PRIVATE EYES OF TEXAS

December of 2006 Edition

A Message from J.J.,

gradoni-jan-13

Another year has flown by and I can’t believe we have been working with our clients for 18 years. During this period, I have learned two very important fundamentals.

First, surround yourself with competent people, who have the desire to go below the surface and find out all of the facts they can about what ever they are investigating for a client.Secondly, to never form an opinion about what you are investigating, because things, many times, are not what they appear to be.

I would like to thank each and every client for the support you have given our firm over the years. Best Wishes from everyone on our staff for a blessed holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2007.

**IDENTITY THEFT TIP**

Did you know that when you receive a credit card type hotel room key, embedded in the card is your name, room number, partial home address, check in and check out date, your credit card number and expiration date.

When you turn the card into the front desk at check-out, any employee with the proper scanning device can access the information into a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Make sure you throw those cards away.

CAPITAL CASES

Since 2000, Gradoni & Associates has been involved in 101 Capital Cases in Harris County, the Federal System and surrounding counties.

We are involved now in 19 pending cases. Our services have been solicited in every case by attorneys appointed by the courts. We learned quickly that it is imperative that no stone be left unturned since our client is facing life imprisonment and/or death by injection. In many cases, we are fighting an uphill battle against overwhelming evidence put together by the State against our client. The experience has been to say the least, very intense and humbling. A special thanks to those attorneys who allow us to assist them in their efforts to defend the accused.

NEW ADDITION TO STAFF

Gus Meza

Gus brings 24 years of law enforcement experience to our staff. Gus began his law enforcement career in 1982 as a police officer in Nogales, Arizona. Gus then spent 3 years as a Border Patrol Agent, and 18 years as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent for the Immigration and Nationalization Service, now Homeland Security.

Gus is fluent in the Spanish language and also holds a Commercial Pilot’s License.

During his law enforcement career, Gus attended numerous training academies and law enforcement schools. Gus is a skilled investigator, whose work product has proven to be thorough and timely.

I am sure that Gus’ addition to our staff will enhance the work product we provide to all our clients.

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE DEFENSE AND RESOURCE CENTER

In September of this year, Carey Wellmaker and I attended the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center Conference held in Las Vegas. Our firm has a steady case load of sexual offense cases in which we are either hired or appointed to help in the defense of the accused. Many of these cases have no witnesses or physical evidence and basically turn out to be a shouting match between the victim and the Defendant.

Our goal in attending the seminar was to learn more about how to defend cases of this nature. We received training in competent interviewing of children, coerced and false confessions, injuries mistakenly taken for abuse, a primer in understanding head injuries, burns, bruises and abdominal injuries and other related subjects. We both came away with a better understanding of how to prepare a solid defense for our clients.

OVERRUN BY JUNK MAIL, TELEPHONE SOLICITATION, UNWANTED FAXES?

You can have your name removed from those lists that generate much of the unsolicited mail, faxes and telephone calls you receive.

1. To remove all variations of your name and addresses that have appeared on direct mail, write to:

Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, New York 11735

2. To get rid of intrusive telephone solicitors, send your name and address to:

Telephone Preference Services
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, New York 11735

3. Eliminate junk faxes by calling Technologies Solutions International, National No-Call Registry Service at (404) 847-8785.

Cases Reviewed In This Edition of The Newsletter
Private Investigators of Texas

The Alleged Ft. Bend County Fondling

David Cunningham represented a Fort Bend County teacher charged with fondling a student. Gradoni & Associates Investigates During our investigation, we developed a number of fellow staff members and students who testified about the Defendant’s credibility and professional association with the students. As a result of the testimony, the jury did not believe the Complainant’s…
Parking Garage

The Parking Lot Criminal Mischief Investigation

Windi Akins & Paul Looney each represented 1 of 2 co-defendants charged with criminal mischief and assault as a result of an early morning parking lot altercation. A female accused the pair of cutting in front of her vehicle as they exited the parking lot, smashing her car door and throwing beer bottles at her…
Maintenance Man

The Case of the Maintenance MAN

Stanley Toupek represented a maintenance man, who had a sexual relationship with an adult female tenant at the complex where he worked. Seven months after the relationship ended, the female delivered a child and then made a rape allegation against the Defendant. Gradoni’s Team Investigates Through our investigation we were able to develop information that…
Houston Background Checks

The Case of the Mistaken Robber

AGGRAVATED ROBBERY DISMISSAL Attorney Karen Barney represented a male charged with Aggravated Robbery. The police report identified the actor as an individual with the street name “D’West”. Gradoni’s Detectives Investigate The defendant claimed from the very beginning that he was the wrong individual charged (heard that before). Our team of investigators interviewed individuals who identified…
Starving

The Filicide by Starvation Investigation

Attorney Skip Cornelius represented a mother who was charged with starving her child to death. The initial situation was not very encouraging because the mother had CPS problems in the past, was living in a motel, had a history of prostitution and already had another child die while in her care. Gradoni & Associates Investigates During…
Surveillance

The “Follow My Husband” Surveillance

An individual hired Gradoni & Associates to follow her husband because his actions indicated to her that he might be having an affair. Gradoni & Associates Surveils The Husband Investigators followed the husband on various occasions and found that he liked to visit a certain adult bookstore, joining up with other males in a private…

Workmen’s Compensation Fraud Uncovered

We were hired by the Veteran’s Administration to surveil an individual who has been out of work for over 2 years claiming that her injuries will not even let her do light duty office work. Gradoni & Associates Investigates When we first started surveillance, we found that the individual was very trim and fit. After…
Falsely Accused Man Crying

The Falsely Accused Rapist Inquiry

Attorney Windi Akins represented a male who was accused of raping his long time live in girlfriend at knife point. The defendant claimed from the beginning that he was innocent. Shortly after the charges were filed, the Harris County Judge revoked the defendant’s bond. The defendant sat in the Harris County jail for 7 months…
Book Keeping Fraud Accountant

The Collection Agency Embezzlement Case

One of our corporate clients, a collection agency, noticed some irregularities in two of their checking accounts. Gradoni & Associates Takes The Case Our investigation revealed that the bookkeeper had been making checks payable to himself, showing in the ledger the checks were going to vendors. The total theft exceeded $170,000 over a year period.…
Embarrassed Woman

The Case of The Uncle’s Ex-Wife

Attorney Danny Easterling represented an individual charged with sexually assaulting his uncle’s ex-wife at his grandmother’s apartment while everyone present was consuming lots of alcohol. Gradoni & Associates Investigates Our investigation determined that the complainant did not have a sterling character. The defendant claimed the sexual encounter was consensual between the pair. Our investigation produced…

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GRADONI & ASSOCIATES

13810 Champions Forest Dr #210
Houston, TX 77069
MAP TO OFFICE
Toll Free: 800-803-9186
Local: 281-440-0800 • Fax: 281-440-0208

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THE TRUTH MAKES A DIFFERENCE