By JOHN SARSFIELD
Special to The Pinnacle
Readers of The Pinnacle no doubt have noticed the increase in
activity surrounding the Los Valienties case lately. The reason why
is the case against the shadowy group is drawing to a close. The
Los Valienties, or
”
LVs
”
as we call them, have been accused of attempting to profit by
employing tactics of extortion against people they were opposed to
for political or other reasons.
The district attorney’s office brought this case in the name of
the People of the State of California because of the direct threat
these types of tactics pose to the public at large. No organization
or group of individuals is allowed to engage in extortion schemes.
In federal law, this is referred to as
”
racketeering.
”
In state law, it’s called
”
street terrorism.
”
This is the same law we use to fight gangs.
By JOHN SARSFIELD
Special to The Pinnacle
Readers of The Pinnacle no doubt have noticed the increase in activity surrounding the Los Valienties case lately. The reason why is the case against the shadowy group is drawing to a close. The Los Valienties, or “LVs” as we call them, have been accused of attempting to profit by employing tactics of extortion against people they were opposed to for political or other reasons.
The district attorney’s office brought this case in the name of the People of the State of California because of the direct threat these types of tactics pose to the public at large. No organization or group of individuals is allowed to engage in extortion schemes. In federal law, this is referred to as “racketeering.” In state law, it’s called “street terrorism.” This is the same law we use to fight gangs.
Presently, the case is before the court on an issue of whether the LVs will have to pay money damages to their numerous victims, and return to the taxpayers the approximate $300,000 in court costs the county of San Benito has spent fighting the shakedown schemes.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that as Judgment Day for the LVs draws closer, their members will start to agitate in ever more shrill tones against the district attorney’s office and anyone else opposed to their actions.
No doubt, we will all be subjected to another flood of “Stop Corruption” nonsense, brought to us courtesy of these modern day pirates.
Real “corruption” is a conspiracy to file false police reports against one’s enemies in an effort to destroy their careers, their businesses and their reputations. Real corruption is threatening elected officials with exposure of made up allegations of crime, if they don’t capitulate to the demands of the LVs. Real corruption is filing baseless lawsuits in an effort to shake down the taxpayers who pay just to make the lawsuit go away.
So why should you care, as you are reading this paper, what the LVs did to a few of your friends and neighbors? Here’s why: next time the person they decide to destroy might be you, your neighbor, your spouse, or your son or daughter. Is this the type of community we want to have? We have enough real problems without fighting the malicious and extortionate lies of the racketeers.
When the court finally authorizes the release of the LV members’ names, you will likely not be surprised if they turned out to be exactly who we all thought they were. Unfortunately, some of them are most likely government officials, or those that aspire to those positions.
If that is the case, then our local governments will be facing a real crisis in leadership. How will local governments function, if they have been co-opted by what is essentially a band of pirates?
What is at stake in this lawsuit is nothing less than the future of San Benito County. Rest assured, this office will do everything it can, within the law, to stop these people by bringing them to justice.
John Sarsfield is district attorney for San Benito County.
