Federal Fraud Case

[system]

The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and not those of the Chronicle of the Horse;

There are a lot of accusations being thrown out here, many of which are false. These accusations are one or more person’s opinions, and their personal views of things that they believe happened in the past, and are not based on true facts. It is a continuing case of “He said She said”.
These men have served their time and have lives to rebuild, and they deserve the opportunity to do that without being demeaned further.

[Snowbird]

I have a suggestion. I would like to see if there is anyone who can produce proposed Rule Changes for the USEF with clear terms and conditions that are definable and measurable. The rule must leave no room for ambiguity or discrimination.

There are a great many of us who agree on the principle if not all about the specific people. It has always seemed to me this was possible if there was a general will to see it done. Rule Changes must be submitted on the prescribed forms before June of 2006.

You should follow up with mass letters to all the Committees of the USEF because it will be a General Rule and not discipline or Breed specific. And, copies of all those letters with USEF Membership numbers to the entire Board of Directors.

I am sure that the members of usAHSA would be pleased to be helpful with Media Releases. If it is done very publicly and with enough people I believe the time is right if we can devise the proper terminology. This is within the Regulatory authority of the USEF and what is in the best interests of the sport and the Federation.

This is something long overdue and should get mass support. Although we do not as Members have a vote we do have a voice and I believe the Federation would listen. With tenacity and perserverence I think the principles can be defined to cover the elements of this issue.

I think this may be an issue whose time has come.

[Snowbird]

It was Shakespeare who wrote it for the Richard III he had in his script to say. There is no other evidence that Richard III was the originator. I don’t believe there is any reason to think Shakespeare was a journalist publishing a quote.

[kfildes]

Well I’m sure people can change. Obviously neither of them are going to do anything quite like they did before, I’m sure they don’t want to go back to jail.

If you have any first hand knowledge of these two you would not state this. I have no doubt in my mind that they will do whatever they can to get back to their routine. Keg knows no other way to make a living.

Personally I can not believe that knowing all that these men did that ANYONE would want to hire them. There are plenty of decent trainers out there in the world, stooping to hire these guys tells me someone is either a crook themselves or desperate. Why else would you want to be associated with them?

[Snowbird]

What about Ken Berlin he’s still in jail and a Member of USEF in good standing. Do you know what he looks like?

I wish we did have pictures to post.

[kfildes]

RNB:

Thank you for starting this thread. For many years I felt really angry at the horse establishment because I kept getting the message that no one really cared about these two and the crimes they were committing. We also went down the long and very expensive road of hiring a lawyer and sueing them both, along with the accomplices that helped them in our case. The legal fees were large and they happened to have a big shot lawyer from NY that road blocked us every chance he could (even though they ADMITTED to what they did to us). We ended up having to drop the case because the costs were just too high to bring it to any conclusion - and I was bitter about it for a long time. I am so glad to know that others had more resolve and that they were eventually tried and sent to prison.

I have no respect for anyone who defends these two. They exemplify the worst the horse business has to offer and given the chance they will do so again … the minute they step foot out of prison.

[Mary_Waickman]

Hello again!

Sorry, just can’t seem to keep out of this conversation…

“I never said it wasn’t helpful. There are two issues here: for those who don’t know about this type of person, there should be caution when dealing with trainers or anyone who holds themselves out to be “experts”.” (t8ksilk)

Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately there are very few places people can go to check out “experts”, except the OTHER “experts” in the sport. I am a Saddlebred trainer, and though I may be able to see blatent bad training, I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea who in this sport is a crook and who is a stellar individual. Your next point, however:

“If you don’t intend to seek the root of the problem and attempt to help others out by urging equine organizations to devise regulations that prevent people like that from flourishing, the words are just that, words: and they only serve to make conversations interesting.”(t8ksilk)

is right on the mark.

“Are you…going to contact Judge Williams, or your local U.S. Attorney’s office, or your local horse shows association, when you hear about these people operating in Nokesville? If not, then to what end does your information and your conversation serve?”(t8ksilk)

I intend to do just that, and it is because of threads like this one, and people like me who fiddle around on the internet, that it is going to happen. We ALL have dirty laundry, but the only way it gets “washed” is to acknowledge it and DO something about it.

I guess I should clarify WHY this is so inportant to me, as I am an outsider, and to some, may have no business getting involved with this. As a trainer, regardless of breed or discipline, this kind of behavior gives ALL of us a “used car salesman” rap. The general public does not differentiate disciplines, except maybe between rodeo, racing and the rest of us, and we ALL are given the suspicion of shady dealings. I have enough trouble selling John or Jane Q. public on horse involvement, (expensive sport, time consumming, have to live on a farm, etc.) let alone horse ownership.

If this case, and other like it, finally get people cattle prodded into doing something proactive about policing our own, then we are that much further ahead.

Mary Waickman

[TWF]

Just a footnote here…Josh Cardine and Keg Berlin entered a GUILTY PLEA to the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Swindle of Livestock in Interstate Commerce in Federal Court,June 24,2004 RIchmond, VA. They were not convicted but decided not to face the court in the 76 charges associated with only three of their old “clients”.

