Month: January 2015

NYU Documentary Film Festival Features Jonathan Fleming, Bob Rahn & Kim Anklin in The Trouble with Innocence

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  On Saturday, February 7, Bob Rahn and Kim Anklin of Management Resources LTD of NY will be attending the 2015 NYU News and Doc Film Festival. Director and journalist Yamiche Alcindor interviewed the pair for THE TROUBLE WITH INNOCENCE, her film account of the wrongful conviction and exoneration of Jonathan Fleming. A breaking news reporter for USA Today, Alcindor also covers social issues affecting the lives of people across the country. In her film THE TROUBLE WITH INNOCENCE she relates the conditions and deprivation of Jonathan Fleming, who was wrongly convicted of murder and serving a 25 years to life sentence before his April 2014 exoneration. Fleming was set free with only $93 to rebuild his life. She speaks with Fleming about his experience, his exoneration, the long term affects his conviction had on his family, his current situation, and his plans for the future. Also interviewed for the film is Kings County District Attorney, Kenneth Thompson whose office whose office inherited over 100 cases of questionable convictions being reviewed by the Conviction Review Unit which was …

Freedom Keys, Dottie Laster

Keys to Freedom Art Projects Benefit Human Trafficking Victims

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Finding exceptional ways for funding the aftercare of victims of human trafficking can be challenging. The aftercare needs of survivors are quite extensive and include physical, mental, and emotional assistance, sometimes for several years. Dottie Laster created TRAFFICKED Designs a few years ago, a company which teaches survivors how to make jewelry pieces which they design, make and sell for profit. Using acquired skills of the survivors to design and create jewelry, art, and other products, the company assists rescued victims to better assimilate back into society by learning skills to re-enter the job market successfully. Laster recently added a new product line to TRAFFICKED Designs, her original paintings and prints. The “Keys to Freedom” collection uses the theme for the visualization of those who are unlocking the keys to bondage and setting those ensnared in trafficking on their way to freedom. Laster’s first original painting sold promptly leading her to see there was a market for her works. She has since made prints and other products available using the designs from her original paintings. Using mixed media and …

Frank Cullotta's Casino Tour

Casino (The Movie): 20 Years After

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  Amidst the bright flashing lights in the city with no clocks, time was ticking for those who were skimming millions from the most popular gambling spots in Sin City, Las Vegas. The blockbuster movie of 1995 was Casino, based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi and filmed by Martin Scorsese. Filled with stars like Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci, and the backdrop of Las Vegas in its heyday, Casino was another Mafia hit from the genre that gave us The Godfather and Goodfellas. Audiences were taken back to a time when Vegas was ruled by the Mob, specifically the Chicago Outfit. Gaining a foothold in the gambling mecca meant millions were skimmed off the top, with no record, and delivered to the Mob bosses via Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. The film re-creates the true story of power, money, and murder and how it all came tumbling down. Frank Cullotta played an integral part in the burglary operations of the Vegas crew known as the Hole in the Wall Gang because of their signature …

No Body Homicide Cases Book cover

Shattered Lives Radio: Tad DiBiase “No Body” Prosecutor

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Often in missing persons cases the perpetrators are arrested before a body or remains are found if there is enough evidence or probable cause to show that the victim met with foul play. It’s a common belief that murder charges can not be established without a body to prove that a homicide has actually occurred, but that’s not the case, and there are hundreds of cases successfully prosecuted without a body. Tad DiBiase, known as the “No Body Guy” began his career as a corporate litigator then changed course when joining the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in 1995. Specializing in domestic violence and forensic homicide cases in the gritty D.C. Superior Court, DiBiase tried the city’s second “no body” case ever, followed by several other high profile cases. He’s the nation’s leading expert in “no body” cases and often consults with law enforcement and prosecutors across the country. In his book, No-Body Homicide Cases: A Practical Guide to Investigating, Prosecuting and Winning Cases When the Victim is Missing, DiBiase offers a practical guide for police and prosecutors and provides an …

St. Francis College Lecture with Jonathan Fleming

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Originally posted on The Memobook:
On October 28, 2014 Bob Rahn, Kim Anklin, and Jonathan Fleming were honored to be guest lecturers hosted by Professor Emily Horowitz at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. Their presentation to the class covered wrongful convictions and the high price of innocence, specifically Fleming’s wrongful conviction and subsequent exoneration. Joining Rahn and Anklin, Jonathan Fleming  was able to speak to students and faculty about his first hand experience of being innocently incarcerated for close to 25 years and what it took to regain his freedom. Each spoke about their direct participation in re-investigating Fleming’s conviction and uncovering prosecutorial misconduct and overlooked evidence. Fleming was exonerated in April of 2014. While the case has many compelling aspects, two exceptionally important events effected its outcome. First, Kim and Bob were successful in obtaining a sworn affidavit from a new witness that was the impetus behind the Kings County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit reopening its case and agreeing to work with them. Secondly, they located a witness and obtained a recorded statement and signed affidavit in…