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Today’s Billings Gazette article reveals that Two Rivers Authority board members are beginning to question the wisdom of sealing the deal with Michael Hilton (aka ‘any one of the numerous aliases’).

On Monday, when Two Rivers Authority, the city’s economic development arm that built the jail, met to discuss possible changes in its proposed contract with APF, board president Gary Arneson said APF needs to replace Hilton as a representative to Hardin.

No kidding! But ‘Hilton’ is not just the ‘representative’; he’s the man who incorporated APPF. He IS APPF. You can’t have one without the other.

“I agree,” said Mayor Ron Adams, standing in the audience. “He has no credibility in this community at all.”

Gee, ya’ think?

After a short discussion of the contract, the board was about to move on to another subject when board member Robert Crane asked to speak.

“It just seems like it’s one thing after another, and there’s too many red flags coming up,” Crane said.

Good for Robert Crane (not the same Bob Crane who played Colonel Hogan on Hogan’s Heroes of course, although this entire story is playing out like one of Hogan’s schemes to counter Klink and the Germans). Hardin’s Robert Crane is using his head, and he’s been doing a little digging.

You see, ‘Captain’ Michael Hilton had assured TRA board members that their empty detention center would be in experienced hands, although the Detention Chief’s identity could not be revealed–yet. Hilton said ‘people would be shocked’ when they learned the identity of the ‘high caliber’ gentleman who would be running the facility. As it turns out, that ‘high caliber’ gentleman was also shocked. Read the rest of this entry →

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(BILLINGS GAZETTE) — A California judge has ordered American Police Force figure Michael Hilton – a felon with a history of fraud seeking to operate an empty Montana jail – to appear in court on Oct. 27 over an outstanding judgment in a fraud lawsuit.

via Montana jail entrepreneur ordered to appear in California court .

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For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the insertion of ‘private’ into the company name helps with any potential legal action. If I understand California regulations, it is unlawful to use the word ‘police’ in the name of any private investigative agency.

Note also that the company’s ‘logo’ has changed from the Serbian coat of arms (though it’s still in the Flash movie at the top) to an Eagle. Becky Shay told KULR8 News that the logo change was simply  “the quickest thing he could to diffuse [sic] tension”.  Shay claimed to have no knowledge of any litigation pending from the Serbian consulate.

By the way, today’s the firs time I’ve noticed the music playing in a small Flash window beneath the logo — Ravel’s ‘Bolero’. Interesting.

Surprisingly, the contract between APF (oops, I guess that’s APPF now) and Two Rivers Authority is still on the table, and a town meeting is scheduled for this afternoon (Monday, Oct. 5) at 3:00 pm at Hardin City Hall.

To see the changes for yourself, visit the APPF website.

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The ambulance chaser cuts and runs. No big surprise.

A California attorney who worked with a fledgeling security company to take over an empty jail in rural Montana has cut his ties to the project.

Santa Ana attorney Maziar Mafi had served as the legal affairs director for American Police Force. His departure follows revelations that the company’s lead figure – Michael Hilton – is a convicted felon with a history of fraud and failed business dealings.

via California attorney cuts ties to Hardin jail project .

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This video shows Greg Smith, the president of the Two Rivers Authority — he’s the same Greg Smith who was asked to step down three weeks ago with no explanation. Maybe Smith objected to the APF deal.

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