HELENA - Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock launched an investigation Thursday into American Police Force, the California company founded by a Serbian immigrant with a lengthy criminal history that is seeking to run an empty, 464-bed jail in Hardin.

Bullock sent a nine-page demand letter late Thursday afternoon to Becky Shay, the spokeswoman for APF and the company's only Montana employee.

Shay did not immediately respond to phone calls Thursday.

According to the document, Bullock is launching the civil investigation into APF over concerns that the company might be violating the Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

Among other things, Bullock demanded that the company provide proof for many statements about the company included on APF's Web site. The site says that the company frequently has contracts with the U.S. government and has operations in all 50 states.

Research into the company has turned up no record of APF contracting with the federal government. Bullock has requested that the company provide proof of its federal contracts and operations in other states.

Bullock also requested a copy of the contract between APF and Two Rivers Authority, the economic development arm of the city of Hardin, which built the jail two years ago.

The contract is reportedly a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with APF to run the jail.

Although Michael Hilton, the man behind APF, and local officials say the deal is as good as done, US Bank, the trustee for the bonds sold to build the jail, has never signed off on it.

Bullock further requested that the company disclose any lawsuits filed against the company or Hilton and provide the state with any correspondence between APF and any government agency that has accused the company of being deceptive.

Bullock also sent a letter Thursday to Gary Arneson and Al Peterson, leaders of Two Rivers Authority. Peterson could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Both letters were sent the day after The Billings Gazette and Associated Press reported that Hilton has an extensive criminal past with $1.1 million in outstanding civil judgments against him. Hilton, who has a long list of aliases, left his native Serbia in the 1970s and has served time in U.S. prisons.

Hilton uses the military title "captain," but said this week it does not refer to an actual military rank. Hilton has claimed he has military experience, but no record of such experience has been found.

Also on Thursday, Montana's three-man congressional delegation all said they have questions about APF, even as they support Hardin's efforts to drum up jobs for its people.

"Like many Montanans, Max is keeping an eye on the situation in Hardin," said Ty Matsdorf, a spokesman for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Aaron Murphy, a spokesman for Sen. Jon Tester, also a Democrat, said Tester has "a lot of questions" about APF. "Hardin and all of Montana need to benefit from whatever's in store for the Two Rivers jail."

A spokesman for Rep. Denny Rehberg, a Republican, said "important questions need to be answered," and added "any deal that creates jobs and economic prosperity without putting Montanans at risk is something Denny would support in any way he can."

Rehberg in May wrote a letter to state officials urging Montana to consider placing its own inmates at the jail if the state needed more prison cells.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_...

Views: 33

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

Doc Vega, Chris of the family Masters, cheeki kea and 3 more were featured

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega replied to FREEDOMROX's discussion Infrastructure Bill, now LAW, steals all privacy in your CAR by 2026! China, here we come!
"Two things: They're going to make future cars unaffordable with all these damn gadgets. There…"
11 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Paid Government Terrorists Coming for You
"Agreed friend. I remember reading how Germans could ask Germans how they could rationalize being so…"
11 hours ago
FREEDOMROX commented on Ragnarok's video
Thumbnail

Australia: 95-year-old taser victim dies in hospital | 7NEWS

"Special place in Hell for heartless cowards that carry out the Stalinist agenda of eliminating the…"
15 hours ago
Sandy posted videos
22 hours ago
Doc Vega's 3 blog posts were featured
23 hours ago
FREEDOMROX's 2 blog posts were featured
23 hours ago
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
23 hours ago
cheeki kea's blog post was featured

Poop Pills For All Your Ills.

Just when you've thought you had heard it all something more disgusting pops up although I'ld…See More
23 hours ago
Burbia commented on Doc Vega's blog post FBI, CIA, and NSA Poised to steal 2024 Election all Over Again
yesterday
FREEDOMROX favorited Doc Vega's blog post Paid Government Terrorists Coming for You
yesterday
FREEDOMROX commented on Doc Vega's blog post Paid Government Terrorists Coming for You
"You are seeing the Rise of the New Gestapo... These are the exact same tactics used in Germany.…"
yesterday
FREEDOMROX posted a discussion
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
tjdavis posted videos
yesterday
tjdavis posted photos
Saturday
tjdavis favorited Less Prone's photo
Saturday
Burbia commented on Ragnarok's video
Saturday
Ragnarok posted a video

Passenger opens exit door during airplane flight in South Korea; 12 injured

A passenger opened an emergency exit door during a plane flight in South Korea on Friday, causing air to blast inside the cabin and slightly injure 12 people...
Saturday
Burbia commented on cheeki kea's blog post 2025 populations forecast.
"Anybody notice that before Covid-19, the US forecast population was around 70 million? The adjusted…"
Saturday
Alex Stinger is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Saturday

© 2023   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted