Human Predators Stalk Haiti's Vulnerable Kids

[truckbomb]

Not submitted for the truth of the matter asserted by Puello although he has some creds on his involvement in the Silsby matter:

Puello says he did not meet Silsby prior to her arrest but became acquainted with the facts of her "authority to transport" later after representaion was secured.

Apparently he became aware of Silsby's arrest and saw this as an opportunity to "assist on a pro bono basis." The stupid Idaho church likely thought the the offered pro bono representation was a "free lunch" as opposed to the U.S embassy's recommended list of three local attorneys who would have to be paid.

I don't know what the embassy could do more for U.S citizens caught red handed in a serious criminal act.

Of course $20,000 later elicited from the gullible Baptist Mother Church in Idaho, pro bono seems a bit far fetched.

My take: I don't think Puello knew initially about Silsby's connections with the Generallismo. By then it was too late. I also surmise the Generalissmo was looking for him too up to his arrest for purposes other than mere arrest (translation: Puello knew too much about the Generalissmo's involvement) but the locals gendarmarie got to him first. Puello is still not safe (nor is Silsby in Haiti) even in their respective jails.

Stay tuned, I have another name in this stew that will shock the sensitivities and is confirmed.

Silsby, dear idiot, as Laural would say to Hardy, "Another fine mess you've gotten us into."

 

[jeff_jones]

And here the formal statement from the U.S. Marshals Service:
http://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2010/031910a.htm

They actually confirm that it wasn't till Feb 12 that authorities in Salvador, Canada, or the US for that matter, suddenly discovered where Torres-Puello was hanging out. Were they really very concerned about him earlier?

As I've said before, Puello is no leader of an international child trafficking ring, as some believe. Just a con man with experience in fixing paperwork and identities. But way to conspicuous for his own good.

One element still intrigues me:

In his Feb 5 interview with Listin Diario, Puello said he represented the office “DR Legal Team” in the USA. And indeed, besides “Puello Consulting” (started on Dec 9, 2009) he did have another website, called “LegalTeam.us”.
Google didn't cache it before he took it down on Feb 12, the day he was outed as Torres-Puello.

He registered Legalteam.us on Jan 22, two days before Silsby's arrival in the DR. On Jan 21 he had put up his car for sale (recently imported), because he was going to buy another one.
Perhaps all pure coincidence, but why did he want/need another legal website right then? He already had a quite “impressive” one with all the fancy logos (ABA, IAJLJ and CARD).

I'm afraid we may never find out what "Legal Team" was all about.

I'm also still curious about "Pastor" Sainvil, whose story never made sense.
All I found on the net since then, is that his full name is Jean Wesly Sainvil, that some time ago he was looking for a trucking job, that early 2009 he got evicted from his home in Lawrenceville and that he used to live in S Florida.
Nothing out of the ordinary, but still no connections to any prior church or orphanage activities. While you can find plenty of other Haitian pastors (some named Sainvil as well) who are active in Georgia. One can but conclude that his 500 sqft church in Norcross is a very recent enterprise.
Let's see what the judge finds out about him:
AP Feb 24
“Bernard Saint-Vil, the judge ..... and has asked judicial police to investigate whether Pastor Jean Sainvil — who helped them recruit some of the children — indeed has orphanages in Haiti, as he has claimed”.
Sainvil's role came again up last Friday during the judge's interview at the DR Embassy in Haiti.

Truckbomb: eagerly awaiting you story!

 

[pinkpuddytat]

The stupid Idaho church likely thought the the offered pro bono representation was a "free lunch" as opposed to the U.S embassy's recommended list of three local attorneys who would have to be paid.

Not submitted in defense of the IQs of the airheaded Idaho (and other states) churchians . . .

. . . but my clear recollection is that relatives and/or the spokesman for the Central Valley Baptist Church reported that they had either been unable to contact or unable to secure the services of any of those three attorneys recommended by the US Embassy. Probably true, and not surprising, IMO. Even in the best of the times, a competent and legitimate attorney wouldn't be eager to represent a gaggle of idiots like these (especially after a quick googling of Silsby revealed she had a longstanding habit of not paying her bills). And in the immediate aftermath of a nation-ravaging earthquake, I expect all three had MUCH more pressing things to attend to, whether legal work for people who needed legal help through no fault of their own, or personal matters like digging through rubble looking for their relatives or finding temporary shelter after their homes had collapsed. And of course, it may be that their phones and computers had fallen victim to the quake, and they just weren't reachable or in any position to undertake legal representation of anyone.

