CHRIS KYLE FROG FOUNDATION TESTIMONAL

It’s no secret that I have a deep affection for the military and those in law enforcement, as you’ve read about in my novels. After writing BLIND RETRIBUTION, that passion became even stronger and I knew I had to do something. After much research, I found the perfect cause–the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, and for every copy of BLIND RETRIBUTION SOLD, I am donating a percentage of my royalties to them.

Of all the organizations out there, this Foundation is the one that captured my heart because of stories like the one below. By purchasing a copy of BLIND RETRIBUTION, http://a.co/2yzva8b whether digital or paperback, you are helping me donate to a worthy cause and I thank you!

Meet Jonathan and Kylie.

Jonathan is a police officer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and an active member of his department’s SWAT team.  Our adventure with the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation began when we received an invitation to attend a Birthday Bash to celebrate Chris Kyle’s life, as well as honoring the military and first responders.

Because of the nature of his work, Jonathan usually avoids situations where he is might be recognized, but I managed to convince him to think of it as an opportunity to have a weekend away.  We made hotel reservations near the event and planned an entire weekend around it.  Little did we know that this event, and the others that followed, would change our lives forever.

We weren’t sure about what to expect when we got there, but we were overwhelmed by the deep passion Taya and the other speakers demonstrated.  It was amazing!  When the weekend concluded, we left feeling inspired to focus more time and energy on strengthening our relationship.

Being grateful for the opportunity, I felt a strong desire to help the Foundation in any way I could. I emailed CKFF and expressed our appreciation for being invited to the party and offered to help serve the cause.  It wasn’t long before I received a response from Taya asking if we could chat on the phone.  Needless to say, I was very excited about the opportunity to get plugged in and help.  Much to my surprise, Taya informed me that Jonathan and I had been selected for a Rejuvenation Retreat!  I couldn’t believe it and knew Jonathan was going to need a better explanation about why we were selected!

When Jonathan got on the phone to speak to Taya, he told her he didn’t think we could accept the invitation because he felt there were others more deserving than us.  That’s when Taya explained the mission of the Foundation and the goal to provide experiences that strengthen military and first responder marriages, not just for the couple, but their families as well.  We excitedly accepted the invitation, especially the opportunity to get away.  We’d been married for nearly 5 years and except for our honeymoon, we hadn’t been away.

After arriving in Charleston, we’d heard political tensions were on the rise and a protest was scheduled to take place in downtown Dallas. That first night, Jonathan began receiving text messages and phone calls telling him multiple officers had been ambushed during the protest and the attack was ongoing.  Jonathan immediately turned on the national news and watched the coverage in attempt to hear something about his friends and confirm their status.

We stayed up late that night because we were overcome with a gamut of emotions. The next morning,  Jonathan got word that his closest friends were okay, but five other officers had been killed. Although Jonathan was physically in Charleston, I knew his heart was in Dallas.  We discussed going back home, but ultimately chose to stay. We were there for a wonderful cause, and I’m glad we did because being together at a time during so much turmoil, it evoked an opportunity to express deep emotions through conversations that connected us in a way we hadn’t in a very long time. We returned home with a heavy heart but a renewed love and appreciation for one another.

We are extremely thankful to the CKFF for the opportunities they provide, and if it hadn’t been for those who donate to the Foundation, it wouldn’t have been possible for us and many others like us.

A few months later, we received another invitation through the Foundation.  But this time, the emphasis was on the wives! I was so excited especially since Jonathan was able to work out his schedule. Until now, I hadn’t realized how important it was to have friendships with other wives who were going through the same things as me. We made some wonderful lasting friendships that weekend that I know will last a lifetime.  And the Spousal Retreat, well, it provided me with time for personal reflection, as well as ways to strengthen our relationship even farther.

