Good Morning,
It appears that the agency that we hired to manage our 1% (?) money was compromised. They also handle the pensions plans for many local police and fire departments in the tri -county area.

With OUR information taken, the Haitian group filed for income tax returns and directed the money to be sent to Green Dot cards, a loadable debit card device that is mailed to their home or vacant property, etc. With the loaded cards, the bad guys and their underlings went to ATMs and did cash pulls on a regular basis, draining the cash. Bank United noticed the cash pulls and called USSS, a credit union also alerted USSS, hence the surveillance started. I know the USSS squad working the case and have been involved since the first call came in.

If Dale was victimized, this will cause a delay for him and Anita to get their tax refund; they will not suffer a direct loss of money. IRS (we all do) takes the loss.

I would recommend that who ever gets hit to go to any one of the credit reporting agencies and file a fraud alert. This is done on line. (www.experian.com, www.transunion.com, and www.equifax.com) This is due to the the bad guys having our identities and they can apply for credit, change addresses and other terrible things. With the FREE credit alert, we will be notified if any one applies for credit under our names. IT IS FREE, DO NOT PAY FOR THE SERVICE FEES.

If Dale Files an ID Theft police report where he lives, the free credit monitoring, with the police case number is good for 7 years.

On the bright side, there has been one arrest made, others to follow.

Those who have not filed their income tax returns, do so ASAP.

Regards,
Sam

The Miami Herald
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Author: LAURA ISENSEE, lisensee@MiamiHerald.com

Hialeah police officers will earn less overtime, forego holiday pay and contribute 5 percent of their base pay toward health insurance costs.

Officers who work afternoon or midnight shifts will no longer receive higher pay. And 7 percent of their salaries -- money that used to go in an interest-earning account for retirement -- will instead help offset the city's pension obligation.

These are some items in a new contract approved by the Hialeah City Council on Aug. 26 despite sharp outcry from police officers and union leaders.

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina said police officers deserve higher pay and more benefits, but the down economy made the cuts necessary.

''This is not a reflection of their work or their professionalism or their service to the community,'' Robaina said. ''This is just a reality of what our world is going through.''

Robaina said the measures are expected to save $5 million for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Those savings includes $1.6 million from redirecting the savings accounts to pension payments; nearly $1.2 million from eliminating holiday pay and $900,000 from the police's contribution toward health insurance.

For police, the measures will cut their salaries an average of $13,500, union leaders said. Hialeah police have a starting pay of $40,450. That is lower than many nearby departments.

''The bottom line is if the City of Hialeah can't afford a police department, then it's time to turn it over to the county. The citizens deserve better protection,'' said John Rivera, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, which represents Hialeah police officers.

Robaina said if Hialeah receives any extra federal or state money next fiscal year, the city will try to recoup some of the concessions.

For now, Hialeah police will have to live with the measures. The new contract takes effect through the end of the fiscal year in September and will continue as the status quo until a new contract is bargained. The previous contract expired last year.

The measures follow deadlocked talks between Hialeah and police union and come during tough financial times. Hialeah is bracing for a $18-20 million shortfall next year.

The City Council approved the measure 6-0, with Councilwoman Katharine Cue absent.

Earlier this month, a state-appointed magistrate recommended raising taxes to help resolve the failed contract talks. Police union leaders supported his recommendations.

Hialeah followed some of them: no cost of living increase; no merit or longevity pay; and cap tuition reimbursement at $2,000.

Under the new contract, Hialeah will also increase by 3 percent its HMO contribution for police. Overtime pay will kick in after 86 hours in a two-week period, instead of 80 hours.

But Robaina reiterated Hialeah will not raise taxes: ''Our residents, our business cannot pay more money in taxes.''

Firefighters and city employees have separate contracts and aren't affected by Thursday's decision. Their unions have also struggled to strike new agreements and the City Council approved salary cuts for city workers in July.

Police union leaders said they plan to take legal action on several measures from Thursday. Those include issues with how the Council imposed the contract and attempted to lighten their financial burden.

Andrew Axelrad, a lawyer for the police union, said the annuity accounts give officers the benefit of compounding interest. ''That's going to grow into a little nest egg. What the city has done is basically stolen that money from them,'' Axelrad said.

City attorney William Grodnick said Hialeah police officers receive the annuity plus interest in addition to their pension.

