A McHenry County Deputy is No Longer Under Siege

Last year I told you a story about former McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler being under sieged by his former boss McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren. You can read the article here McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler under siege, Again!! Without rehashing the article you have to go back to 2008. If you have not been following my father’s story I write to bring truth and shed light on the McHenry County Sheriff Office. They tried covering up that it was Larry Neumann that killed my father 33 years ago. He was a mob associate to the Chicago Outfit and the lead investigator, Sheriff George Hendle was connected to the Outfit . Today they try to keep hidden those that were involved at the sheriff’s office in this betrayal. I am not the only one that brings truth and light on MCSO.

In 2008 than Deputy Zane Seipler was fired from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. This happened after Deputy Seipler went to the FBI and charged that McHenry County Deputies were racially profiling Hispanics. He went to the FBI after his superiors at the MCSO did nothing with the information. A charge that was later backed by the Chicago Tribune when they did a study and found that according to the records at the McHenry County Sheriff’s office that Pedro Lopez is not Hispanic. Neither is Jose Salas. Or Pablo Toxqui-Zavala. The article Study suggests racial mislabeling skews McHenry County sheriff data revealed by going through tickets written by the sheriff’s office that Hispanics were labeled as being white. This all led to Seipler filing a wrongful termination suit against Nygren and the MCSO. That is when things get interesting real quick.

This led to depositions outlining not only racial profiling but all kinds of corruption at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. This even included allegation by former Deputy Scott Milliman. He was a former bagman to Sheriff Keith Nygren and was tapped by the Sheriff to kill Judge Conrad Floeter and former Coroner’s Candidate Dave Bachmann. This also led to Deputy Scott Milliman being terminated from the MCSO and his own wrongful termination suit. Here is my article on Scott Milliman and his wrongful termination case Another McHenry County Deputy under siege, Scott Milliman.

Seipler fought Nygren’s termination through arbitration and won. Nygren then took it to Circuit Court and the Circuit Court upheld the arbitrator’s decision. Nygren appealed to the Appellate Court and the appellate court upheld the previous two decisions. Nygren lost all three legal rounds, but his arrogance and his spending taxpayer dollars did not stop. He tried taking this to the Illinois Supreme Court. Luckily for taxpayers the court said that Nygren had already three decisions that he was wrong and a fourth would not be necessary. Nygren was forced to hire Seipler back only to fire him again months later. The wrongful termination case continued and even Nygren’s own lawyer expected that Nygren was going to be forced to hire him back again.

As the case was moving through the system Seipler ran a blog where he would release documents that supported the wrongdoing and corruption of the MCSO. Judge Frederick Kapala order Seipler to stop posting these documents online and to the public. Rose Seipler, Zane’s wife, felt that her family was at risk of great harm or worse from Sheriff Keith Nygren and his Posse’ (Nygren actually has a group of deputies that call themselves “Nygren’s Posse’). Rose Seipler would continue to post these documents online feeling that the more the public was armed with the knowledge of the corruption of MCSO the safer her family would be. This caused a lot of problems with the Judge.

The Judge did not believe that Zane Seipler did not post these articles online. Two years later after the postings were made Judge Frederick Kapala thought that he had a way to get to the bottom of this. He asked in court for Rose Seipler to show the court how she posted these documents online. She could not remember how she posted these documents so the Judge stated that he felt that she and Zane had lied. I can tell you personally as an avid blogger that this was a bad litmus test for the truth. Even if Rose Seipler had remembered what she did, she still would have been extremely challenged by the software updates that occur on a monthly basis. I had one software update that took me 15 minutes to realize that nothing had changed, it was only a graphical interface update; and I am a blogger and do technical support for a living. Ultimately this resulted in a $240,000 judgment against Seipler to pay back to Nygren.

This tug of war had been going on for over six years with no end in sight. Sheriff Keith Nygren was not going to let Seipler get the best of him and the Regime; and Zane Seipler was not going to let Nygren get away with countless acts of corruption alleged by Seipler and others. This was taking a HUGE toll both financially and emotionally on Zane and his family.