I will be forever thankful to the CKFF for the opportunities they’ve extended to us, and others.  When we began this journey, we thought our marriage was typical for this tumultuous world in law enforcement, but with the help of these programs, it has shown us another way–a stronger, much deeper way to live and love.

Every day, more and more programs are being developed by the CKFF that provide opportunities for couples who need more in-depth and prolonged assistance.  We are confident that the Mastering your Marriage program will provide a major outreach and care for deserving couples in need, and further the capabilities of the Foundation to accomplish their mission! Thank you to the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation for being a part of our lives!

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IT’S ALL ABOUT RESPECT!!

As much as I admire our law enforcement agencies for their dedicated service, every once in a while there’s a bad apple in the bunch who turns to greed. For whatever reason, this is his story.

The day New York Police officer Merlin Alston dressed in his blue uniform, he walked down the streets of New York and felt immense pride from the respect he received from everyone along the way. It was expected. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t take long before a turn of events would change his life forever.

Apparently, something was missing in his work life, but he made up for it by joining forces with a drug trafficker–someone he’d known for years that he’d gone to high school with. It seemed harmless at first. After all, these two guys had been friends for a long time, but the few extra dollars he was making was a major upgrade to his lifestyle and it wouldn’t take long for him to become comfortable with that pocketful of money.

I guess he didn’t realize his friend, Gabriel Reyes was a ruthless drug lord. Although, he should have known. Maybe he simply put that part out of his mind. And of course, Reyes liked the idea of having a member of the NYPD as part of his crew.Reyes liked knowing he had someone who was eager for an extra buck, but it also meant Alston would be loyal to him. For Reyes, having someone who could protect his drug ring by giving him inside information about investigations and raids, didn’t hurt either.

The partnership started in 2009 when business was booming and over the period of time he was involved, Alton would personally deliver close to 40 kilograms of cocaine.

In addition to being a runner, Alston provided armed security to the trafficker and his crew. Alston had a great business going–living high off the hog, if you’ll pardon the cliché, but in June of 2015, his partner, Gabriel Reyes got busted on drug conspiracy and firearms charges, and so what did he do to his loyal friend? He used him as his ticket out of a life in prison, and as they say, ‘he sang like a canary.”

At the conclusion of the two-week trial, the jury agreed unanimously and found Alston guilty of narcotics and firearms charges, conspiracy and the distribution of large amount of drugs.

Now, this 34-year-old cop-turned-gangster, faces a  minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2017, and you better believe as a police officer who’d put several criminals in the Pen, he’s going to be one of the gang members bitch, and it won’t be pretty.

Sadly, Merlin Alston’s oath to protect and serve the citizens of New York City allowed  greed to get the better of him, and instead protected a drug trafficker who blew the whistle on him to save his own ass, which now has come back to take a huge bite out of Alston’s.

Fortunately, the jury’s unanimous vote proved that justice has been served and no one is above the law.

Shame on you Merlin Alston!

ROMANCING CHRISTMAS II

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From sweet to spicy, friends to lovers, from cowboys to babies and puppies, this holiday anthology from 7 of today’s hottest romance authors has something for everyone. Toss in some unconventional romances and fairy godmothers—and, of course, some hunky military heroes—and you’ve got a Christmas collection that will warm the heart on even the coldest night.

Mason’s Wish by Dale Mayer – Mason loves his life with Tesla, but living together isn’t enough. He wants more. He wants it all. He wants forever.

Christmas Stray by Rachelle Ayala – A couple grieving for their son is snowed in with a stray puppy and a little boy. Is there room in their hearts for a Christmas miracle?

A Low Country Christmas Miracle by Sandy Loyd – Miracles have a way of happening at Christmastime. Like the miracle of finding true love and the miracle of family coming together. But the most wonderful miracle of all is the miracle of forgiveness.

Scrooge & the Secret Santa by Marcia James – Thanks to a kind-hearted physical therapist, a police dog trainer learns open his life to love and the spirit of Christmas.

