McGuireWoods Shadow government exposed in Richmond court filing

NIGHTMARES CONTINUE FOR VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY SHANNON TAYLOR

The day has come that Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor has been having nightmares about, on September 26, 2018, "International Fugitive" Nickolas Spanos has filed his "Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice" thirteen indictments for conspiracy to distribute cocaine dating back from 1998-1999. In his motion, he has exposed the "shadow government" that has controlled the Virginia justice system for at least 20 years and has put 3 generations of Henrico Prosecutors in the hot seat.

In his 300 page motion to dismiss the thirteen indictments, 240 pages are exhibits of evidence exposing the McGuireWoods "shadow government" controlling the Henrico Commonwealth Attorneys office, which done its best to keep the "international fugitive" from being prosecuted in the Henrico County courts, for allegedly distributing over 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond for over ten years. 

The motion to dismiss is highly unusual in many ways:

• The thirteen grand jury indictments are from 1998-99, twenty years old.

• The Defendant is acting Pro Se, representing himself.

• The Defendant is located in Greece and has filed his motion to be heard by video and audio conference.

• The Defendant has offered numerous times to turn himself in to U.S. DOJ officials and voluntarily be extradited to Virginia to face trial but HCCA Shannon Taylor refused to pay for his flight.

• The Defendant had been arrested in the Philippines in 2012 and was awaiting extradition for 19 months but HCCA Shannon Taylor refused to file an extradition request and the fugitive was sent back to his safe haven of Greece.

The original HCCA Howard "Toby" Vick, who claimed that Spanos was the "hub of an organization that distributed over 600 kilos of cocaine", had the sole responsibility to bring the fugitive to justice but betrayed his sworn duty to the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to get his "golden ticket" with McGuireWoods law firm. Until now, his "bribe" has paid off well, Howard Vick co-heads of the firm's white collar practice of McGuireWoods largest office out of 26 offices located internationally. CLICK TO SEE HOWARD VICK PROFILE

Howard Vick's decision to become deaf and blind as Henrico Chief prosecutor has earned him a mansion in Windsor farms worth over $2,000,000 and a summer home in Coral Cables, Florida.

The evidence of the September 26, 2018 motion exposes the "shadow government" operated by McGuireWoods law firm, the same law firm that represented Nickolas Spanos and his family. During the grand jury hearings, HCCA Howard "Toby" Vick was negotiating his partnership with McGuireWoods law firm and within one year of the last indictments being issued against Spanos, Howard Vick resigned early from the HCCA to join his mentor, Richard Cullen, the managing partner of McGuireWoods law firm.

Evidence of ex-FBI director James B. Comey is entangled in the "shadow government", James Comey was the assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia in 2001, who for no valid reason, voluntarily dismissed the Federal UFAP warrant against Nickolas Spanos. The 13 indictments were still active, there was no logic in dismissing the UFAP warrant, which took Spanos off the national and international criminal database and allowed him to renew his U.S. passport in 2006. James B. Comey was also a McGuireWoods partner prior to his joining the U.S. DOJ. Richard Cullen is also the godfather of one of James Comey's daughters.

The Motion to dismiss is based on the violation of Spanos's Constitutional rights, primarily the Speedy Trial Act of 1974. The evidence submitted shows that there was highly suspicious activity between the Henrico Commonwealths Attorney's office, U.S. Attorney's office (Richmond) and McGuireWoods law firm, concerning their lack of effort to extradite the fugitive despite knowing his exact location. 

For over 20 years, FBI officials in Virginia, Manila, Philippines and Greece had given the Henrico Commonwealth Attorneys exact information about Spanos to have him extradited to Virginia to be prosecuted but HCCA Howard Vick, Wade Kizer and Shannon Taylor refused to take any action, despite Spanos being arrested and detained in the Philippines for over 19 months awaiting extradition.

This unusual case is scheduled to be heard on January 17, 2019 at the Henrico Circuit Court and is one to follow as it will put pressure on the hearing judge to either abide by his sworn duty and uphold the Constitution or fall into the claws of the "shadow government".

McGuireWoods "shadow government" protected by the FBI

Evidence exposed of the McGuireWoods "shadow government" operating in Virginia's justice system is protected by the FBI.

As with any syndicate operating, protection is priority in order for the syndicate to flourish. Whether it be a mafia, gang or even a large law firm, infiltrating the justice system is the "insurance" in case things go wrong and the activity is exposed. To protect their operations or the members of the syndicate, certain tactics are used, either threats, bribes or positions, in any case, the law is being broken. But when the criminal syndicate is operating within the justice system, who investigates the syndicate members? The answer is the DOJ's watchdog, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but who investigates the FBI when they are part of this syndicate?