''The alternative was we were going to ask for a 12-percent deduction ... We thought this might be less painful,'' Grodnick said, noting the money for annuity accounts was already deducted from their paychecks.

The Miami Herald
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Author: LAURA ISENSEE, lisensee@MiamiHerald.com

Hialeah altered how pension programs can be changed, despite objections from unions. The move sparked a vow of legal action from at least one union: the Police Benevolent Association.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Hialeah City Council unanimously approved two new ordinances that eliminate language requiring approval from all three bargaining units for amendments to pension plans for general employees, firefighters and police. That language was added to city code in 1992.

Now, under the newly approved ordinances, any amendments will be subject to collective bargaining with approval needed from only the respective union.

The change comes amid stalled and tense contract negotiations between Hialeah and its three unions for city employees, police and firefighters.

William Grodnick, Hialeah's city attorney, said the new city law corrects language that he called unlawful and unconstitutional under the state's right to work law.

''It abridges the rights of unions. It gives a stranger to negotiations -- another union -- the veto power to determine changes to the pension plan,'' Grodnick explained to the council.

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina said permanent changes to retirement plans would still be negotiated. ''We cannot do that on our whim,'' Robaina said.

Hialeah Lt. Rick Fernandez, a union representative for the Police Benevolent Association, said the timing of the change -- during contract negotiations -- was ''poor.''

Fernandez asked the council to reconsider its move and echoed concerns he and other union leaders had made clear at a previous council meeting. ''By doing this, you're violating the laws of this city,'' Fernandez said, adding the old process ''is not contrary to state law.''


Andrew Axelrad, general counsel for the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, which represents Hialeah police officers, told The Miami Herald that he plans to fight the city's latest action in court.

''We don't think what the council has done is legal,'' Axelrad said.

Hialeah seems prepared for that. Grodnick told the council the new law has the support of an outside pension expert and outside labor counsel, William Radford.

''We can test it in court,'' Grodnick said.

The Miami Herald
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Author: LAURA ISENSEE, lisensee@MiamiHerald.com

Hialeah has taken the first step to change how its pension programs are altered, but not without opposition from the city's unions.

Two proposed ordinances would eliminate language in the city code that requires approval from all three bargaining units for amendments to pension plans for general employees, firefighters and police.

Instead, according to the proposed ordinances, any amendments would be subject to collective bargaining.

The measures received preliminary approval from the Hialeah City Council at its meeting Tuesday and are expected to go before the council at its next meeting on Aug. 10 for a second and final reading.

Hialeah City Council is considering the changes amid strained contract negotiations with the city's three unions and ahead of a difficult budget season.

According to William Grodnick, Hialeah 's city attorney, the current provision for altering pension programs is unlawful, even though it has been part of the city code since 1992.

''We can't violate state law and that trumps city law,'' Grodnick told Hialeah City Council.

Grodnick said the current law could be improperly applied if a member of one union blocked changes to the pension program of another union.

''The firefighters could control your destiny,'' Grodnick added.

''I respectfully disagree,'' said Hialeah Police Lt. Ricardo Fernandez, a representative for the Police Benevolent Association.

Fernandez and leaders from the unions urged the council to put aside the proposed ordinances and deal with any changes to the process at the bargaining table.

''This is an avenue for changes to be automatically made to our retirement system without our voice in it,'' Fernandez said.

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina told the council members the unions can bargain pension and retirement benefits through the collective bargaining process.

''We have an obligation and a duty to move this forward,'' Robaina said before the City Council cast a unanimous preliminary vote of approval.

To Association of Retired Municipal Employee Members (AHRME)

Please write George Hameeetman at ghham@comcast.net, If any medicare Retirees are experiencing any trouble with United Healthcare and the City of Hialeah reference to coordination of benefits.

It has been brought to our attention (ARHME) that several Medicare age retirees are experiencing difficulties after Medicare pays their portion? The remaining balance of the medical bills are not processed until the recipient sends in the claim to United Healthcare. In other words, the benefits are not being coordinated automatically with the Cities Carrier (United Healthcare).

