Corruption trial of sheriff's employees opens
By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune

August 19, 2008

Jury selection is underway today in the federal corruption trial of two top aides to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.

Mark Naylon and Inspector Timothy Rehak each face eight counts of fraud and theft in connection with two undercover FBI "integrity" investigations that began in November 2004.

U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz is presiding over the case in the federal building in Minneapolis. Schiltz dismissed a couple of jurors from a pool of about 70 this morning after questioning began. Schiltz told the prospective jurors the trial is expected to last until next Friday.

In November 2004, federal authorities planted $13,500 in marked bills in a room at the Kelly Inn in St. Paul. They then videotaped Rehak and Naylon pocketing $6,000 while a third deputy was in the bathroom and unable to see them. The two inventoried the remaining $7,500 and had a drug dog sniff the bills for potential forfeiture issues. Later, however, Rehak and Naylon conducted database searches and determined the alleged drug dealer who left the money did not exist.

They called the third deputy and returned the money. Schiltz told jurors this morning that the men claimed they were playing a "practical joke" on the colleague.

In another integrity check in July 2005, FBI agents placed a large amount of money in a car and had an informant tell Rehak that drugs and money were in the car. Hours later the men were taped entering the vehicle without notifying colleagues. The indictment alleges the men became suspicious when they found no drugs.

Rehak and Naylon did not take any money, nor did they report the incident.

The tests were conducted after repeated complaints to the FBI from local law enforcement about Naylon's interference in drug and fencing operations.

Both men claim innocence. Both are close friends of Fletcher, who worked in the special investigation unit of the sheriff's department.

Rehak and Naylon have been on paid leave since the summer of 2007.

Schiltz read a list of potential witnesses in the case including Fletcher, Police Chief John Harrington, former Police Chief Bill Finney and Joe Friedberg, one of the most noted defense attorneys in the state.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747


http://www.startribune.com/local/27134929.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

I want that job. Do nothing for a year, get paid for it.

If they're convicted, do they have to pay it back?

now how do we get fletcher as well.........

Yea right, that'll be an easy sell.

Interesting story; I've been following it, as much as possible.

A few things worth noting:

1. The actual incident took place in 2004; the indictment (see link) wasn't handed down until last year. Yeah. Two and a half years from the perping to the indicting. Think on the implications of that, and they may not be the obvious ones.

2. During that interval, Naylon's personnel packet was larded with commendations -- including one, interestingly enough, from the local FBI SAC -- about his work in the SIU; Naylon was playing cop. (He is -- well, was, although he's still on they payroll -- Fletcher's department's flack, not a cop.)

3. The origin of the suspicions about Naylon -- other than his choice in friends; Fletcher lies about simple math -- appear to have been in Operation "Close Cut", a 2003 sting operation involving opening a barber shop in St. Paul, in an attempt to nail some motorcycle gang or other. Naylon was already playing cop, and bragging of his closeness to the head gangbanger, but not playing well with others.

Looking in the bottom of my tea cup (sorry, folks; I only know what I read in the papers and what my Visualization of the Cosmic All kicks back), the leaves say as follows:

The SPPD folks were not happy with the thin pickings from "Close Cut", and blamed Naylon in particular and the RamseyCo Sheriffs Office in general instead; they were pretty sure he was the problem.

At which point, somebody in the SPPD with closer ties to the FBI than Fletcher and with no love lost whatsoever for Fletcher -- Chief Harrington, please answer the white courtesy phone! -- prevailed on the FBI to try to sting Naylon; Rehak ended up coming along for the ride.

The Feebs, though, really didn't have their heart in the game. Not only didn't they go to the trouble of dummying up a good background for their supposed drug dealer, but they didn't voucher any drugs.

But despite the limp setup, they got more than what they bargained for. While Deputy #1 was searching the bathroom, Rehak found the cash. Naylon gestured at him to give him money; Rehak handed over six large, which Naylon stuffed in his jacket. At which point the two of them announced to Deputy #1 that they found a bag, and called him out of the bathroom to witness the search, at which point they pretended to find the remaining money. Rehak and the straight cop did separate counts of the remaining money, which was properly vouchered.

When another deputy arrived with the drug dog, Rehak and Naylon started to get suspicious, and scared -- the dog didn't go off on the money.

Nope; no narcotics here.

So Rehak and Naylon start fishing in the databases for the drug dealer, and come up blank, at which point they know that they're nailed -- at midnight, each of them call Deputy #1, and report that they've found another batch of money in the room, under the mattress.

Oops.

And here's just a hint that there's a lot more rotting apples in this barrel:

Deputy #1 -- who, very interestingly, isn't identified or charged -- the next day alters the records to show that the full amount was seized from the room.

What a tangled spider web. Even the spiders are tangled. Sounds like thin blue line vs. thin blue line. I appreciate the track on this Joel, it’s going to interesting to see watch and see how this one sorts out.

The entire Sheriff's barrel is rotten. Completely rotten. There is a culture there spawned by Fletcher that is totally out of control.

They certainly hired good defense counsel ...

I believe they are entitled to good defense counsel. But the question is who's paying for it?

I have heard that the jury will be given the case tomorrow. The videotapes of the incidents in question were released to the media today. Channel 4 has it on their web page but, sorry, I don't have the link.

Star Tribune also has the video.

link

http://www.startribune.com/video/274423 ... ycUiacyKUU

2 former Ramsey County investigators to be sentenced on theft charges
http://www.startribune.com/local/39202262.html

Maybe if they weren't thieves, they wouldn't have to worry about prison...

Gee, would anyone have any details about that divorce? I've heard it was amicable. (Divorce records are public documents, are they not?) Sorry, just teasing.

Close friends? Birds of a feather flock together — at least that is what I was told by teachers back in elementary school, admittedly ages ago before teachers developed a left-wing agenda. Now, how's that federal investigation into the good Sheriff going?