Apparently the FBI thinks this is no big deal
UPDATE: This post went up, and the FBI called me 7 mins later. They say that:
1) they are working on it
2) They never told a reporter that no one called
3) They will not discuss any info related to this case
Um, yeah. Now that they know it will be on TV, we should get some forward movement. I don’t want to take it out on the FBI, but damn…..telling the TV station I never called pissed me off.
**************************
Called at 8:30, couldn’t get passed a secretary, but who promised me a call back.
Talked to a reporter at 2, was told that he just talked to the FBI and they said no one had contacted them about this.
I called back, transferred to the “Duty Agent in Charge” where it rang 63 times and I hung up.
I called back, transferred again, got a voicemail.
So screw them. I mean, sure, it’s only a slam dunk, why should they bother. Not important I suppose. Besides, they haven’t gotten any calls on it at their phone at (713) 693-5000. Not important.
Not like I saved everything on computer on this guy, or even drafted up a memo on it.
Synopsis:
On December 12, 2009 at 2030 local time, Michael Patrick McManus was filmed at the George R. Brown Convention Center. He was there attending the Annise Parker for Houston Mayor Victory Party. In the photos, Mr. McManus was wearing the Dress Blue uniform of an Infantry officer. Here is one of those pictures:
[picture]
Among other decorations, he is wearing:
Round Patch, right side says “Central Intelligence Agency.”
Awards:
Around the neck is the British Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
2 Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal, Flying Cross, 2 Silver Stars, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal.
Devices:
SAS crest (Special Air Services of the UK), CIB w/ 2 stars, Master jump wings, Helo pilot badge, Air assault wings, Pathfinder
Rank: Brigadier General
LAW:
United States Code, Title 18, Chapter 33
§ 704. Military medals or decorations
(a) In General.— Whoever knowingly wears, purchases, attempts to purchase, solicits for purchase, mails, ships, imports, exports, produces blank certificates of receipt for, manufactures, sells, attempts to sell, advertises for sale, trades, barters, or exchanges for anything of value any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(b) False Claims About Receipt of Military Decorations or Medals.— Whoever falsely represents himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(c) [Omitted, not pertinent to Mr McManus]
(d) Enhanced Penalty for Offenses Involving Certain Other Medals.— If a decoration or medal involved in an offense described in subsection (a) or (b) is a distinguished-service cross awarded under section 3742 of title 10, a Navy cross awarded under section 6242 of title 10, an Air Force cross awarded under section 8742 of section 10, a silver star awarded under section 3746, 6244, or 8746 of title 10, a Purple Heart awarded under section 1129 of title 10, or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law, in lieu of the punishment provided in the applicable subsection, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
Explanation:
Does this man, born 14 August 1964 look like he could have fought in Viet Nam? No. So he can’t he a CIB with 2 stars, that is merely one part. All the other is crap as well.
Category: Politics
You have to remember the bureau is out looking for voter intimidation cases …..such as the black panthers….oh did I say that.
USMC 86-94
Maybe another call, along with the promise to go to the national media with the story of how the FBI in Houston doesn’t care about Stolen Valor, is needed?
The FBI is like the rest of gummint, they don’t like bad publicity about not doing their job, especially if it can be turned into a national story. Get a few Vets on tv saying how the FBI was contacted and didn’t return calls, ignored calls, and basically didn’t follow through with this and I bet they start caring. That a secretary wouldn’t forward you on to an agent, etc. Wonder, on camera, if the FBI in Houston is this ambivalent about other federal crimes in their jurisdiction. I bet that will get their attention.
My dad, a local law enforcement type, had to work with the FBI a few time. His opinion of them went like this “Oh, they’ll investigate the hell out of anything, but done expect them to actually DO any police work.”
But OT is right, they hate bad publicity. Contact Fox news and see if they won’t help shine some light.
These cases were all investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General VA-OIG. The VA Office of the Inspector General operates a HOTLINE for the public to confidentially and safely report crimes like “Stolen Valor” involving VA or its programs. Call 800-488-8244, or fax to 202-565-7936, or e-mail to vaoighotline@va.gov, or write to VA OIG HOTLINE, PO Box 50410, Washington, DC 20091-0410.
The cases filed in the Western District of Washington are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald J. Friedman. For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
Does the FBI care? After all, it is the US Justice Dept that would prosecute Gen. Ballduster. Does anyone think they care?