Strangers in the Night by KT Roberts – On one magical night, two people meet, they fall in love, separate and are convinced their destiny to be together is in the hands of fate.

Christmas Grace by Leslie Lynch – No one wants to celebrate Christmas this year. Then disaster strikes, not once but twice. Three generations; three untenable situations. Three women who come together for each other, and remember what’s most important about Christmas.

A Christmas Bowser by Kayce Lassiter – Harper’s fairy godmother rides a Harley, her new puppy is determined to destroy her dress shop, and Kolton is set on selling the building out from under her. Could Christmas get any worse? Absolutely.

This unique set features endearing stories from USA Today and National Bestselling authors. Available for a limited time only!

John Gotti’s Rise to Fame as Leader of Gambino Crime Family

Born on October 27, 1940 to immigrant parents from Italy, the family of seven with five sons moved to the South Bronx, New York. Times were hard for the family.

Tired of living in poverty, John became enamored with the mob. By the age of 12, he managed to get a job as an errand boy for an underground club in the neighborhood run by Carmine Fatico. Fatico was the captain in the local Gambino family, the largest of the five organized crime families in New York City. Through his activities with the club, Gotti met Aniello Dellacroce, who became his life-long mentor.

It didn’t take much for Gotti to become the leader of a gang called the Fulton-Rockaway boys, a group known for their frequent robberies and car-jackings. When John was 14, his toes got crushed as he tried to steal a cement mixer. The accident gave the mobster-to-be his trademark gait, and earned him another incident on his list of petty crimes.

In school, John was considered a bully and constant discipline problem until he finally quit 16. By the age of 18, the police department ranked Gotti as a low-level associate in the Fatico crew.

In 1957, Gotti pursued a life of crime on a full-time basis. His arrest record included street fighting, public intoxication, and car theft. By his 21st birthday, Gotti had already been arrested five times, but as luck would have it, he served little jail time.

 

In 1962, Gotti married 17-year-old Victoria DiGiorgio. At the time of their marriage, DiGiorgio had already given birth to their first child, Angela, and was pregnant with their second. It has been said that in the early years of their marriage, the couple fought constantly and even separated numerous times. To save the marriage, Gotti briefly tried his hand at legitimate jobs: first, as a presser in a coat factory, and then as an assistant to a truck driver, but that was short-lived. Crime was in his blood.

When he and his family made the move to Ozone Park in Queens, New York, the budding criminal quickly became a major player in the Gambino hijacking crew. In 1968, Gotti served his first major sentence when the FBI charged him and his two accomplices with committing cargo thefts near John F. Kennedy Airport. All three men were convicted of hijacking and sentenced to three years in prison.

During the time Gotti served his stint in prison, the Fatico crew moved from East New York to a storefront near Gotti’s home in Queens. The group’s headquarters was disguised as a non-profit organization called the Bergin Hunt and Fish Club. After his release from prison in 1971, Gotti was designated as the temporary leader of Fatico’s gang while the captain faced loan-sharking charges.

Next week, the continuation of John Gotti.

The Life and Times of Mobster Johnny Stompanato and Actress Lana Turner

Fascination with the underworld continues to hold a certain amount of intrigue for many, though I’m sure the killings and how they obtained their money, most likely does not. In our minds, the allure of their presence, their fancy lifestyle, the respect bestowed upon them has a way of eluding the minds of the masses.

Through my years of research , the one thing that became abundantly clear was their strong sense of family unity, respect and high regard for one another– until they were crossed, then all bets were off! But as you witnessed in the movie, The Godfather, when Michael Corleone gives his brother, Fredo a kiss goodbye, he tells him it’s only business.

Being an Italian myself, I’m not so sure I’m buying the ‘it’s only business’ excuse. Under normal circumstances, we Italians are an emotional bunch when you ruffle our feathers.

So today, I’m talking about Lana Turner, an Academy Award winning actress who gained more attention in her life than the Kardashian’s, especially after she became involved with gangster, Johnny Stompanato.

