Is it Legal to Destroy Government Documents in order to Cover up Fraud? Noooooo that’s not legal at all.
On August 23, 2017 the SEC Issued a Cease and Desist Order against the Beaumont Financing Authority. The City was given 180 days to properly set their books and hire an Independent Consultant to report on the City’s compliance: https://www.sec.gov/litigation…
On September 19, 2017, Agenda Item 1, Beaumont City Manager Todd Parton prepared a No-Bid Contract for the Out of State Law Firm of Gilmore Bell to be the City’s ‘Independent Consultant’ with no Contract or Backup documentation: https://beaumont.civicweb.net/…
The Staff Report, prepared by City Manager/Beaumont Finance Authority Executive Director Todd Parton, stated that there were interviews and an agreement in place with Gilmore Bell.
A Public Record Request was submitted for the Contract and all communication to/from Gilmore Bell to/from all elected or appointed officials in the City of Beaumont because none of the information was included with the Agenda Item as required by Law.
On September 25, 2017 Beaumont Elected and Appointed Officials claimed that the communication between City of Beaumont and Gilmore Bell “.. is considered a voluminous request” and needed more time and a “..specific timeframe..”.
I stated to Beaumont’s elected and appointed officials that the SEC Order very specifically stated that the Independent Consultant was not to have any association with any elected or appointed officials in the City of Beaumont within the last two (2) years.
If Gilmore Bell wasn’t contacted until after the SEC Order was Issued on August 23, 2017 then the ‘timeframe’ would be from August 23, 2017 to present, but I added:
“If Parton or Pinkney need more time to dig through their old emails and xmas cards then they need to put it in writing that they had contact with the Law Firm of Gilmore Bell before the SEC Cease and Desist Order was Issued on August 23, 2017 and need more time to comply with a simple Public Records’ Request.”
On September 18, 2017 the City of Beaumont stated in response to the Public Record Request for the Gilmore Bell Contract and all communication to/from all elected and appointed officers:
“There are no responsible documents to this request.”
Let’s Review:
On August 23, 2017 the SEC Issues a Cease and Desist Order. There is no emergency council meeting called, incompetent staff is not fired, competent staff is not hired, and the City continues to violate State and Federal Laws.
On September 19, 2017 Beaumont Staff requests Approval of a Contract to the out-of-state law firm Gilmore Bell to fill the SEC requirement for ‘Independent Consultant’.
On September 25, 2017 Beaumont Staff claims that there sooooo much documentation regarding the Gilmore Bell scam that they can’t produce the records within 10 days as required by State Law.
On September 29, 2017 Beaumont Staff claims that there are no documents at all. Apparently they’ve all been destroyed.
Is it legal to destroy government documents in order to cover up Fraud?
Noooooo that’s not legal at all.
I guess the only question now is; who gave the order to destroy the documents?
Was it Council?
Was it Pinkney?
Or was this entire scam Todd Parton’s creation?