By the way, after 8 years and thousands of dollars in legal fees and court costs, Grande Impression is back home just where she belongs.

[Timex]

the way i understand it, Joshua Cardine and Kenneth Berlin were essentially stealing horses, and were found guilty. While they were in prosin, the FBI found another horse that they had taken and not paid the breeder for. RNB, did i do ok? was your horse found?

[TWF]

Originally posted by Khamian Farms:

Unfortunately, the one wonderful lady I refer to above will probably continue to do business with Keg.

The Department of Justice will have something to say about that.

[Snowbird]

Horse Trading has always been a “Buyer Beware” kind of business. If you found the pony the people who have it and didn’t pay you for it they would have stolen property and you could get your property back and they would have to sue the agents.

If you make a consignment deal with someone they didn’t technically steal your horse. They just stole your money if you didn’t get paid. The only part I know of where the Government agencies have got into it, is if it was sold for more than 10% being retained by the dealer that’s illegal.

But, we as horse people are very bad at paper work and contracts. If your agent has the right in the contract to give the bill of sale then I think it just depends on how much if any of the money you got. BUT does your contract say anything like that?

We are our own worst enemies because we tred on the edge of the law all the time by not creating good binding contracts. For example I had a client signed all the Boarding contracts etc. But, they ran up a bill of $9,000 and stole their ponies out of the barn in the middle of the night. Even though I knew where they were I couldn’t get them back. In that family all their assets were in the wife’s name and she didn’t sign the boarding contract and there were 250 creditors in front of me after the father who had no money.

AH! but they got snookered by one of these can men too. They sold a pony I sold them for $4500.00 and they got $13,000.00 but they never saw the money because that creep disappeared into history with the mony his unpaid for trailer and his bad reputation.

[Khamian_Farms]

Ironically, to me anyway, I was introduced to Keg by Gail Forrest back in 2000.

I entered into a lease with Gail - since renamed the “lease from Hell” where she basically held my ponies hostage in an attempt to either a.) keep them or b.) extort money from me. Not really sure, as the whole thing was so illogical.

Took her to civil court and won - jury unanimous in my favor - but probably cost as much to fight as the $$$ value of the animals I was fighting for…

Just thought it interesting that I know who Keg is because of Gail.

Birds of a feather…

Julie
http://www.caspianpony.com

[Snowbird]

By all means please and if so email me the photos and I will be delighted to create a special page for the Horse people on the “most dangerous” list.

[Snowbird]

Sadly, NO! You don’t have a Bill of Sale. Check your state for the Stableman’s lean terms and conditions. In New Jersey you could have an auction sell the horse and keep from the sale what is owed to you and only that under the contract. You had agreed to keep it for free so she only owes you two months. The other people to whom she owes money can file leans against whatever the horse is sold for.

If noone else wants the horse you can buy it in a public auction for the money owed and get a Bill of Sale. Or you can bid it up if you want to keep it. But it needs to be an adverised auction with a licensed auctioneer. Which is why there are so many horses sold at auction. Many are the result of Estate sales as well. You may be able to sell it for it’s bills and I think you could legally because you have a cinsignment agreement. But, I’m not a lawyer just someone who has already made most of the mistakes during my 30+ years in the business.

This is where the slaughter problem comes up. They can be willing to pay for the horse and ship it it to wherever or they can pretend it was an accident if the horse died because no one is willing to invest in the horse.

[RNB]

Originally posted by dixieland86:
Anyone know what time Keg’s trial is in Richmond? I happen to lie up here and wouldn’t mind attending if I would be allowed? Anyone with info… thanks

Yes Dixieland86, anyone can attend. It is a hearing for Keg Berlin regarding his supervised release conditions and will be held in the Federal Court House Annex at 9:30 am on Main Street as stated by TWF. And for anyone who has never had the opportunity to observe a hearing in a Federal Courtroom it can be quite educational.

This will be the same type of hearing that was resently held for Josh Cardine. He too, would like to be able to do anything in the horse industry. Judge Richard Williams will make the ruling as to what he will allow (or not allow) Keg to do.

As with Josh’s hearing, if anyone would like to send a letter regarding why they feel he should not be allowed to conduct horse business during his 3 year probation please feel free to do so. Just PM me and I will give you the contact information for the Department of Justice.

[kfildes]

I just passed this on to my newsgroup Ponies-L. I hope that Bug is found.

[RNB]

Lord Helpus…what a wonderful idea!!!

[Mary_Waickman]

Hello!

I am new to the H/J forum, and really do enjoy learning new things. Being involved in the Sadlebred world, I do not know any of the people or events you all are discussing, but can surely relate to many of the same types of behavior It is, sadly, found in probably all disciplines and breeds.

If it would help, I would also send corespondence to whomever appropriate, although I know only that which has been posted on this forum. I find it REPREHENSIBLE that we, as organized horse sports, cannot seem to POLICE OUR OWN.

I have been first hand witness to child molesters and con artists continuing “business as usual” and would certainly help in an effort to eradicate loopholes that allow them to continue.

Mary Waickman
MWaickman@aol.com

[Snowbird]

Lest you forget the courage and time others have spent to bring justice around please read this thread.

[Snowbird]

Everyone must be at shows.