At any rate, when Jorge popped up eager to represent the cognitively-challenged ten, they got just the sort of legal representation they richly deserved. Karmic justice to the rescue

 

[truckbomb]

Pink, Your recollection is correct. That is what I remember. However, it should not have been hard to contact at least one of them through the State Department. I think they didn’t even try to call the legitimate lawyers when they were contacted by “free lunch.” What beats “free?”

Then they all doubled down when it came time to advance requested against “expenses” in advance. Later, when this need was made known, the Church and the families were All In. Doing God’s Work, you see, is expensive. But, I digress.

I am running down the lead on the name that Puello gave me before he was caught. Hint. It is a woman, a lawyer tied to the Generallismo and, ready for this? Bribery.

It must not have been hard to catch him. Directly using the internet whilst on the lam is not what a bin Laden would do.

 

[Melly53]

Not submitted for the truth of the matter asserted by Puello although he has some creds on his involvement in the Silsby matter:

Puello says he did not meet Silsby prior to her arrest but became acquainted with the facts of her "authority to transport" later after representaion was secured.

Apparently he became aware of Silsby's arrest and saw this as an opportunity to "assist on a pro bono basis." The stupid Idaho church likely thought the the offered pro bono representation was a "free lunch" as opposed to the U.S embassy's recommended list of three local attorneys who would have to be paid.

I don't know what the embassy could do more for U.S citizens caught red handed in a serious criminal act.

Of course $20,000 later elicited from the gullible Baptist Mother Church in Idaho, pro bono seems a bit far fetched.

My take: I don't think Puello knew initially about Silsby's connections with the Generallismo. By then it was too late. I also surmise the Generalissmo was looking for him too up to his arrest for purposes other than mere arrest (translation: Puello knew too much about the Generalissmo's involvement) but the locals gendarmarie got to him first. Puello is still not safe (nor is Silsby in Haiti) even in their respective jails.

Stay tuned, I have another name in this stew that will shock the sensitivities and is confirmed.

Silsby, dear idiot, as Laural would say to Hardy, "Another fine mess you've gotten us into."

Thanks and another question if you don't mind! Did Silsby have any idea of what she was getting into or was it only the other churchies that were kept in the dark?

 

[Lambada]

FROM THE MSNBC ARTICLE:

"Puello has denied all of the allegations. His mother, Soledad Puello, secretary of internal affairs for the National Party of Veterans and Civilians, told The Associated Press on Friday that she will represent him in court.

You all saw that, right?

And Sra. Ana Rita Soledad Puello López IS Partido Nacional de Veteranos y Civiles Sub-Secretary for Internal Affairs according to the PNVC website (number 36 here):
PNVC Directorio Ejecutivo
which position might make her on nodding aquaintance terms with various Generals................??

Good evening everyone, I ought to introduce myself - Lambada from DR1. I.....er ahem noticed I was referred to in dispatches earlier in the thread so thought I should join. I did try a while back but kept being put in a moderation queue and couldn't post. Now it appears, I've been let out :angel:. Unlike the subjects about which we are writing.......

 

[i.b.nora]

Welcome, Lambada! I think you are the only one who saw what I posted.

 

[jeff_jones]

Welcome, Lambada!

I.B. - I saw it, but don't know what to make of it.
Apparently she was negotiating with El Salvador, but it now seems the US was ahead of the game and will ask the extradition.
But I think that process will take a while.

 

[jeff_jones]

Hint. It is a woman, a lawyer tied to the Generallismo and, ready for this? Bribery.

María Asunción Santos de Lara?
That's the name I found based on d'Adesky's story.

Whether it's her or someone else, how on earth did Silsby meet and communicate with those people, if it was not via Puello?

 

[jeff_jones]

Lambada - since you're in the DR:
can you give an idea of the driving time
- SDO to Cabarete
- Cabarete to the northern border crossing (Ouanaminthe)
- SDO to the southern border crossing (Malpasse)
I am amazed by the amount of driving Silsby must have done that week.

 

[Lambada]

I tend to go on the Metro bus to Santo Domingo & not drive because I have strong survival instincts...........Cabarete-SD approx 3.5-4 hours, Cabarete- Ouanaminthe about an hour longer and the roads are not as good. SD-Barahona approx 3.5 hours. BUT since the earthquake when convoys have been going there have been lots of holdups - some people have taken 7 hours to get to the border and then a few more to get to Port au Prince.

