Embezzlement charges: discussion, etc.

[PrayersForMaura]

The latest article on the media thread states that Raven worked with a partner in the embezzelment scheme. This is new information, right? Why wasn't this person prosecuted as well?

hmmm ... a partner :doh:

 

[terminatrixator]

I need to see the proof in th pudding on this parner scenerio.

 

[juliagoulia]

If there is a disgruntled partner in the mix, that would be a big suspect for LE, IMO. I just wonder why we haven't heard of he/she before now.

 

[terminatrixator]

Too many things don't make any sense regarding a disgruntled partner in the embezzlement scheme murdering Janet. The partner didn't get busted now did (s)he. We see no other news stories regarding this "partner."

Why would the supposed "partner" in the embezzlement, decide to murder Janet, when Raven kept his mouth shut and took the responsibilities himself?

Only way this scenario would work is if Raven agreed to take full responsibility for the embezzlement in return for a favor, but this makes no sense. There was no need to Murder Janet for any reason, unless it's a case of Raven taking the full burden of the embezzlement, and the Partner does Raven a favor by murdering his wife?

That don't make sense either, because with everything pointing towards Raven, imo, as it is, wouldn't Raven come out and point the finger at this so-called 'partner' to take the heat off him?

Nope, none of this makes sense to me at all. The only way there was a partner in the embezzlement scheme is by a close friend, family member in Utah, and I doubt they would have any part in the Murder of Janet.

Spinning circles here on this one I think.

 

[juliagoulia]

Nope, none of this makes sense to me at all. The only way there was a partner in the embezzlement scheme is by a close friend, family member in Utah, and I doubt they would have any part in the Murder of Janet.

Spinning circles here on this one I think.

I wasn't suggesting that the "partner" committed the murder--I've been reading this blog for too long to believe this is the answer. I just think it is an interesting development. And IF there was a partner, they would be someone LE would want to talk to regarding the murder...and as far as we know (which is LITTLE) they haven't. Someone involved in nefarious activities with Raven would comply with the cryptic "not random" line LE has spouted since the beginning. Unless, of course, the partner was the one who turned Raven in--we just don't know enough to say it is insignificant.

I hope we can get clarification from the reporter about that information soon.

 

[terminatrixator]

{{{julia}}} Sometimes I ramble. I stumble upon things, put them out there, tear it apart and put it back together, jumbled, and see how they look. Most of the time, when sleuthing, I like to put out more than one scenerio to see how it looks. Basically I was talking to myself......again! LOL.

If there was a partner, LE had better investigated him/her fully, and also, they best know exactly where those shoes were shipped too.

 

[ewwwinteresting]

Hi Golfmom! Here is the post: http://websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=778651&postcount=28

And this is an excerpt:
Between July and December 2004, Abaroa and a partner ordered dozens of pairs of shoes but had them delivered to his address instead of the store. From there he would sell them, pocketing the cash. The store never received the merchandise or money for it, said Jacqueline Perez, an Orange County assistant district attorney.

Ok, is it me, or is this just plain stupid?? Duh, he was going to get caught....gee, I wonder if the store will never suspect not receiving the merchandise?:doh:

I'm guessing the "partner" was his mother. I mean think about it, he used her address for shipping, she paid for his attorney and most likely is paying back the restitution. raven had no money for an attorney and Mack wasn't court appointed. I'm wondering if raven and his mother entered into a deal where he'll take the heat and the felonies and she'll pay for the, uh, what did raven call it in his blog, oh yeah, bad business decisions!

 

[terminatrixator]

Oh dear, Has Jackie Peterson and Mrs. Aboroa ever met lol.

 

[lauriej]

Ok, is it me, or is this just plain stupid?? Duh, he was going to get caught....gee, I wonder if the store will never suspect not receiving the merchandise?:doh:

I'm guessing the "partner" was his mother. I mean think about it, he used her address for shipping, she paid for his attorney and most likely is paying back the restitution. raven had no money for an attorney and Mack wasn't court appointed. I'm wondering if raven and his mother entered into a deal where he'll take the heat and the felonies and she'll pay for the, uh, what did raven call it in his blog, oh yeah, bad business decisions!

.......a partner ?

..what a ( non ) shock.......

...although i doubt very much that the 'embezzlement partner' had anything at all to do with the murder.............

...the media link had an article stating that the goods were delivered to "his" address................his NC address? 'his' utah address ?

...i don't believe that for one moment that janet knew of the scheme prior to raven ( and herself!) being fired from eurosport.........who WAS his secret partner in crime ???

...had to look at the video link again...................just to assure myself, and yes.......assured...........raven looks like he'd almost rather strangle himself with that tie than speak on camera..........