Lana Turner was discovered and signed to Warner Bros. at the young age of sixteen. Although Lana had no dreams of being an actress, her beauty would be noticed by William R. Wilkerson, the publisher of the Hollywood Reporter as she sat sipping a soda at the counter in The Top Hat Café located in Los Angeles. As one would expect, the café quickly became a landmark and the place for young hopefuls to congregate praying for the same break.

Already a beautiful woman, Lana did nothing to enhance her beauty like so many celebrities of today and that was what attracted Warner Bros. to sign her on. It didn’t take long for her to obtain the nickname of ‘the sweater girl’ because of her form-fitting attire, a name she loathed throughout her career. She rose to fame quickly and became well-known for her beauty and sex appeal. That sex appeal would have several men in and out of her life. Until Elizabeth Taylor came along, Lana Turner held the record for being married seven times, Elizabeth Taylor beating her by one.

When she met the handsome Johnny Stompanato not long after ending one of her many marriages, they fell head over heels in love. But when she learned about his ties to the Los Angeles underworld as a second-string hoodlum and bodyguard for gangster, Mickey Cohen, she tried to break it off. The funny thing is, her concern had nothing to do with his connection, but the fact that she’d be risking her career from the bad publicity when the media learned they were a couple.

But Stompanato wasn’t about to take no for an answer and he continued pursuing her until he won. Their relationship became a media sensation as they followed their every move making her name a household word. Unfortunately, the love-hate relationship turned violent with physical abuse, and yet, they’d reconcile, only to have the cycle begin again each time.

In 1957, Lana flew to England where she was filming a movie with Sean Connery. Being lonely and having difficulty with the film, she contacted Stompanato to join her. He took the next plane out to be by her side. Initially, the reunion was happy, but it didn’t take much for things to sour and he was back to his old ways of demanding she do as he said, and when she’d refuse, he’d threatened her with disfigurement as he held a razor to her face.

Sorry she’d invited him,  Lana refused to allow him to visit her on the set. His domineering personality and jealousy brought out the worst in him and he went into a tirade. He apparently thought she was having an affair with Sean Connery. One night during a violent argument, he began choking her to the point of bruising making it impossible for the makeup artist to cover the marks so that she could continue filming. As a result, the film was put on hold while she recuperated. Three weeks was a major setback for the production company, as well as the other actors.

After returning to the set, Lana was afraid Stompanato would show up anyway. Fearful of what he might do, Lana and her makeup artist contacted Scotland Yard to alert them he might show up. And show up he did, only this time, he was wielding a gun and warning Sean Connery to stay away from his girl. Fortunately, Connery was able to disarm Stompanato by twisting his arm. Scotland Yard detectives took Stompanato into custody and drove him to the airport to deport him back to the States.  Humiliated from the information hitting the newspapers drove Stompanato wild.

Once the film was completed and Lana returned home, she warned her fourteen year-old daughter that she was going to break it off with Stompanato that night and she should prepare herself for the worst. On that fateful evening of April 4, 1958, Lana’s fourteen year old daughter who was in her bedroom at the time, heard her mother and Stompanato arguing. She appeared in the doorway of her mother’s bedroom. When Lana saw her, she asked Cheryl to go back to her bedroom because she didn’t want her to hear what was being said. Cheryl complied until she could no longer listen to Stompanato’s threats or her mother’s screaming as she fought back. Within seconds, Cheryl ran to the kitchen, grabbed a knife off the counter and returned to her mother’s bedroom and stabbed Stompanato in the abdomen until he died.

After an inquest hearing where Lana Turner gave the performance of her life, it was deemed justifiable homicide which lead to Stompanato’s son filing a civil suit claiming Lana killed his father because she was jealous of her daughter, whom she thought was having an affair with him.

