{"id":5039,"date":"2021-03-19T20:57:24","date_gmt":"2021-03-20T00:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/?p=5039"},"modified":"2021-03-19T20:57:24","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T00:57:24","slug":"how-to-make-crooked-places-straight-how-asheville-nc-did-it-can-work-in-cleveland-county-too-fbi-put-crooked-buncombe-county-managers-bribe-giving-contractor-and-other-county-officials-in-ja","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/2021\/03\/19\/how-to-make-crooked-places-straight-how-asheville-nc-did-it-can-work-in-cleveland-county-too-fbi-put-crooked-buncombe-county-managers-bribe-giving-contractor-and-other-county-officials-in-ja\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Crooked Places Straight!! How Asheville, NC did It can work in Cleveland County too!! FBI Put Crooked Buncombe County Managers, Bribe giving contractor and other county officials in JAIL for years!!! For Credit Card Fraud and taking bribes!!! Reports compiled by Robert A. Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image_pdf\"<\/a>\"image_print\"<\/a><\/div>

Editor\u2019s Note: In regard to Rev. Dante Murphy\u2019s goal to \u201cMake Crooked Places Straight,\u201d it is noted that:
\n1. Rev. Murphy has been instrumental in the forced removals and retirements of much of the New Hanover County Schools top administration and their attorney for covering up sex crimes against students.
\n2. Rev. Murphy has been instrumental in criminal prosecutions. Convictions and jailing\u2019s of against several teacher who has years long sexual abuse of children.
\n3. Rev. Murphy has filed North Carolina Bar complaints against the New Hanover County District Attorney and other attorneys for their role in covering up sex crimes against children and other alleged unethical acts.
\n4. Rev. Murphy has become a sought-after Radio and TV personality on news stories regarding education, crimes against students and race relations.
\n5. Rev. Murphy has been involved in a Hollywood Documentary Movie that is close to release regarding the corruption in New Hanover County Schools and New Hanover County in general. That Hollywood company recently notified New Hanover County Schools and Cleveland County Schools personnel about that Documentary Movie\u2019s release. It may be very possible Cleveland County may be the next subject of a similar documentary movie.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Folks, Closer to home, Making Crooked Places Straight has just recently made a major hit in the Buncombe County (Asheville, NC) County Manager\u2019s office. The scenario is eerily similar to the recent CCS Credit Card (PCard) scam where the School Board and the Cleveland County District Attorney\u2019s Office refused to prosecute. A number of Buncombe County high level officials have been sentenced to Federal Prison. Perhaps the FBI should be called in to Cleveland County too. Prison time has a way of getting corruption under control. Cleveland County Certainly needs much more of that.<\/p>\n

The following are a Press Release from the US Attorney\u2019s Office in Asheville as well an article from WLOS Channel 13 TV. These articles are just a sample of what can happen when serious investigations by serious law enforcement agencies of criminal acts are conducted. Crooks go to prison and everybody straightens up. Just what we need in Cleveland county.<\/p>\n

U.S. Attorneys Western District of North Carolina–News Release
\nDepartment of Justice
\nU.S. Attorney\u2019s Office
\nWestern District of North Carolina<\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
\nThursday, April 5, 2018
\nFormer Buncombe County Manager and Her Son Indicted on Federal Charges
\nASHEVILLE, N.C. \u2013 U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced today that the former Buncombe County Manager, Wanda Skillington Greene, 66, and her son, Michael Gene Greene, 47, both of Arden, N.C., are facing federal charges related to the misuse of public funds. A criminal bill of indictment charges Wanda Greene and Michael Greene with conspiracy to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud or misapply Buncombe County funds and wire fraud offenses. Wanda Greene is also charged with embezzling public funds and aiding and abetting such embezzlement.<\/p>\n

John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division; Director Robert Schurmeier of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI); and Matthew D. Line, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

According to the indictment, Wanda Greene was appointed as County Manager for Buncombe County (the County) in 1997, and remained in that position until her retirement in June 2017. Michael Greene began his employment with Buncombe County in 2004, until he resigned in August 2017.<\/p>\n

As County Manager, Wanda Greene was responsible for the administration of all departments of the County\u2019s government under the control of the Board of Commissioners (the Board).\u00a0 In that role, Wanda Greene had the power to appoint, suspend, and remove all county officers, employees, and agents, and was responsible for directing and supervising the administration of all county offices, departments, boards, commissions and agencies controlled by the Board. \u00a0As part of her duties, Wanda Greene was also required to prepare and submit the County\u2019s annual budget and capital program to the Board, and to submit annually to the Board, and make available to the public, a complete report of the finances and administrative activities of the county at the end of the fiscal year.<\/p>\n