..............ewwwwwwwwwwwwww......his mother paid for his lawyer ???

 

[ewwwinteresting]

.............ewwwwwwwwwwwwww......his mother paid for his lawyer ???

Who else would? I guess maybe one his adulterous lovers could have but I'm guessing since none of them have come forward, they don't want to be in any shape or form connected to raven.

 

[lauriej]

Who else would? I guess maybe one his adulterous lovers could have but I'm guessing since none of them have come forward, they don't want to be in any shape or form connected to raven.

...my error........holding down the wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww key....that wasn't meant to be ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, as in 'yuck'...
...sure.........i can see momma coming fwd. to pay the legal fees...
...or raven himself, depending on the $$$ value of the trust fund....

...either way the boy's got a lawyer to hide behind..........
...time will tell if he's advising him well............think geragos......( the johnny cochrane wanna-be, who seems to have faded into oblivion.........)

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

It was interesting for me to learn that it was just shoes he embezzled, but I have been gone for quite a while and didn't read a lot about the embezzlement charges.... on the discussion thread #3 were were discussing the silver shoes that were left on on the porch of the house when Raven moved and one or our posters posted this:

06-02-2005, 02:31 PM
SouthEastSleuth http://websleuths.com/forums/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif vbmenu_register("postmenu_664974", true);
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 337...

Do we have to tell SES that he was right? :bang:LOL.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

If there is a disgruntled partner in the mix, that would be a big suspect for LE, IMO. I just wonder why we haven't heard of he/she before now.

I've been thinking the same things. But what would cause the partner to become disgruntled? Surely not Raven tipping off LE to their involvement - he seems to have been pretty quiet.

Is it possible that the partner WAS prosecuted, and we just haven't heard or the connection hasn't been made with a previous case? Could this person have turned Raven in to avoid prosecution him/herself? That could certainly change things.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

That don't make sense either, because with everything pointing towards Raven, imo, as it is, wouldn't Raven come out and point the finger at this so-called 'partner' to take the heat off him?

Unless this is much more complicated. Maybe Raven lashed out at this person in some way after getting caught on the embezzlement, leading to some sort of threats against Raven. Perhaps Raven owed money to the wrong people, and they threatened that they'd come after his family. Maybe he isn't talking because he's worried that they'll come after Kaiden next?

Unlikely but we should look at things from every possible angle.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

........or do it, (and then have your wife discovered murdered leaving you a single parent, )and then the judge has pity on you.............

This sounds right on, IMO. Very convenient for Raven how Kaiden had only one remaining parent to care for him by the time this came to court. Would the courts take a child's last parent away if the perp seems remorseful and is willing to pay back the damages from his first offense?

He may have jumped this hurdle but murder is a far cry from embezzlement. IF he is the perp, I doubt he'll get off this easy twice.

 

[SouthEastSleuth]

In light of the new information that Raven has secured a job selling cellphones, I thought it would be interesting to look into some of the various policies, etc., for one of those companies, Cingular.

1. POSITION

Currently, the Cingular website shows an opening in Salt Lake City (33rd Street store) for a "retail sales consultant" (seems like the PC way to say, "I sell cellphones.").

http://careers.peopleclick.com/jobposts/Client_Cingular/BU1/External/pck339-2466.htm

Following are excerpts from the position description/qualifications:

Position Description:

• Maintaining strong knowledge of new wireless products, accessories, pricing plans, promotions and service features.

• Meeting sales objectives for wireless phones, services and accessories.

• Handling all administrative aspects of the sale including: completing customer contracts and warranties, pulling products from inventory, accepting customer payments and filing the completed orders.

• Handling phone inquires from customers on billing issues, payments, upgrades, trade-ins, service changes returns.

• Interfacing with other departments on customer's behalf when necessary.

• Managing a cash drawer and daily deposits of funds.

• Maintaining store appearance including store opening and closing procedures.

Qualifications:

• A High school diploma or equivalent
• 1-3 years of retail sales experience with key holder/cash handling responsibilities is preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills and attention to detail
• The ability to multi-task in a fast paced team environment
• Computer proficiency
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays


Hmmmm. So many interesting things here. But two things certainly leap out, to me anyway –

-Pulling products from inventory

-Managing a cash drawer and daily deposit of funds

Maybe it’s just me, but, seems that any company with those sorts of requirements would take a long hard look at an employee with a history of corporate embezzlement.

2. HIRING PROCESS (at Cingular)

In a section of the Cingular website, it details the actual hiring process for the company.

Pulled from the Cingular website:

http://www.cingular.com/about/careers_hiring

Make an Offer
If after your interview the hiring manager wants to extend an offer, he/she will discuss a starting salary with the recruiter, obtain all necessary approvals for your hire, and then send you a job offer package.

