http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php?t-1866.html
That thread has some information on Gabe.
Some of the folks in this thread make it sound like he was killing orphans and nuns. Don't you guys believe in rehabilitation? Or, is it "once a criminal, always a criminal?"
And, even if Gabe was guilty of something more heinous than what he did time for, it seems his contributions to the 2A and SD communities are tremendous and give him a bit of redemption.
Some tidbits:
That thread has some information on Gabe.
Some of the folks in this thread make it sound like he was killing orphans and nuns. Don't you guys believe in rehabilitation? Or, is it "once a criminal, always a criminal?"
And, even if Gabe was guilty of something more heinous than what he did time for, it seems his contributions to the 2A and SD communities are tremendous and give him a bit of redemption.
Some tidbits:
- Gabe spent 15 years in LE in CA, he was a SWAT (or similar member) and was involved in at least 4 shootouts (yes, he terminated some perps).
- He also suffered numerous on-the-job injuries and had to leave the force due to serious back injuries (quote below).
"I awoke one morning in such pain I had to go to the doctor. My low back felt as if there was a knife in it. X-rays, and MRIs showed a compression fracture of vertebrae as well as two bulged discs, one with a tear, all in the lumbar region. Bad JuJu. The doc said surgery for the back and retirement or end up in a wheelchair. I chose the retirement option, without surgery if possible. The injury was work-related and I was entitled to benefits."
"I was officially off duty and on worker’s comp benefits for almost a year, while the docs tried to fix me, and the lawyers worked to retire me. I realized I would need an income after it was all said and done. I’d already been teaching for several years, first at Front Sight and then at a couple of other places. It was a lucrative and viable way to make a living. Not being particularly patient, I asked the doctor if teaching firearms classes was OK. He said, “As long as you are not out doing a police job or working as a bouncer, its just fine”. I checked with the WC attorney. He said the same."
Thus, he started building his training business.
"Another issue is that you cannot build a business in secret. I was quite clear and up front about what I was doing and advertised classes on the internet and by mail. When my adversaries in power learned what I was doing, they saw an opening to do me harm and spared no expense to accomplish their goals. They put together a case against me in size and scope rivaling cases I’d seen for multiple murders."
"To make a long story short, my agency had put together a case charging me with worker’s comp fraud, along with a litany of other high crimes ranging from money laundering to just about everything except maybe piracy on the high seas and shooting JFK himself. It’s a common tactic to stack charge upon charge so that at least something will stick."
After a lot of being jerked around, Gabe could see that he'd probably end up in bankruptcy as he fought the charges for years. They offered Gabe a "deal" and he took it:
"I plead guilty to a misdemeanor, paid fines, and did seven months in a small room by myself. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. While “inside” I spent my days exercising, reading the Bible straight through three times, and devised business plans."
http://www.smmirror.com/volume2/issue39/smpd_offic ers_charged.asp
SMPD Officers Charged With Fraud
Clara Sturak
Associate editor
On Friday, March 2, two Santa Monica Police Officers were arrested in connection with conspiracy to defraud the City of Santa Monica through Workers Compensation fraud. Officers Jason Comer and Gabriel Suarez were arrested along with Suarez' wife Cheryl Suarez.
According to a press release issued by the Public Information Office of the Santa Monica Police Department, the three were charged after a "long term and intensive investigation" on the part of the Department's Internal Criminal Unit, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, and the California State Department of Insurance.
Comer, 32, a six-year veteran, and Suarez 40, a twelve year veteran, along with Mrs. Suarez, are charged with four criminal counts, explains Deputy District Attorney Craig Omura, who led the DA's portion of the investigation. "Count one is conspiracy to commit workers compensation fraud, count two is workers compensation fraud, count three is money laundering, and count six is grand theft, because the money they obtained was over $400." Counts four and five, both for perjury, apply only to Officer Suarez, in regards to false depositions he gave in March and June of 2000. Details of the case have not yet been released.
The investigation, says Omura, has been going on since October of 2000, when the SMPD became aware of possible criminal activity. "They brought the information to [the District Attorney's office] in November of 2000. At that time we began a three-pronged investigation with the Santa Monica Police and the State Department of Insurance." SMPD did the most of the investigative footwork, according to Omura, consulting with the other two departments as to "what elements [they] needed to prove."
The charges and subsequent arrests were not made public until March 7, with an interdepartmental memo sent by SMPD Chief James T. Butts. Although there has been concern that some City officials were not made aware of the situation until several days following the arrests, Judy Rambeau, Assistant to the City Manager states that the City Manger's office was aware of the investigation from its beginnings. "The City Manager is always alerted when something like this is going on," said Rambeau in an interview on Monday. "That doesn't mean we have all of the details as the investigation proceeds. The police need to keep tight control over who knows what's happening at any given time."
In fact, that's exactly why City officials were not informed. Chief Butts' memo states that "there are other long-term investigations concerning potential fraudulent application for Workers Compensation benefits by other members of the department that continue." SMPD Public Information Officer Captain Gary Gallinot confirmed in a telephone interview with the Mirror that, "it was our intent that the investigations be entirely wrapped up before we went public." But, says Gallinot, the District Attorney's office felt they had enough information to go forward, and "since they are the prosecuting authority, it was up to them."
Once any arrest is made it becomes a matter of public record. However, the SMPD did not issue a statement on the day of the arrests. According to Gallinot, "the reason [the arrests weren't] made public [by the police department] is because we did not want to jeopardize the ongoing investigations. Once we realized it was going to be made public [in the media], our strategy had to change, and notifications were made."
Gallinot could not comment on the ongoing investigations, except to say that they are "specific" in nature, and that the DA's office is involved.
"It's important to note," he said, "that this investigation was started by our police department. We are vigorously involved in the discipline and prosecution of misconduct [on the part] of our employees. If you don't look for misconduct or criminal activity, you seldom find it. The fact that we do so shines a positive light on our institutional integrity."
Jason Comer, Gabriel Suarez and Cheryl Suarez are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, March 14. If convicted, Jason Comer and Cheryl Suarez could serve maximum prison sentences of 5 years, 8 months, and Gabriel Suarez could serve a maximum of 7 years, 8 months.
They claimed he committed Workman's Compensation Fraud, by starting his training business, while on WC, pending medical retirement.
The tacked on additional charges (like that's never happened before), including the catch all, conspiracy to commit a crime.
Well, he probably could've beat the charges, but when they offered him a chance to plead out to a misdemeanor, and serve 7 months, he took it. Otherwise, they would've bankrupted him.
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