There was a huge breakthrough on the impasse of this case in May and June of this year. It was agreed to allow Seipler to dismiss his case and in return Seipler’s work status was changed from terminated to resigned and the Seipler’s would not have to pay the $240,000 judgment to Nygren.

While Sheriff Keith Nygren gloats that he is exonerated of wrongdoing and the Northwest Herald suggests Nygren for Sainthood, Zane Seipler is unhappy with this outcome. He believes that he and the community of McHenry County were denied truth and accountability. Seipler has over two crates worth of documents that he says proves the corruption that exists of Sheriff Keith Nygren and his Regime commanded Sheriff’s Office. I get it! It is understood that all the truths should be told of Sheriff Keith Nygren, of his Posse’, and the Regime.

But at the same time…Relax my brother you did good. You have done more than your fair share in doing what is right and standing up against the Regime. It is time for you to focus on you and your family. Now it is time to let others come forward and carry the torch. Find great solace that without your efforts that the corruption and the victimization by Sheriff Keith Nygren and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office are known and are in the public conscious. You paved the way for Scott Milliman to be heard as his case moves through the system. You helped me prep the good people of McHenry County to hear my father’s story on how the Regime help cover up for the murderer of my father and how it is very likely that the Regime is covering up facts today. You helped by not allowing the pain of victims of McHenry County like Gary Gauger go in vain. You helped permeate the fabric of the community to foster change which the community paid back my knocking out Regime favorite for McHenry County Sheriff, Undersheriff Andrew Zinke and voting for Bill Prim. It took decades upon decades for the Regime to be built, so it would suffice to say that it will take time and effort to collapse it. You and your family survived and now you have the wind at your backs. Do not underestimate what you took on; it did not have to turn out so favorably this way. Thank you for the job that was well done.

Here is a press release from Zane Seipler in his own words about the dismissal.

Since very few “news” entities have asked for my side of the settlement story I have drafted this statement that the McHenry County Blog was willing to post. Earlier this month I entered into a settlement agreement that amounts to a Quid Pro Quo resolution to the Federal lawsuit I filed in 2008.

As many of you know a Federal Judge wrote an opinion that stated I gave perjurious testimony during an evidentiary hearing regarding the internet posting of evidence that highlighted McHenry County deputies and their involvement in incidents that many people would categorize as crimes.

I did not give perjurious testimony. The Judge heard evidence presented by both sides’ attorneys and under the “Preponderance of the Evidence” standard which is the prerequisite in this type of civil hearing, the Judge authored an opinion. The Preponderance of the Evidence standard is well below the threshold of “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” which is used for criminal cases.

McHenry County, having unlimited resources, was able to hire a superior law firm to handle this case. I, unfortunately, was at a disadvantage from the beginning of this endeavor, as I have very little, if any resources, capable of competing in such an arena. Mistakes were made leading up to and during the evidentiary hearing that led the Judge to his conclusion.

The Judge was asked by the County’s attorney to authorize a criminal investigation into my statements. The Judge denied that request and instead levied a heavy fine. It was my deepest desire that a criminal investigation would have taken place because I would have been able to present all the evidence I have acquired over the years and entered it into evidence as part of my defense. I also would have been tried by a jury of my peers.

I did not have the resources to appeal the Judge’s ruling. The next step of the process was to argue why the case should continue to trial. The County’s attorney was going to ask that the case be dismissed until I could pay the fine.

If the Judge ruled in favor of the County the case would be dismissed or held in some state of judicial limbo until I could pay the fine.

Why did the County decide to settle?

The other possibility was that the Judge would send the case to trial and I would pay the fine later. The County’s attorneys did not want to take that chance that this case would go to trial and the evidence would be made public.

I did not want to chance another disastrous outcome as I did in the evidentiary hearing.

An arrangement was made that alleviated me of all financial responsibilities and the County made an arrangement that alleviated them of any guilt.

