Raw Story
Montana's attorney general launched an investigation Thursday into a California company that wants to take over an empty jail in the rural city of Hardin, following revelations that the company's lead figure is a convicted felon with a history of fraud.
Citing "significant concerns" about the city's dealings with American Police Force, Attorney General Steve Bullock asked Hardin economic development officials to produce by Oct. 12 all documents related to their dealings with the company.
His office made a similar demand of American Police Force, including information that would back up Hilton's claims of multiple defense contracts with the U.S government and other agencies.
The launch of the investigation came as some Hardin officials began backing away from American Police Force. The city's Two Rivers Authority reached a 10-year deal on the jail with the company last month.
But that was never ratified by US Bank, the trustee on the construction bonds used to pay for the 464-bed facility.
Attorney Becky Convery, who helped negotiate the deal, said Hilton overstepped his bounds when he showed up in Hardin last week with three Mercedes SUVs marked with fictitious "Hardin Police Department" logos.
Wow! Three M-B krautcans! Good score, Hardin! Ya oughta be able to hire a constable with the proceeds from two and let him drive the third!
He pledged to donate the SUVs to the city and also offered to provide law enforcement for Hardin for $250,000 a year. That prospect has stirred suspicion among critics that rural Hardin, population 3,500, could be transformed into a privately run police state.
I've got a sneakin' hunch that those rural Montanans ain't about to let that happen. They're probably better armed than the phony Podunk P.D. and have more attitude about 'government interference' than you can shake a stick at.
Hardin just wants a deal to fill their new $20-something million dollar jail with Gitmo detainees. The guys who got the town into this boondoggle in the first place are probably tired of hearing how they fucked up and were a pretty easy mark for a city slicker with a good story.
Most who knew him described Hilton alternately as an art dealer, cook, restaurant owner, land developer, loan broker and car salesman.
Add 'con man' to that, although it may be redundant. Best of luck, Hardin.
I just gotta put this comment from Wednesday's post in here:
Obama should use the Hardin prison for the Gitmo crowd and send a note to Max Baucus saying "Thanks for all your help on healthcare, Love Barack"
montag
Brilliant!
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