Fugitive TNGOP poster boy and TNGA House nominee captured in Guatemala (Spanish video)

Run time: 01:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5SFb6P3XgI   Posted on YouTube: October 06, 2010 By YouTube Member: PNCdeGuatemala Views on YouTube: 483   Posted on DU: October 22, 2010 By DU Member: doeriver Views on DU: 442

 

Captured: Franklin fugitive who went on the run with wife and 10 children caught in Guatemala
http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2010/10/6/captured
By Ken Whitehouse
10-06-2010 10:11 AM —

And the backstory: Former State House candidate a fugitive: Multiple law enforcement agencies seeking Franklin fraudster, along with his wife and nine children; 'He likes to try and fit in with the Amish community'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5SFb6P3XgI&feature=player_embedded#!

By Ken Whitehouse
02-23-2010 2:00 PM —
A former financial advisor who has been a Republican candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives and a GOP operative is a wanted man by a number of law enforcement agencies.

Jeffrey L. Cassman, formerly of Franklin-based Cassman Consulting and Cassman Financial, went missing, along with his wife and nine (possibly 10) children, soon after he learned in October of 2008 that he was about to be arrested on federal mail fraud charges.

This occurred shortly after he was permanently barred from conducting business as a broker-dealer, investment adviser or insurance agent by the state of Tennessee.

He is now wanted by the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and possibly a number of other law enforcement agencies. In addition to them, his wife’s parents also are anxiously waiting news.

On Feb. 28, 2008, Cassman signed a consent order with the Tennessee Securities Division and the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Insurance in which he agreed to the order’s conditions and said he would pay $60,000 in civil penalties and $191,500 in restitution.

Regulators censured Cassman after it was discovered that his registration to sell securities had lapsed and that he had taken money from several clients to invest in tax liens, but never put the funds to work or returned them to clients.

Among those bilked by Cassman are the parents of his wife, Sara. Barry and Esther Vandeberghe say he took them for more than $130,000, but what is more important to them is that he has gone on the run with their daughter and grandchildren...

...A controversial political past

The Vandeberghes believe that Cassman has brainwashed their daughter. They said that, in Cassman’s world, “If you are not a Catholic, or a good Catholic, it doesn’t matter if he lies to you. He believes he is getting extra points in heaven by attending Latin mass. He used his religion to gain other investors – that and hanging around political people.”

Barry stated, “I have more respect for Bernie Madoff than I do Jeff Cassman. He wanted to be a lawmaker but thinks he is above the law.”

In 2000 and 2001, Cassman was a candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives. He won the GOP nomination for a Williamson County seat in his first attempt, but lost the next year.

While running against Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike Williams in 2000, many say now that they suspected that Cassman had employed an African-American female to run as independent in order to siphon off minority votes from the Democratic ticket.

Cassman eventually admitted to encouraging an employee of his own office to become involved in the “independent” campaign. A close friend of Cassman’s also managed that campaign until the Williamson County Election Commission removed the person’s name from the ballot.

Williams resigned his seat in 2001 to return to the private sector. Cassman subsequently ran for office again but was defeated by current state Rep. Glen Casada (R-Franklin)...

(much more at hyperlink above)

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