Our investigation into the Nickolas Spanos fugitive case has opened a can of worms that has turned into a nightmare for the FBI. The watchdog which has become part of the criminal syndicate can not prosecute its own, especially when the roots of this syndicate reaches the White house.

Criminal complaints were filed with the FBI White Collar Crime Richmond division about this criminal syndicate that has done its best to keep the fugitive Nickolas Spanos from being returned to Virginia to face the 13 grand jury indictments. The FBI Special Agent, Kathryn Weber, who took the report was quoted "Give me some time to digest all this", obviously shocked at the evidence that was given to her., the report was passed up to her superiors. Despite all the evidence of laws being shattered, the investigation has ended abruptly.

As we had covered in our earlier blogs about "avoiding to extradite a fugitive", we had exposed the big question of why the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney has done its best to keep a fugitive, who allegedly distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine in the Richmond area, from facing the 13 indictments by a grand jury in 1998-99. Despite his known location over the past 20 years and being arrested twice in order to be extradited, the HCCA continues to protect this fugitive, even though the fugitive Nickolas Spanos has even offered to turn himself in to the FBI in Athens, Greece, the HCCA does not want him. 

An email given to our investigators states that HCCA Shannon Taylor will not pay for the one way ticket for Nickolas Spanos to return to Virginia and be prosecuted for 13 grand jury indictments and allegedly distributing more that 600 kilos of cocaine. Shannon Taylor stated to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office that "Nickolas Spanos must voluntarily return to Virginia". How is that possible when Nickolas Spanos no longer has a U.S. passport and has an Interpol arrest warrant (red notice) issued in his name. Even if he bought the ticket, his name would appear in the airlines database and he would be denied a flight since he is an active fugitive. The Commonwealth is "obligated" to return a "fugitive from justice" by any legal means.

This fugitive has a high price on his head but the HCCA Shannon Taylor does not want to pay for a $400 plane ticket? What is $400 next to the failed extradition costs of over $100,000 in Greece? Add in the fact that Nickolas Spanos was arrested in the Philippines and held for 19 months awaiting extradition while HCCA Shannon Taylor committed perjury, shut the door on the Virginia justice system and would not answer the requests of the FBI in Manila to extradite Nickolas Spanos back to Virginia. Even the Philippine DOJ pleaded with HCCA Shannon Taylor to provide authenticated copies of the 13 grand jury indictments but she refused to answer their emails and calls.

This raises many suspicions along with questions, exactly who is HCCA Shannon Taylor protecting? The obvious answer is Nickolas Spanos but he is not alone, McGuireWoods Howard Vick is also a target as Howard Vick was the HCCA when the 13 grand jury indictments were issued in 1998-99 and despite having a Federal warrant issued to bring back fugitive Nickolas Spanos, HCCA Howard Vick did not even bother to cancel Spanos's U.S. passport or inform the Greek DOJ that Spanos had overstayed his 60 day visa, in which the Greek authorities would have been more than happy to send back an "international fugitive" that allegedly distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine and make big names for themselves in the international media. 

Why bother with prosecuting an international fugitive when Howard Vick had better things to do, like negotiating his "golden ticket" partnership with McGuireWoods Richard Cullen. If Howard Vick brought back Nickolas Spanos, his "golden ticket" would have been extinguished, as Nickolas Spanos was a client of McGuireWoods.

In protecting Howard Vick, Shannon Taylor is protecting Richard Cullen, because Richard Cullen is the head of the McGuireWoods "shadow government" and Richard Cullen is probably the most powerful lawyer in the United States at this writing. Richard Cullen is VP Mike Pence attorney as well as other powerful individuals, see article Richard Cullen facts. Just recently, President Trump appointed Richard Cullen's son, Thomas Cullen to the U.S. Attorney for the western district of Virginia, thus expanding the strong roots of McGuireWoods "shadow government" in Virginia, see the RTD article opinion by columnist Jeff Schapiro, Like father, kind of like son.

Ex-FBI Director James B. Comey, a previous McGuireWoods partner hired by Richard Cullen, was the U.S. Attorney who voluntarily dismissed the December 14, 1998 UFAP warrant on July 06, 2001. There is absolutely no reason to dismiss a Federal UFAP warrant unless the 1998-99 13 grand jury indictments had been dismissed but the subject grand jury indictments are still active. SEE JAMES COMEY ARTICLE, Richard Cullen was the main supporter of James B. Comey's appointment to be the FBI Director. 