On Puello, US Marshals Service Press Release here:
Joint International Manhunt Leads to Arrest of Fugitive Wanted in Three Countries

 

[truckbomb]

Jeff Jones

I think you are referring to the d’Adesky March 10 story where it refers to an unnamed woman lawyer d’Adesky contacted and who was allegedly associated with an equally unnamed "General" as reported to her by Puello.

Your sleuthing following this article is very good because Maria Asuncion Santos de Lara is the woman lawyer in question that Puello confirmed to me. Apparently she was fired in 2007 because a subordinate in her office, where she was the District Attorney, was accused of trafficking. She remains in politics in the DR and still has influence particularly now that the General is back in the President's administration.

Unfortunately, Puello's arrest has cut off further information on her relationship with l’affaire Silsby and General Florentino. When Puello says to d’Adesky then that those folks won't be happy if the truth be known about them, he was greatly understating the exposure. You know - Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

Anyhow I am no longer able to get info on the $12,000 deal that was supposedly to be paid to permit the border crossing. Couldn’t they have waited to pick him up a few days from now? Bummer.

 

[Missizzy]

Two questions, how does Puello's mother have time to run a "preschool" in Sosua if she's the secretary of internal affairs for the National Party of Veterans and Civilians and planning on representing her son in court? Or is this something done on the kitchen table?

And secondly, I'm wondering if Canada won't claim Puello first as they did Duarte. They have laws to cover citizens who commit crimes against children, including trafficking. They bring them back to the provinces and try them there. I believe I read that Puello held Canadian citizenship...yes, no?

 

[Lambada]

I saw that Puello's mother had a home nursery but that wasn't in Sosua, it was where she lived which I think was SD.

And quote from AFP 'According to documents of the US and Dominican authorities... this person is an important part of a network of alien smugglers (targeting) women and children from Central America and the Caribbean," added Lebron.' (emboldening mine)

Dominican Republic arrests man sought in child trafficking

 

[truckbomb]

Melly53 asks:

Did Silsby have any idea of what she was getting into or was it only the other churchies that were kept in the dark?

Absent my favorite source now being incomunicado, I can only guess what Silsby and her flock of churchies had in mind. As to Silsby's mind I have a vision that inside it must look like the painting I saw in the Prado museum last November, El jardín de las delicias. And that is on a good day. See it here

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...mage_result&resnum=3&ct=image&ved=0CAkQ9QEwAg

 

[Lambada]

As to the question of who gets Puello first, I see El Salvador are staking a claim. According to their Head of Person-Trafficking Unit, Violeta Olivares, the law sets out that he has to be extradited to the country where he has committed the most serious crimes and where the penalty is greatest. She says this would be El Salvador where he could face a sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Capturan a Torres Puello en República Dominicana

I don't know if she is referring to international law or the law of El Salvador?

 

[jeff_jones]

Cabarete-SD approx 3.5-4 hours, Cabarete- Ouanaminthe about an hour longer and the roads are not as good. SD-Barahona approx 3.5 hours. BUT since the earthquake when convoys have been going there have been lots of holdups - some people have taken 7 hours to get to the border and then a few more to get to Port au Prince.

Thanks, Lambada. That corresponds to what I figured.
And confirms once again that "Pastor" Sainvil's story - that he ran into Silsby at the border in Ouanaminthe on Jan 27 - is unbelievable.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/20/world/main6227611.shtml

Now, it is possible that the AP reporter mixed up border towns, and that Sainvil gave a wrong date in his (phone) interview.
I hope the judge is looking into their respective exact itineraries, from arrival in the DR. The chartered bus driver would be a lot of help.

Truck:
How do you think Silsby first got in touch with the "lady lawyer", if not via Puello?

And I have one last question:

What happened to Edwin Coq?
It is still not clear to me who hired him. I don't recall Puello ever saying he did.
In a Feb 8 French press report Coq (who doesn't speak English) said that, being Baptist himself, he took on the case upon recommendation by his pastor. When he heard that some family members of the detainees accused him of bribery, he quit in disgust. And never got a cent.

In hindsight, it smells like a “coup” by Puello to take control of the case: blame Coq and the Haitian judiciary and come in as the savior. For a day or two, the alleged bribe was the headline around the world.