Becoming a ward of the court, Cheryl was then placed in her grandmother’s custody, but she ran away. Once found, she was sent to a boarding school and again, she ran away. After emancipation, Cheryl admits to turning  to drugs and alcohol. I can’t even imagine what a messed up head this woman carries around with her every day.

To this day the speculation continues about who really killed Stompanato that night. Some believe Cheryl is covering for her mother but she continues to maintain her story even after her mother’s death in 1995.

In 1988, Cheryl wrote an autobiography titled Detour: A Hollywood Story to set the record straight. In it,  she admits to stabbing Stompanato but alleges he was sexually abusing her, the same as one of Lana’s ex-husband’s had.

What is so ironic about this story is Johnny Stompanato’s death was not the result of disloyalty to his mobster family, but instead taken down by a fourteen-year-old child who could no longer stand his abuse.

 

“The Pig”In the Pokie!

Giovanni Brusca is a former Sicilian Mafia member who once claimed to have murdered as many as 200 people. Born in Sicily in 1957, Brusca quickly acquired the nickname of ‘The Pig” beca…

Source: “The Pig”In the Pokie!

“The Pig”In the Pokie!

Giovanni Brusca is a former Sicilian Mafia member who once claimed to have murdered as many as 200 people. Born in Sicily in 1957, Brusca quickly acquired the nickname of ‘The Pig” because of his sloppy appearance, and began working as a driver for the head of the Corleonesi faction of the Mafia when he was 20 years old.

One of Brusca’s most gruesome acts for this heartless thug was kidnapping the 11-year-old son of a gang-member, who turned informant. In retaliation, he  tortured the boy for more than two years in an effort to get the fellow mobster to retract his testimony. The boy was later murdered and his remains were disposed of in sulphuric acid.

Brusca’s 1992 murder of anti-Mafia crusader and magistrate Giovanni Falcone, along with Falcone’s wife and several bodyguards, eventually led to “The Pig’s” arrest in May 1996. A smooth talker, the Mafia killer managed to secure improved treatment by acting as an informer himself, which caused controversy in Italy, with many of his victims’ relatives reacting with outrage over the government’s cooperation with criminals. Damningly, Brusca’s confessions alleged that ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi paid the Mafia to have things “kept in order.”

After his arrest Brusca, himself started to collaborate. Initially, his collaboration met with skepticism, fearing his ‘repentance’ might be a ruse to escape the harsh prison terms reserved for ranking Mafia bosses. Many questioned whether the state should offer  protection, as well as a salary and the promise of  leniency. In the first three months, much of what Brusca said turned out to be either unverifiable or false, and a growing chorus of politicians called for a tightening of the collaboration system.

Despite having confessed numerous murders and other criminal activities, he was not granted the status of full collaborator until February 1999. Until that time Brusca was described as a talking witness. Although much of his evidence eventually was judged to be credible, suspicions remained that his collaboration was part of a strategy,

In 2004, it was reported that Brusca was allowed out of prison for one week every forty-five days to see his family, a reward for his good behavior as well as becoming an informant and co-operating with the authorities. Relatives of his many victims were angry at such seemingly soft treatment for a multiple-killer.

The Brusca family land was ultimately seized by the government and in 2000, handed over to an organization called the Consortium for Legal Development, an organization that restores property confiscated from imprisoned mafioso and gives them back to the community. The small stone farmhouse at San Giuseppe Jato , which is 40 minutes from Palermo was renovated in 2004. Tourists can enjoy organic pasta milled from wheat grown on Brusca’s land and organic wine made from his vineyards by the Placido Rizzotto cooperative, named after the union leader from Corleone, who was shot by the mafia in 1948.

While researching, I just found an article that shows one of those confiscated homes that was turned into a Bed and Breakfast by the government. I love hearing things like this because it helps put money back into the community. That’s quite a money-maker.  Here’s the link: http://old.seattletimes.com/html/travel/2012720646_trmafialodging29.html