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from about 2007 to August 12, 2017, Wanda Greene and Michael Greene carried out a conspiracy to embezzle public funds, by misusing their government credit cards, also known as PCards, issued to them by Buncombe County, and by using the PCards of other County employees, to make approximately $200,000 worth of improper purchases.<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that, on multiple occasions during the relevant time period, Wanda Greene improperly used her government issued PCards to purchase multiple gift cards totaling $21,760 from various retailers and restaurants, including Walmart, Target, Olive Garden, and Cracker Barrel. For example, on or about December 6, 2007, Wanda Greene used two different PCards to purchase 10 separate $500 Walmart gift cards totaling $5,000. The indictment alleges that Wanda Greene split the purchase of the gift cards onto two different PCards, to avoid exceeding the County\u2019s policy spending limit of $5,000.\u00a0\u00a0 Wanda Greene then used the gift cards to buy items for herself and others, including groceries, personal hygiene products, clothing, wine and make-up.\u00a0 Wanda Greene gave some of the gift cards to other individuals who also used them to make improper purchases.<\/p>\n

In addition to using the County\u2019s credit cards to purchase gift cards, Wanda Greene also made personal purchases on her PCard at various retail stores, including purchases totaling $18,256 at Best Buy, $10,718 at Target, and $6,479.03 at TJ Maxx, among others.\u00a0 Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Wanda Greene used her PCard to pay a total of $15,308 for electronic devices and for service from telecommunications carriers that were personal use items and services.<\/p>\n

According to the indictment, in 2011, Wanda Greene ceased using any County credit cards issued to her, and informed a Buncombe County employee that she was returning the PCards because the records of her use of those cards could be subject to disclosure under North Carolina law.\u00a0 From that time forward, Wanda Greene allegedly used PCards assigned to subordinate county employees, or directed the subordinate employees to use their PCards to make improper purchases for her, Michael Greene, and other individuals. According to the indictment, Wanda Greene misused the employees\u2019 PCard information to purchase $75,400 in gift cards; to pay for personal use wireless services and wireless devices, with a total cost of $24,160; and to pay for more than $18,257 in goods and services at various retail stores.<\/p>\n

To obtain the PCard holders\u2019 credit card information, Wanda Greene required Buncombe County employees to provide her with a photocopy of the front and back of their PCards, which she then used to make the improper purchases.\u00a0 According to the indictment, Michael Greene also possessed such a photocopy until it was recovered in his County office.<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that, in addition to participating in the misuse of Wanda Greene\u2019s PCards and those of her subordinate employees, Michael Greene used his County PCard to pay for food, wireless services, and goods totaling more $9,100. Michael Greene\u2019s PCard privileges were revoked in January 2009 following an audit.<\/p>\n

Wanda Greene and Michael Greene have been ordered to appear on a summons. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison terms of five years and a $250,000 fine, the federal program fraud charges carry a maximum prison term of 10 years per count and a $250,000 fine, and the wire fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count and a $250,000 fine.<\/p>\n

In making today\u2019s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI, IRS-CI and the SBI for their investigation of this case, and noted that the investigation into allegations of criminal activities within the Buncombe County Government is ongoing.<\/p>\n

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Edwards of the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.<\/p>\n

Topic(s):
\nFinancial Fraud
\nComponent(s):
\nUSAO – North Carolina, Western<\/p>\n

https:\/\/wlos.com\/news\/local\/sentencing-for-wanda-greene-former-buncombe-county-manager<\/p>\n

Wanda Greene, former Buncombe County manager, sentenced to 7 years
\nBy Jennifer Emert
\nWednesday, August 28th 2019<\/p>\n