Head on over to cnn and write up an I report on him, Need to create a central spot for all this info and unite the hundreds of people across many blogs in one spot to get some more attention. Not to mention if Houston gets a hundred voice-mails about this douche i am sure someone will take notice. Its not enough to just get this asshat busted the world needs to see him so that no one else gets taken. Once while trying to get the attention of a certain office i waited till the office was closed and left a voice-mail on over 50 different extensions, Needless to say It was them calling me back first thing in the morning. Also on a nother note the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General is who usually goes after these……. well insert comment of choice here.
http://www4.va.gov/oig/
Don’t worry TSO, we can all call and bug the hell out of ’em until they get so sick of us that they do something.
Well damn bloodspite you beat me to it while i was writing.
This makes me sick! I first saw this on ASP and now everywhere else too. I live in Houston and am disgusted that someone from my city would stoop to such a level. I hope he gets what he deserves!
Do my best 🙂
Old Tanker….
or they could arrest us a domestic terrorists. ; )
Also, as a communities we need to maintain focus.
He is a military phony.
We don’t care what else he does, unless it is criminal.
With the political climate what it is, we all need to maintain our calm and not let any political bomb thrower get into this fight.
The news in Houston has been itching to do a story on how the gay bashers and fundamentalists hate our new Mayor.
I am NOT accusing anyone here of leaning in that direction.
Anyone who reads the blog posts and comments can clearly see that we don’t care about politics.
I am only mentioning that this person was spotted at a political event, and is of a different ideology of most of the military establishment (as he stated in his comments about how the good General reacted to his coming out).
Drive on TSO, Drive on.
Let us Houstonites know if you need help locally.
It truly is a small world after all.
The news in Houston has been itching to do a story on how the gay bashers and fundimentalists hate our new Mayor.
I am NOT accussing anyone here of leaning in that direction.
I am only mentioning that this person was spotted at a political event, and is of a different ideology of most of the military establishment (as he stated in his comments about how the good General reacted to his comming out).
Drive on TSO, Drive on.
Let us Houstonites know if you need help locally.
Well, I figured the FBI would come around a little, once the media was involved, heh, heh, heh. Now we have to keep our eyes and ears open to see when the little bastard gets the lock up.
TSO – if the FBI isn’t intersted, try calling the US Attorney for the Southern District of TX. His contact information can be found at:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/contact.html
Note, there is a “report a crime” linky on that page.
The FBI office in Houston has been looking the other way and poo-pooing some local jihadi that had an expended rocket launcher at his girlfriend’s house. They’re probably too busy looking into REAL veterans who own guns, go to church, and consider themselves ‘conservatives’ per Bruno Napalitano’s instructions.
Con men like him always leave a wake of people behind. It’s only a matter of time before people who thought they knew him come forward with their own stories. Perhaps General Con has already moved on and is onto his next identity. No doubt, he’s running scared right now, and I’m glad people here aren’t willing to let him go.
By the way, I’ve seen the elephant too.
Well,
Time to send off a couple emails to the FBI. Polite, cordial, full of references, etc. Copies to the Texas Attorney General’s office, the Texas Adjutant General’s office, the local TV affiliate stations, and all of the local newspapers, the American Legion, the DAV, the VFW, and the Txas Congressional representatives.
Put enough hooks in the water, and one of ’em’s gonna get a bite. 🙂
Send it to Drudge, Send it to Michelle, Send it to Beck…
The FBI will take notice when it starts biting them in the ass.
Dear AW1 Tim – the Texas AG has no authority over the FBI or the enforcement of this law (it is Federal) – copy the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas:
Mr. Tim Johnson
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Texas
P.O. Box 61129
Houston, TX 77208
usatxs.atty@usdoj.gov.
OK, latest update:
SF School is interested.
Sen DeMint’s office just contacted me about this.
I don’t want to give McDouche any credence, but I have stumbled across some possible origins for the phrase “I have seen the elephant”:
From http://wesclark.com/jw/elephant.html: “In the 3rd Century B.C., Alexander the Great’s Macedonian warriors defeated the elephant- mounted army of King Porus in the Indus valley…Considering the remarkable distance traveled by this army and its exotic exploits, it may be that “seeing the elephant” became synonymous with journeys and experiences in strange and far-off places.”
From http://www.wordorigins.org: “I have seen the elephant is a expression denoting world-weary experience…The elephant is metaphorical, standing it for the exotic and strange things one sees when one has experience and has seen the world.” Also from the same: “There is a cant expression, “I’ve seen the elephant” in very common use in Texas. […] The meaning of the expression I will explain. When a man is disappointed in any thing he undertakes, when he has seen enough, when he gets sick and tired of any job he may have set himself about, he has “seen the elephant.””