Quid Pro Quo.

Outgoing Sheriff Keith Nygren claims this Quid Pro Quo settlement agreement is some kind of victory and vindication to my allegations of racial profiling and officer misconduct. The fact of the matter is the County’s attorneys did not want this case going to trial because they would lose.

That is why the County and Keith Nygren made a deal with me that not only alleviated a $240,000 fine but vacated the ruling all together. The County also agreed to let me keep $26,000 in unemployment benefits. The County agreed to change my employment status from “terminated” to “resigned” and provide me with a letter of recommendation in accordance with County procedure.

Here are the costs of Outgoing Sheriff Nygren’s alleged victory over Zane Seipler.

• $100,000 to the County in lawyer fees plus adjustment on insurance premiums.
• Unknown hourly wages for all the deputies and commanders who were deposed.
• Unknown travel expenses.
• Total breakdown in the administrative system of deputy oppression.
• National recognition of Nygren’s mismanaged administration by the Chicago Tribune.
• The catalyst for a grass roots political uprising against a system of corruption that Outgoing Sheriff Keith Nygren was a fundamental part of creating.
• $276,000 in back pay and unemployment payments.
• $240,000 that will never find its way back to the taxpayers.
• The catalyst for Deputy Scott Millman’s ongoing lawsuit that highlights criminal activities far worse than racial profiling.
• Continuous scrutiny by the County Board and the community into Keith Nygren’s grandiose claims of success and accomplishment.

Outgoing Sheriff Nygren didn’t win anything. He was able to use taxpayer resources to thwart a civil trial that would have completely destroyed his legacy and the careers of a handful of his administrators.

There is no victory for Outgoing Sheriff Keith Nygren. His handpicked successor, Deputy Zinke lost the election. His political allies have jumped off the Nygren bandwagon and have rightly begun supporting a good man, Republican Candidate for Sheriff Bill Prim.

Before long Outgoing Sheriff Nygren will be a distant memory of a time in McHenry County when people were afraid to challenge a bully and stand up to Good Ole Boy politics.

I am proud that I had a hand in ushering Nygren and his regime out of power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KNOWLEDGE CENTER

I have put together some of the articles that I have written that are prevalent for the upcoming election in MARCH!. This is the Republican Nominee election but probably more important than the general election. It is most likely the winner in March will win in November and become sheriff. If you review the articles in the Knowledge Center, you will read all kinds of unbelievable things as it relates to this election.

 

Freedom of Information Act Appeal to get the remainder of my father’s file. In my efforts to get to the bottom of my father’s murder and what the McHenry County Sheriff’s office has done to me and my family 33 years ago. I filed a FOIA Request (Freedom of Information Act Request) to get my father’s case file. Many documents were withheld from my request. It is my believe the documents are withheld to protect guilty individuals that are known to Sheriff Keith Nygren and Undersheriff Andrew Zinke that covered up who actually killed my father during the original investigation. Start on page 11 to read what sounds like a murder mystery thriller, but this is my true life. It is backed by FBI reports, witness statements, and newspaper articles.

Andrew Zinke for McHenry County Sheriff, Really??? This article is based on my own father’s murder investigation and Undersheriff Andrew Zinke. I talked about how he made his own milestones and failed to meet every single one. How it took me calling NBC News Chicago to get Andrew Zinke to return my phone call about my father’s murder investigation, as he was the lead investigator. I am fighting to get the remainder of my father’s case file. It is my believe that Undersheriff Andrew Zinke and the Sheriff Keith Nygren are hiding and protecting individuals that covered up the true killer of my father during the original investigation.

Andrew Zinke plus Rita Corporation equals ON THE TAKE Brian Goode and his RITA Corporation was a person of interest and focal point for the investigation of the distribution of 30 plus tons of marijuana. Undersheriff Andrew Zinke told Brian Goode of the investigation. Two days later, according to Koziol, (Sgt. Koziol was working on the investigation and filed a complaint against Zinke) Goode gave Zinke’s election campaign a $5,000 donation. The RITA Corporation address is the same address as Andrew Zinke’s campaign headquarters.