All the evidence is clear in Virginia's Shadow Government

Ex-FBI Director James Comey tied to corruption involving International Fugitive Nickolas Spanos

James Comey joins the deep corruption involving "International fugitive" Nickolas Spanos

    

On July 06 2001, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia James Comey signed an order to dismiss a Federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant against Nickolas Spanos

The original federal UFAP warrant was issued on December 11, 1998, by request of the Henrico County P.D. to the FBI, which issued the affidavit to issues the UFAP warrant. The December 11, 1998 affidavit contained enough information to have Nickolas Spanos extradited from Greece, even his exact location given by family members, "Spanos is currently residing with an Uncle in Athens, Greece". The uncles address is listed in Henrico county property and tax records, as he was a partner with other Spanos family members. Click to View 1998-2001 federal UFAP file

See our previous article, Henrico County Circuit Court and U.S. Attorney federal files go missing in International Fugitives case
The U.S. Attorneys office, Richmond Division, searched effortlessly through numerous archive data files to locate the missing file and recently located them in Richmond City Circuit Court archives. The big question has been answered on who was powerful enough to have these 1998-2001 files go missing.

Why would U.S. Attorney James Comey have the federal UFAP warrant dismissed, if the 1998-99 13 indictments for Conspiracy to distribute cocaine were still active active. 

There is no statute of limitations on a federal UFAP warrant, and the indictments are still active, thus there is no reason to dismiss the subject UFAP warrants unless James Comey was instructed by someone who had a vested interest to dismiss them.

An inside source at the U.S. Attorneys office stated that in an inter-agency letter signed by James Comey, his reasons for dismissing the subject UFAP warrant was that "the U.S. government and Greece have no extradition treaty and Nickolas Spanos could not be extradited back to Virginia". By making this written statement, James Comey has committed both illegal and ethical violations, as the U.S. government and Greece had ratified an extradition treaty in 1932 and narcotics offences are listed in the extradition treaty. Click to view U.S. - Greece 1932 extradition treaty

In our previous articles, the same name keeps appearing, Richard Cullen, one of the most powerful attorneys in the Washington political arena. Click to view Richard Cullen: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Lets look at the connection between Richard Cullen and James Comey.

According to The Washington Post, Richard Cullen once worked with James Comey at McGuireWoods; Comey was hired to work at the law firm in 1993, and he became a partner in 1996 and not only is Cullen his “close associate,” as news reports described, Cullen is godfather to one of Comey’s daughters. Click to view Richard Cullen is the "godfather" of James Comey's daughter

When James Comey was picked to be director of the FBI, Richard Cullen expressed his approval, telling the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Comey “will be a great director. There are many people in Richmond who remember him and his family fondly and are very pleased that the president has chosen him for such a vitally important position.”

Richard Cullen obstructed justice by having U.S. Attorney James Comey dismiss the federal UFAP warrants against Nickolas Spanos. This illegal action was for the sole purpose of being able to recruit HCCA Howard Vick to McGuireWoods in 2000, thus covering up the path of corruption.

Furthermore, by having the 1998-2001 federal warrant purged from the Henrico County Circuit Court, the Commonwealth Attorneys office and the U.S. Attorneys office files, adds more seriousness to the obstruction of justice.

Howard Vick, as the HCCA in 1998-2000, was legally and ethically obligated to pursue "International fugitive" Nickolas Spanos by cancelling his U.S. passport and notifying Greek DOJ authorities to have him deported as an "undocumented alien", an extradition request to Greece DOJ would have been an extra step which would have proved successful as Greece has no tolerance for narcotics trafficking/distribution.

In the July 06, 2001 FBI affidavit, Henrico police investigator J.T. Johnson stated "requested the assistance of the FBI in locating Spanos and assured that the Commonwealth of Virginia would extradite Spanos upon his arrest."

This is a very opposite message that HCCA Howard Vick has given, considering Howard Vick knew Spanos's exact location, Spanos was not a citizen of Greece until March 2000 and that the U.S. government and Greece have an extradition treaty.

International Fugitive Federal files suspiciously disappear

Henrico County Circuit Court and U.S. Attorney federal files go missing in International Fugitives case

High profile McGuire-Woods partners allegedly linked to the case of International Fugitive Nickolas Spanos corruption, as suspicions continue to grow in the missing Henrico County Circuit Court and U.S. Attorney federal files.

The missing files are related to federal warrants that had been issued for Nickolas Spanos on December 14, 1998 for Unlawful Flight to avoid prosecution. On December 05, 1998, a Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury issued 13 indictments for Nickolas Spanos alleging Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine in the Richmond, Virginia area. 

Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Howard Vick had requested for the U.S. Attorney office to issue the December 14, 1998 federal warrants for Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Nickolas Spanos had fled to Greece on November 28, 1998 after being tipped off by HCCA Howard Vick that a pending grand jury trial would target him and fellow associates.

HCCA Howard Vick never attempted an extradition request from Greece to have Nickolas Spanos brought back to be prosecuted for the 13 grand jury indictments despite a media battle between Vick and Spanos. Spanos claimed that "Vick was on a witch hunt and had no evidence except false witnesses", Vick had stated that Spanos was the hub of a cocaine organization that distributed more than 600 kilos of cocaine.

On April 15, 1999, three of Spanos's associates pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and testified against Spanos. HCCA Howard Vick refused to extradite Spanos from Greece despite Spanos challenging him in the media that the allegations against him are false.

In May 2000, HCCA Howard Vick resigned early from the HCCA position to join McGuire-Woods law firm on June 08, 2000. McGuire-Woods represented Nickolas Spanos and family members in multi-million dollar estate holdings.

Pacer case locater show that the federal case file was assigned to Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal on August 08, 2000, just two months after Howard Vick joined McGuire-Woods law firm.

Strangely enough on July 11, 2001, after 11 months, a government motion is submitted to have the December 14, 1998 federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution dismissed. Why would a federal warrant for an international fugitive be dismissed if the grand jury indictments are still active? The HCCA at the time was Wade Kizer, who was Howard Vick's loyal successor after his resignation.

With no federal warrants appearing, Nickolas Spanos was able to renew his U.S. passport on September 15, 2006 at the U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece and remain off the radar of international law enforcement. 

In a previous blog, we covered on three generations of Henrico Commonwealth Attorneys avoiding to extradite international fugitive Nickolas Spanos. READ ARTICLE Avoiding to "extradite an international fugitive" leads to corruption

Recently, Nickolas Spanos Attorneys began to uncover further corruption in the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney's office, as the entire Henrico County Circuit Court records of the federal warrants for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution were missing. The missing documents are:

1. December 11, 1998, Complaint against Nickolas Spanos by HCCA Howard Vick.
2. December 14, 1998, Federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.
3. July 07, 2001, Motion by Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney's Office to dismiss the December 14, 1998 federal warrant issued against Nickolas Spanos.
4. July 07, 2001, Dismissal order of the December 14, 1998 federal warrant.

Spanos's attorney question the Henrico County Circuit Court Clerk as to the missing case files, in which they answered "only the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney's office have access to these files and it is highly irregular that files are missing". The present HCCA is Shannon Taylor.

Numerous requests were made to HCCA Shannon Taylor for Brady Materials but Shannon Taylor refused to give the Brady Documents, violating Spanos's constitutional rights. Read article on Is Henrico County CA Shannon Taylor deliberately sabotaging her case to protect the files of Commonwealth v. Spanos?

Spanos's attorney then contacted the U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, who ordered the Nickolas Spanos Federal file from archives. In an email to Spanos's attorney, they stated that there were no records/documents prior to 2007. The Federal motions, warrants and dismissals have now disappeared from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Richmond, Virginia. The U.S. Attorney's office is investigating the missing documents.

The obvious question is who has the most to gain by the 1998-2001 Henrico County Circuit Court  and U.S. Attorney's office federal files to disappear? The first suspect coming to mind is Nickolas Spanos, but he is located in Greece and had no access to both government agency files, besides it does not change the fact that 13 grand jury indictments are still active, thus it greatly rules him out.

The next alleged suspect would be McGuire-Woods partner Howard Vick, the cloud of suspicion grows darker as to the highly irregular actions of Howard Vick while he was the HCCA prosecuting Nickolas Spanos and his refusal to have him extradited despite having federal warrants issued for his unlawful flight. 

Howard Vick was negotiating his partnership with McGuire-Woods, managing partner Richard Cullen, during the investigation and grand jury hearings that indicted Nickolas Spanos on 13 counts of conspiracy to distribute Cocaine. If HCCA Howard Vick would have extradited Spanos from Greece and prosecuted him, it would have shut the door on his partnership with McGuire-Woods law firm. READ ARTICLE ON VICK REUNITED WITH CULLEN AT MCGUIRE-WOODS

Howard Vick worked for Richard Cullen before he was appointed Henrico Commonwealth's attorney when Cullen was U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Our next blog will focus on who is powerful enough to illegally purge the files of both Henrico County Circuit Court and the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.