearing me out. Maybe we all ought to consider doing the same?
For the record: Yes, I bought a rebreather from Peter. Yes, I know and like Peter. Yes, I know he has a past, who doesn't? At least I know he has overcome his. Yes, I will still do business with Peter.
And, since anonymity in this case would allow you all to dismiss my post out of hand, my name is Keith Crook, from New Braunfels, TX. Yes, I have a past, feel free to dig. And before St John trolls me and gets you all confused, I was a military officer, assigned to the AF Office of Special Investigations. And yes, I do belong to Texas NORML, so what?
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