In addition, Cingular will conduct an extensive background investigation, which includes a criminal background check, verification of education and previous employment, and a pre-employment drug screen.


So, I suppose we can assume one of two things –

1- Raven got a new job PRIOR to actually having any bleeps on his criminal background check

or

2- The results could be still pending, ie., some companies will hire an employee on a probationary basis, while then pursuing the various background checks, etc.

My guess would be, and I could be wrong, that even after being hired, if a company found out that a new employee had RECENTLY been convicted of embezzlement, well, I don’t know, but I would think that probationary status could change, and quickly. (Wonder if ANY of the various news stories about the embezzlement, plea, etc., have ever made it into the Utah newspapers or other new outlets?)

3. HISTORY OF EMBEZZLEMENT and the CELLPHONE INDUSTRY

All it takes it one search on eBay to see there are many, many, many cellphones on the auction block, each and every day.

In searching around, I stumbled across the following article (it’s a cached article from a newspaper site in Lafayette, Louisiana.) Interesting, in that the whole scheme involved a Cingular employee who was stealing phones, then, putting them on eBay! Sounds like a familiar scheme, to be sure –

By Jason Brown
The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
June 4, 2004

LAFAYETTE — A former Cingular Wireless employee is facing charges for allegedly selling stolen cell phones on an Internet auction site.

Paul Richard Cook, 30, of New Llano was arrested Tuesday on 29 counts of computer fraud and one count of theft, according to Lt. Craig Stansbury, public information officer for Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Stansbury said Cook had been an employee of Cingular Wireless in Lafayette when he stole $500 worth of phones from the company. Stansbury said Cook then sold the stolen phones on eBay, an Internet auction site. Cook also defrauded some would-be buyers on eBay, failing to ship the phones after he had received money, he said.

Some of the victims were from the area, Stansbury said. He said he has seen a lot of fraudulent transactions over the Internet recently, and usually, the victims are out of luck if the perpetrator lives across state or international lines.

"Anytime you deal with eBay or an Internet buying site, it’s hard to track the perpetrator down if you’re the victim of a crime," Stansbury said.

Stansbury said he believed Cook may have started his scam late last year. Cook only faces one count of theft because the merchandise all came from Cingular. Stansbury said he believed the phones could have been stolen all at once.

He said Cook stole more than $13,000 from Cingular and unsuspecting buyers. Cook is being held on $82,000 bond, with each count of fraud accounting for a $2,500 bond.

Stansbury said Cook was also wanted for two outstanding warrants in Baton Rouge.

4. SUMMARY

The corporate slogan for Cingular, on their website, is:

Cingular: Raising the Bar

I just hope that bar is raised high enough where convicted embezzlers don’t slide underneath – and start repeating the past!

 

[golfmom]

[/size]4. SUMMARY

The corporate slogan for Cingular, on their website, is:

Cingular: Raising the Bar

I just hope that bar is raised high enough where convicted embezzlers don’t slide underneath – and start repeating the past!

I like the idea of LOWERING THE BARS. LOL

 

[terminatrixator]

I was loving the slogan "Can you hear me Now" (Raven) myself.....Isn't that Verizon. But Raising the "bars" is good too:behindbar .

 

[ewwwinteresting]

Make an Offer
If after your interview the hiring manager wants to extend an offer, he/she will discuss a starting salary with the recruiter, obtain all necessary approvals for your hire, and then send you a job offer package.

In addition, Cingular will conduct an extensive background investigation, which includes a criminal background check, verification of education and previous employment, and a pre-employment drug screen.

Hey SES, good to have you back. The posts were just so short while you were away!

Ok, so what if the hiring manager was a "friend" of raven's or one of raven's family members that hired him, and foregoed the background check or didn't pay any attention to it? I am assuming that all other mobile companies would have the same policy as Cingular. I can't imagine a manager (whether friend or family member) is willing to lose their job once their company finds out they hired an embezzler!

 

[SouthEastSleuth]

Need some sleuthing help guys!

In light of this new info that Raven may have had an accomplice with regards to the embezzling scheme, I have been passed along a piece of information... No idea IF this "lead" will amount to anything or not...

This is an address that was given to me, that PERHAPS has something to do with the accomplice. I have been digging and digging, but thus far have come up nothing of particular interest. (Aside from the fact that the pro soccer team in Utah, "Real Salt Lake," also has offices at this address, albeit a different suite.)

Sorry to sound so vague and covert even - that's not my intent. The only info I have, I've now passed along.

Here's the address:

515 South 700 E
Suite 2H
Salt Lake City, UT
84102