 

[truckbomb]

Jeff, I don’t think Silsby was ever in direct contact with either the Woman Lawyer or the Generissmo. In general, international traffickers are much too smart especially on such a low level transaction as Silsby’s. Nor did she ever know the name of the Generalissmo until later. These high level folk must always have deniability, a cut out or two if you please.

What I think happened is that Silsby finally realized from her prior warnings that she was not going to just drive through an international border with a busload of children but that she had to have some kind of documentation. Enter the “Mysterious Man” in the car she had an initial nighttime meeting with. Her handlers/translators at the time probably organized this meeting on her insistence.

This is the mysterious Haitian who likely had important contacts through intermediaries into high level DR folk. This type of arrangement is common in third world countries. There is always a single controlled conduit for moving people, money and/or drugs across borders. These are very smart and totally corrupt people who have superior deniability and are usually high up in the government or business world of the country. They are protected by higher ups with interests of their own.

This guy likely assured Silsby that proper documents would be available once she showed up with the children at the border. Of course, there must be a facilitating payment to those who enable the crossing Let’s assume $12,000. (Can you spell BRIBE?).

In her best conniving Nixonian reply, Silsby confirms, “$12,000? I can get that. No Problema.” Of course she has no ability or intention of gathering that sum relying on her ecclesiastical authority and mission to get her past that minor requirement so she can cross the border with proper documents and carry out her objective. Nobody ever said she was smart.

So Silsby got caught having no bribe money and was arrested when she betrayed the illicit conduit. Not smart. These are unforgiving folk with very long memories.

When Puello originally showed up at her jail he discovers rudimentary paperwork from her which, upon careful examination, expresses hopeful and benevolent thoughts on assisting with innocent (but not incriminating) support for welcoming Silsby and children into the DR for noble purposes. Village idiot Silsby assumes that these are authoritative for a crossing.

Puello, I think, discovers accidently the name of the woman lawyer on the paperwork, contacts her, and tells Silsby of her background and that of the Generallismo. Otherwise Silsby would never have known about either. Of course, Silsby does not know that revealing the Generalissmo’s name to the judge in hopes of getting out of jail places her in the crosshairs of those unforgiving folk. More not smart.

Has she kept her mouth shut about this contact she would have been much better off.

Puello, is probably peddling his story right now to the authorities in hopes of a deal.

 

[jeff_jones]

Truck:

Thanks for your extensive scenario, but I've had my doubts about the "lady lawyer + general" connection from the start.

First, because it came from Puello, who's a compulsive liar, and desperate to distract his audience. "Look, there are big crooks involved!"
About his Salvador case he said it was politically motivated. In the US, he was "duped" as well.

Second, the amount Puello stated was 150,000 pesos, or US$ 3,900. Not the US$12,000 d'Adesky made it to be. Not that I have any experience, but don't you find that a small amount for these people to risk their reputation for?

Third, I believe Silsby's bus never even made it to the DR side. She was stopped on the Haitian side. Just like she was stopped by police with her first "load" (pardon the expression) of 40 kids. Hence the issue if there was any document or not and/or need for a bribe to get into the DR never came into play.

There are other holes in the story.

On the other hand, Silsby had mentioned earlier that her attorney for the orphanage in the DR was "Sencion". US$ 3,900 to incorporate, register and request the necessary permits to operate the orphanage seems a reasonable amount. Which she asked about when Puello called her. Perhaps because Silsby had not yet paid her? That would make sense, wouldn't it?

Then how did Silsby come up with the name Florentino? I don't know yet...

 

[Lambada]

Then how did Silsby come up with the name Florentino? I don't know yet...

Maybe because Florentino y Florentino was Head of La Dirección General de Desarrollo Fronterizo (DGDF) (before his present promotion)? And Silsby had been at that border before on a previous visit, hadn't she?

His statement of denial of authorising her to bring out the children says 'Florentino y Florentino no es jefe de Migración, ni del Cesfront, es decir, no tiene a su cargo guardias fronterizos, ni regula la frontera; ya que las siete provincias donde tiene oficinas la Dirección General de Frontera con las cuales él desarrolla su labor' viz he makes it clear he is not in charge of Migracion nor Cesfront (border security), but border development.
Source:
Florentino achaca a "pugnas militares" inclusión de su nombre en lista

How 'developmental' would an orphanage be..........?? It's ok, it's rhetorical.:crazy:

DGDF has a website but..........it isn't all that helpful
Quienes Somos: La Dirección General de Desarrollo Fronterizo (DGDF)

The 'who are we' page is incredibly modest - no names!