McHenry County Deputy Zane Seipler under siege, Again!! Zane Seipler is a whistleblowing deputy that was fired by Keith Nygren after he exposed the sheriff’s office for racial profiling. Nygren was forced to hire Seipler back after he lost an arbitration ruling, a court hearing, an appellate court hearing, and a failed attempt to be heard by the Illinois State Supreme Court. After Seipler was hired back, Nygren fired him again. Zane Seipler is currently fighting to get his job back.

Another McHenry County Deputy under siege, Scott Milliman Scott Milliman was a deputy and former right hand man to Sheriff Keith Nygren. He was fired by the sheriff for whistleblowing that the sheriff allegedly transacted in ticket fixing, bribery, general corruption, fraud in a SBA Loan, and in tapping Milliman himself to kill a McHenry County Judge and a Coroner’s Candidate. Scott Milliman is currently fighting to get his job back.

How Gary Gauger got to DEATH ROW This is the real life, tragic story of Gary Gauger. He was falsely arrested and sent to Death Row by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department for the double murder of his parents. Investigators from the sheriff’s department rigged a false confession so that they could convict him.

 

McHenry County Ethics Commission, Ethical or NOT!?!? The McHenry County Ethics Commission conducted a hearing of a complaint filed by Cal Skinner that Undersheriff Andrew Zinke used a government computer for a very politically charged email. The hearing was ran over by Zinke’s attorneys Mark Gummerson and Rebecca Lee. The sign up sheet to speak at the hearing went missing but found in the possession of Rebecca Lee. The commission went into secret session, made its decision, and did so without explanation.

First Electric Newspaper v.s. Sheriff Nygren and EEO Officer Donald Leist Pete Gonigam won a Public Access Bureau (Illinois States Attorney) appeal for the release of a 100 page report conducted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s office. The report exonerated Undersheriff Andrew Zinke after he told Brian Goode that he and his RITA Corporation was a the focal point of a drug investigation by the DEA.

Zinke’s middle finger may cost Cal Skinner $5,000 After filing a valid ethics complaint against Undersheriff Andrew Zinke for using a government computer for his campaign, Cal Skinner was to face Zinke’s attorney Mark Gummerson. Gummerson was lobbying for a $5,000 fine against Skinner filing a valid complaint. An act of bulling and intimidation of a McHenry County citizen.

 

Will McHenry County be Ripped Off by Special Interest in Sheriff Election? I question the interest and the contribution to Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s campaign from the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 election. I send a letter to the President-Business Manager of the union James M. Sweeney.

 

IUOE Local 150 and Andrew Zinke. Is this Gangster Money for a Gangster Cop? The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 contributes money to Undersheriff’s Andrew Zinke’s campaign. They have known ties to the Colombo and Gambino Crime Families.

 

Undersheriff Andrew Zinke Shuts Down Cal Skinner’s Blog Site Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s campaign was able to get Cal Skinner’s website, mchenrycountyblog.com shut down by falsely accusing him of stalking and linking to obscene material. Read here on how Zinke’s campaign resorts to breaking the law to silence a citizen’s voice.

 

Andrew Zinke Fearful to Debate Bill Prim Lies to Get Out of It. Undersheriff Andrew Zinke is so fearful to debate Bill Prim for McHenry County Sheriff that he lies to get out of it. Zinke knows that he would be out matched, outwitted, and the truth of his corrupt character would be revealed to the citizens of McHenry County. Instead of enduring such damage to his campaign he lies to coward out of it.

 

Is Sheriff Nygren and Undersheriff Zinke Intimidating and Tampering with Federal Witnesses? Is Sheriff Nygren and Undersheriff Zinke intimidating federal witnesses? Or are the deputies fighting back? Donald Leist, the sheriff’s in house lawyer sent a letter to 30 deputies and correctional officers to be interrogated prior to their depositions in a federal case. Would that work anywhere else in the US or just McHerny County?