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) \u2014\u00a0Judge Robert Conrad said Wanda Greene\u2019s actions were \u201ca horrific abuse of office,\u201d calling Greene the “architect of a culture of corruption” as he sentenced her to 84 months, or 7 years in prison, and fined her $100,000 for her plea to four federal charges in multiple corruption schemes.
\nIn announcing Wednesday\u2019s sentences, U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray said, in an official press release,
\n\u201cThis is a reprehensible group of individuals, whose ethical obligation to their community took a back seat to personal gain. As the ringleader, Wanda Greene exploited her vast knowledge of the county\u2019s operations to orchestrate various financial schemes, and solicited willing co-conspirators to carry out the fraud. These five defendants repeatedly and egregiously plundered County funds, stealing thousands of public dollars, while they operated with utter impunity, believing they were beyond the law. Even worse, each of them did more than take public money. Their actions destroyed the public\u2019s trust in those whose ethical standards should have been beyond reproach. But today is their day of reckoning.\u201d
\nInside the courtroom
\nWith the courtroom half-way full, Wanda Greene’s attorney Thomas Amburgey told Judge Conrad that Greene feels the weight of what’s happened, and while she can’t undo what’s she done, she’s making efforts now by working with federal investigators in the investigations that have stemmed from her wrongdoing.
\nThey pointed to Greene’s conversations and work with retired FBI agent Brian Cid to ensure that Greene provides any potentially relevant facts and no stone goes unturned, including wearing a wire to further pending grand jury investigations.
\nDespite the good deeds she did for the county, “her legacy will be this case, not anything she did,” said Noell Tin.
\nWhile her attorneys argued again the court documents they’d already sent to the judge asking for a reduction in time for her cooperation, the judge wouldn’t accept it.
\nThe guidelines called for sentencing her between 70-to-87 months. Judge Robert Conrad actually sentenced Greene to two sentences, just four months shy of the maximum sentence she could receive.
\nThe first sentence is 84 months for federal program fraud resulting from the use of county credit cards, and federal program fraud for the illegal purchase of whole life insurance policies and tax fraud.
\nConrad also sentenced Greene to 36 months for the kickback and bribery scheme involving luxury trips, but that sentence runs concurrent or in conjunction with the 84 month sentence, making the total sentence 84 months, or seven years.
\nAfter questioning if she was a flight risk, the judge decided to allow Greene, 68, to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons at a future date.
\nGreene was hired as an assistant Buncombe County manager in May 1994.
\nThree years later, Greene was appointed as the county manager. After 20 years, in May of 2017, Greene announced her retirement as Buncombe County manager.
\nGreene, according to the US Attorney’s office, was at the center of three different schemes to defraud Buncombe taxpayers.
\n\u201cWhen public officials put aside the best interest of the American public and choose to line their own pockets, we are all impacted. These type of crimes are at the center of the fight against public corruption. The FBI is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners in the Western District of North Carolina to root out public corruption at any level of office,\u201d said John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Charlotte Field Office.
\nInitial Charges
\nGreene was charged in three separate indictments and a superseding indictment.
\nThe first indictment filed April 5, 2018 against Wanda Greene and Michael Greene charged Wanda Greene with one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, five counts of federal program fraud, aiding and abetting the same, and 50 counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting the same in the indictment that dealt with personal purchases among them on county credit cards, or P-cards.
\nAmong the purchases were gift cards, for Target, Staples, Home Depot and Sam\u2019s Club, which Greene later used to make personal purchases.
\nThe second indictment, filed June 5, 2018 against Greene, included 12 counts of wire fraud, seven counts of federal program fraud, six counts of converting to own use property and three counts of money laundering.
\nThe government later filed a superseding indictment to the charges. This indictment dealt with $2.3 million worth of illegal whole life insurance policies purchased for Greene and other top county leaders.
\nThe indictment said Greene told the county employees who would receive policies to keep them a secret. It also said, shortly after retiring, Greene cashed out her two life insurance policies for $396,000.
\nAccording to the indictment, “Commissioners never approved, and never even knew about the existence of, Greene’s life insurance scheme.”
\nThe third indictment, filed August 7, 2018, charged Greene and Jon Creighton and Mandy Stone. Greene was charged with 29 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of converts to own use property of another.
\nThe indictment says an unnamed contractor bought trips and gifts for the three top county officials in exchange for county business.
\nWhile the contractor, later identified as Joseph Wiseman, received $15 million in business from the county over decades, the alleged crimes began in 2014, when the contractor started his own business.
\nHe paid, at least in part, for 20 trips, according to the indictment.
\nGreene, Creighton, and Stone traveled to places like Key West, Florida; Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Vienna, Austria; and Budapest, Hungary, courtesy of the contractor, according to the indictment.
\nIt alleged at the time that the county unwittingly funded the crimes, because the contractor would submit invoices to the county, while concealing the actual expenses, and then be refunded.
\nThe contractor has since argued that he did not pad contracts, and that he paid for the trips out of his profits from business with the county.
\nAdditionally, Greene was charged with illegally getting money for unused paid time off.
\nThe county allows employees to get cash back for unused vacation time. Greene sold back vacation time to the country.
\nThe indictment says they did not count the vacations paid for by the contractor as vacations, instead they said they were away on official business.
\nPlea Agreement
\nGreene pleaded guilty to one charge in each of the four schemes, which included one count of federal program fraud in the first indictment. She pleaded guilty to one count of federal program fraud and one count of money laundering in the second indictment and superseding indictment, which dealt with multiple tax frauds, and one count of receipt of bribes and kickbacks, aiding and abetting, in the third indictment.
\nThe maximum penalty for those crimes is 33 years and a $1 million fine or both.
\nFederal Sentencing Guidelines
\nAs the federal sentencing guidelines relate to Wanda Greene\u2019s case, the guidelines allow for the judge to sentence her between 70 to 87 months, which is just shy of six years to just over seven years.
\nShe received additional points in the calculations because of the loss amounts, because she abused her position of trust, and because she was a high-level official.
\nHer level has also been adjusted or reduced because of her cooperation with the investigation, and acceptance of responsibility.
\nThe sentences:
\nMichael Greene: Wanda Greene\u2019s son, a former Buncombe County business intelligence manager, is sentenced to six months and a $5,000 fine.
\nJon Creighton: Former assistant Buncombe County manager Jon Creighton is sentenced to 18 months in prison, a one-year supervised release, and a $25,000 fine.
\nMandy Stone: Former assistant Buncombe County manager Mandy Stone is sentenced to 33 months in prison, a one-year supervised release and a $15,000 fine.
\nJoseph Wiseman:\u00a0Contractor Joe Wiseman was sentenced to 37 months, or just over three years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: In regard to Rev. Dante Murphy\u2019s goal to \u201cMake Crooked Places Straight,\u201d it is noted that: 1. Rev. Murphy has been instrumental in the forced removals and retirements of much of the New Hanover County Schools top administration and their attorney for covering up sex crimes against students. 2. Rev. Murphy has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cgg-investigations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5039\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citizensforgoodgovernment.org\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}