Today (4/12/2010) I received info from the Miami FOP VP Javier Ortiz that Senate Bill 1902 and House Bill 1025 are dead and neither can be heard on the floor. SB 1902 would affect our pension and put a cap of 80% on how much you could retire with, regardless if you were in FRS or in our plan.
House Bill 1025 would have segregated our retirees from our active members when it comes to health insurance. In plain English: RETIREE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE THE CURRENT RATE!
I would like to commend the efforts of our lobbyists and especially the support of FOP President Armando Aguilar. Armando spent all last week walking the halls of Tallahassee in order to get commitments from public officials to go against these bills. I would also like to thank Tony Fontana (May he rest in peace) for giving us the tools and experience on how to beat those that try to maliciously attack our much earned benefits. Keep in mind that there are three more weeks of session and anything can happen. We will remain vigilant to assure that an amendment or amendments are not offered which would resurrect and give these bills or issues life.

I'm sure Miami IAFF587 reps were there also, but I didn't get an update from them.
There is still a battle going on that could affect our benefits, in Tallahassee, Washington, DC and the City of Miami during this year.
Mark the date for the next Retired Fire and Police Association General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, June 23rd at 6:30PM at Piccadilly’s Cafeteria on Flagler St.

Joseph T. Longueira
President
City of Miami Retired Fire and Police Association, Inc.
2300 N W 14 Street
Miami, Fl 33125
firepoliceret@BellSouth.net
FIPO Office Tel: 305 638-5959
Cel: 305 778-5400

A trusted accountant with the city of Hialeah was accused of stealing more than $250,000 from a retirement fund to buy himself a second home in North Carolina.

Posted on MiamiHerald.com on Tue, Oct. 23, 2007

by LUISA YANEZ

lyanez@MiamiHerald.com

to view the original article and see viewer comments

Alejandro 'Alex' Torrecillas was taken into custody Oct. 15 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as he returned from vacation. He suffered a medical emergency and was treated before his arrest. His police mug shot shows him in a hospital gown.

For years, no one suspected Alejandro "Alex" Torrecillas of being anything more than a super accountant -- assigned to manage both retirement accounts of city of Hialeah employees and also money matters for their union.

Then, earlier this month, Torrecillas went on a Peruvian vacation. Within a day, his replacement detected funny business in the books. A probe was launched by Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and the city's police department.

By the time Torrecillas was on his way home, his career as a numbers cruncher appeared over.

CARS AND A HOME

The investigation revealed Torrecillas had allegedly embezzled more than $250,000 from employees' annuity accounts dating to 2004, Robaina said. He apparently used the money to enrich himself and to buy a second home in North Carolina, along with several cars.

Torrecillas, 50, was taken into custody Oct. 15 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as he returned from his vacation. He suffered a medical emergency and was treated before his arrest. His police mug shot shows him in a hospital gown.

Torrecillas now faces felony charges of official misconduct, organized fraud and grand theft, and six counts of forging checks.

He is free on a $100,000 bond posted Thursday. His next court appearance is Nov. 2.

A telephone call to his Hialeah home was not returned.

Hialeah police did not comment, referring all questions to the mayor.

"I have zero tolerance of this type of crime," Robaina said Monday. "He was a trusted employee in a very sensitive position."

The city immediately fired Torrecillas, who had worked there since the late 1990s.

"He bought himself a second home in North Carolina, and we'll try to take that away from him," Robaina said.

Prosecutors will search for bank accounts and safety boxes linked to Torrecillas.

Torrecillas was a bonded employee -- meaning the city has insurance against such internal thefts. The employees whose retirement annuity accounts were ripped off will be refunded.

"We will recapture all the money stolen," Robaina said.

CHECKS TO HIMSELF

The scheme was simple: employee accounts with low monthly activity or annual annuity payments on retirement investment accounts were targeted.

For the official office record, Torrecillas would make out the check stubs to the designated retirement account. But he would make out the actual checks to himself, Robaina said.

The amounts varied, "from a hundred to thousands of dollars."

New security measures have been put in place to protect against such thefts in the future, Robaina said.

And troubles may not be over for Torrecillas and the city's 1,800 employees. The local branch of the union that represents Hialeah employees -- the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- also used Torrecillas as an accountant.

"We have alerted them and they're doing their own investigation," Robaina said.

There is a meeting of the AHRME at Corky’s Restaurant at 12 noon, Palm avenue and Johnson street, Pembroke Pines Florida. All members are welcome.