Requesting information on specialized training of agents for BCI
| Submitted | Jan. 20, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: John Smith
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Ohio Open Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
The Ohio Attorney General's Office through it's agents at the BCI spent years investigating a church and it's members for cult activity. The investigation was initiated by the agency at the request of one individual and was ancillary to a criminal investigation for alleged securities fraud. The BCI investigators have no obvious educational or experiential qualities to be able to investigate and file charges against a church. The church was targeted by the individual who originally filed a complaint with them to recover money in a civil lawsuit. A church has potentially deep pockets through it's members who could be compelled to pay up.
I am requesting information on the training that investigators with BCI receive relative to identifying and investigating cult activity. More specifically, the training of BCI investigators Leo Fernandez and Richard Ward who investigated an alleged cult, Ark by the River Fellowship Ministries Inc. Ultimately agents Fernandez and Ward moved to have charges filed in Hamilton County Ohio case # B 1400589-D against Ark by the River Fellowship Ministries Inc, indictment filed February 25, 2014.
Agents Leo Fernandez and Richard Ward conducted numerous interviews relative to this case. What specialized training and experience do these agents have (Leo Fernandez is a Certified Public Accountant by profession) to investigate, identify and conclude that cult activities are taking place? The freedom of religious expression is one of our fundamental rights in the constitution. What guidelines does BCI and Ohio's Attorney General use for identifying worshiping practices that so rise to the level of cultism that freedom of religious expression can be ignored?
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I would request your response within ten (10) business days.
Sincerely,
John Smith
From: Jill Del Greco
Mr. Smith,
Please see attached.
Jill Del Greco
Public Information Officer - Communications
Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
Office number: 614-728-4946
Cell number: 614-301-1827
jill.delgreco@ohioattorneygeneral.gov
[Description: ZA102637861]<http://www.facebook.com/ohioattorneygeneral>[Description: ZA102637858]<http://www.twitter.com/ohioag> [Description: instagram2] <http://www.instagram.com/mikedewine_ohioag/>
From: Jill Del Greco
Mr. Smith,
Please see attached.
Thank you,
[cid:image004.png@01D27C7D.975E94C0]
Jill Del Greco
Public Information Officer - Communications
Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
Office number: 614-728-4946
Cell number: 614-301-1827
Section number: 614-466-3840
jill.delgreco@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov<mailto:jill.delgreco@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov>
[Description: ZA102637861]<http://www.facebook.com/ohioattorneygeneral>[Description: ZA102637858]<http://www.twitter.com/ohioag>[Description: instagram2]<http://www.instagram.com/mikedewine_ohioag/>
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 20, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Jill Del Greco
The February 1, 2017 response was the final response.
Thank you,
[cid:image001.png@01D28053.8EA8E540]
Jill Del Greco
Public Information Officer - Communications
Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
Office number: 614-728-4946
Cell number: 614-301-1827
Section number: 614-466-3840
jill.delgreco@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov<mailto:jill.delgreco@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov>
[Description: ZA102637861]<http://www.facebook.com/ohioattorneygeneral>[Description: ZA102637858]<http://www.twitter.com/ohioag>[Description: instagram2]<http://www.instagram.com/mikedewine_ohioag/>
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