For what it’s worth.
TSO, you rock. I knew all you lawyer types weren’t bad. 🙂
Tell DeMint’s peeps that if the FBI doesn’t handle it, you know of many Vets that will take care of it and leave the little bastard naked and duct taped to their door.
“Sen DeMint’s office just contacted me about this.”
Did you contact them, or does somebody from there read the blog?
A little of both Spade. I have a friend that has some juice over there. COB told them to read, he contacted me when he saw the name of the blog.
TSO,
Looking closely at the ribbons, I think I see a repeat on the bronze star as well.
Squid, douchenozzle said he’d “been around the world” and seen “the elephant”. I think all of us know what he meant.
UpNorth–I wonder, was he ever in Bangkok?
IronKnight–given the fact that showing up at a political event in uniform is a big no-no according to the various service regs, (something any general officer would know), and the hammer would come down hard and fast on anyone in violation of same, one can surmise that an illegal act WAS committed, and that goes beyond the federal crime of the Stolen Valor Act.
I sent emails to the following local radio guys
Michael Berry at am 740 KTRH, ex-Houston City Councilman, good Conservative.
Edd Hendee at am 700 KSEV, tax fighter, big fighter for Ramos and Compean, the two Border Agents.
I directed them all to here.
Hopefully they will.
both are big supports of the military and if they come here and see what’s going on they should pick up the story.
Edd is on at 6am, I will give an update ofter that.
Michael is on at 5pm, so it will be late if he picks it up.
If anyone can think of anything else pass it on.
First, thank you to all the mil blogs for helping us ID this guy.
Please realize the FBI only investigates and many have no idea what the ins and outs of the Stolen Valor Act are. It is the U.S. Attorney’s that fail to approve the investigation and prosecute. SOOO many cases ares stopped by USA’s.
The VA Hotline ONLY handles cases of VA fraud and in many cases ignore more blatant violations than U.S. Attorneys under their own roofs.
Many U.S. Attorneys will do anything not to have to take these to court. The best prosecutions have been where a US Attorney is a vet, has a son or daughter serving, or dad was a NAM vet.
TX has one of the worst records for prosecutions, best record for “do it behind closed doors and ignore the victims.” (See RICHARD BARR CAYTON). FL, WA and CA has great USA’s to work with.
STATE (parallel) Stolen Valor Laws can help ease the burden on the FED system. While Congress signed the SVA – they gave us no extra investigators, Judges, attorneys, to get these cases to court. We turn in several cases a WEEK for investigation – yet only 40 -50 were prosecuted last YEAR. One of the last prosecutions was a case we turned in FOUR YEARS ago(Barnhart.) Another case (Ray Jenning) is TEN YEARS in the making.
Swift arrest is rare. Prosecution and a real sentence (NOT probation) even rarer.
I think I’ll contact my representative today. See if he can find out what’s what with this. Maybe yesterday was a wake-up in places other than Massachusetts.
Isn’t it also a crime to impersonate a commissioned officer in the armed forces?
Hey, is it possible to execute a citizens arrest next time this dou-Che is seen running around in uniform wearing medals he could never possibly dream of earning? Just curious…
I’m up on Alaska State Law and what it entails for executing such arrests, not sure what its like in Texas.
Was just over at soldiers perspective and they have a report that our perp is well known in the Houston ER’s as a drug seeker.
http://www.soldiersperspective.us/2010/01/20/meet-michael-patrick-mcmanus/
[…] Ain’t Hell covers it here, here, here, here and here. Like I said, I hate these guys. TSO and the fine folks at TAH go and get these guys. Keep it […]
This needs to be exposed on Glenn Beck show.
Just a note to CYA whoever is giving out this scum-bag’s personal medical information. This can get you and your hospital/clinic in DEEP doo-doo with the Feds with the HIPA act and all the new privacy issues. Just an FYI.
Dear Albert–please show what “personal medical information” was given out.
NH, one guess as to where Albert was commenting from. But if you guess anything other than Houston I will give you more guesses.
We don’t have any of this scum bags medical information, so it would be hard to give it out, no?
I believe however he is referring to a statement made at POWnet that this guy doctor shops and makes up ills to get pain pills. I don’t know who said it or where they got it, and frankly don’t care if McManus is on percosets 24/7 (like I am) what I care about is he is prosecuted.