Retired Army Colonel Tom Spellissy-scapegoat!

Tubalard is still trying to spin in a no spin zone. That will just get you busted again.

Hi Tommy wrote:

Tampa Tribune 4/21/2007 Robert E. O'Neill “said Burke had planned all along to ‘torpedo’ the government's case against Spellissy, whom O'Neill previously had referred to as Burke's ‘benefactor.’‘I was born at night,’ O'Neill said,‘but not last night.’”

A very likely strategy, cooked up by Spellissy and Burke, was for Burke to "torpedo" the government's case against Spellissy, so Spellissy and SDI could continue to make big bucks and take care of their wounded buddy Burke on the sidelines. If Burke would have been successful, he would have been taken care of by his benefactor for life. Burke put himself at risk for a perjury conviction. Burke calculated the odds wrong and failed to deliver results for Spellissy. The result was Burke went to prison along with Spellissy. That's what you call a happy ending.

The judge, in my opinion, did make an error in this matter pertaining to the length of time to serve in prison. He didn't give enough time to cause Thomas F Spellissy to see the need to repent. Perhaps longer time in the pokey would have caused a more positive change in Tommy's attitude. Tommy hasn't changed his view of this matter. The funny thing is that he still thinks he can convince people that he was wrongfully convicted. I'm sure some of his early supporters have backed away from him now that he's exhausted his appeals and it’s clear he’s a felon for life. If you notice, other than Tommy showing up as the “Observer,” there aren’t any other Spellissy supporters present. That fact gives an indication that most have accepted that Thomas F Spellissy was rightfully convicted of the crimes he was charged. Thomas F Spellissy is not the man (war hero), he claims to be; he’s a convicted felon.

It looks like posts #416 & #417 are MIA. Did these posts ever appear or were they blocked? Is Tommy Tubalard still at it with the complaints?

These types of incidents give me motivation to keep this thread alive and hot for years to come. We'll have to do some more detailed explanations of how Thomas F Spellissy conspired to defraud the American people.

Whenever anyone wants to know what Spellissy did or is doing, they'll be able to find out right here for the next ten years at least. Just Google Thomas Spellissy and you'll find your answers about Spellissy here on Topix Tampa. Tommy checks this thread regularly and doesn't dispute hardly anything. Why is that? It's because we are posting facts or reasonable inferences from the known facts. Tommy, you are very entertaining.
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Colonel pleads not guilty in SOCom scam

--The retired Army officer faces charges of bribery and fraud related to defense contracts for the MacDill-based command.

On Wednesday afternoon, Spellissy, 48, was in leg irons, standing before a federal judge to answer bribery and fraud charges.

Prosecutors say the 48-year-old Spellissy became a consultant and paid thousands of dollars in bribes to help his clients land defense contracts with SOCom.

He allegedly paid the money to 49-year-old William Burke, a private contractor at SOCom who pleaded guilty to bribery last month and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

Spellissy, of Clearwater, pleaded not guilty Wednesday and vowed to fight the charges.
"We're in for the long haul," he said after the hearing.

Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Jenkins set bail at $25,000 and ordered Spellissy to surrender his passport. She also placed travel restrictions on him.

At SOCom, based at MacDill Air Force Base, spokesman Col. Samuel Taylor said the bribery investigation is not over.

"There are others that are being looked at," he said.

That's where Burke and Spellissy came in.
Both men had been at SOCom since 1999.

Burke's job was to test and evaluate equipment and rank which private defense contractors deserved federal contracts. Spellissy worked in the same area.

After a 25-year military career, Spellissy retired last December with an honorable discharge.
But, according to a nine-page indictment unveiled Tuesday, he had formed a consulting company, Strategic Defense International Inc., months earlier on April 23, 2004.

His client list included "various companies" seeking to do business with SOCom, whose procurement budget in fiscal 2005 totaled $1.8-billion.

Burke, of Odessa, formed his own company, Carlisle Bradford Enterprises, in September 2004.
By then, prosecutors say, the ruse was in full swing.

Beginning in early 2004 until July 26, 2005, Spellissy used his company "to make illegal payments" to Burke, the indictment said.
Burke, in turn, used his company to accept the illegal payments.

"It was further part of the conspiracy that defendant Thomas F. Spellissy would and did notify William E. Burke as to which companies he represented," the indictment said.

"It was further part of the conspiracy that William E. Burke would and did provide preferential treatment to specific contractors represented by defendant Thomas F. Spellissy."
The indictment said Burke gave preferential treatment to "certain projects" affiliated with Spellissy.

According to SOCom, Burke "worked on what can best be described as soldier systems, which includes things like lightweight communications systems, ammunition, small arms, etc."

The indictment cites several e-mails Burke and Spellissy sent one another, but does not discuss content. The indictment also documents wire transfers - both from domestic banks and international banks - from Spellissy to Burke.
The earlier indictment against Burke said Burke received several thousand dollars and was promised substantial money "down the road."

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/10/Tampabay/Co...

Tommy is fighting an uphill battle he can't win deleting and blocking posts. Vanishing posts require higher posting output from the posters. Tommy doesn't like being reminded of his transgressions. That's understandable, but the healing won't begin until he publicly repents and acknowledges his crimes against the American people. Tommy, admit you conspired with Burke to defraud the USG. Get your buddy Burke to do the same.

Tommy should have learned a very important lesson about blogging. He probably never thought that his anonymous postings all over the internet would come back and bite him. This thread was originally intended to be a Spellissy cheerleader rallying point. It’s turned into something different. It’s turned into a microscope examining Tommy’s conspiracy. How does it feel now Tommy?

It's confirmed from our workaround. Info is still being blocked.

Shame on you Tommy Tubalard for obstructing justice!

Observer wrote:

After having followed this thread for a while there are a couple of issues that make me worried:
- Burke changing his story from truth to lie. Isn´t the opposite the normal standard?
- Who can be bribed for 3500$ even if there is indication for more in the future?
- Was Burke really in a position to influence any decisions whatsoever?
It would be interesting to read those emails.

1. I didn't know there were "normal standards" about changing stories. This must be how felons view the world. Burkes first "story" is likely closest to the truth, because he was confronted with the allegations and evidence and didn't have time to think about the consequences. After he had time to "consult" with Spellissy, he likely thought it was in his best interest to recant his confession to help Spellissy beat the rap. If Spellissy was cleared, Burke would have a benefactor capable of fulfilling his financial needs. Being a convicted felon can put a damper on your ability to generate income.

2. Hell yes people can be bribed for $3,500. It's even all the more likely if there are indications of more in the future. The $4,500 Spellissy paid Burke was just priming the pump. What a silly question to pose on the forum!

3. Burke was in an influential position and in a position to supply Spellissy with real-time intelligence as to what procurement officials were thinking. That's a big advantage over the competition. With Burke covertly supplying information, Spellissy can advise his clients on how to tailor their proposals to increase the odds of a contract. Since Burke was covertly working a “second job,” and his employer and the USG were unaware of his activities, Burke was in a position to informally influence decisions at the very least. Insider information gives a big advantage. Did Burke ever disclose his activities to his employer or his employer's client, the USG? Did Burke disclose that he was being paid by Spellissy who was representing clients trying to obtain contracts with the USG? Did Burke and Spellissy disclose their clients and business relationships?

The closer you look at this case, the more you'll wonder why the trial judge threw out most of the convictions. Tommy and Burke got off too easy. Tommy hasn’t repented, because he didn’t spend enough time behind bars to think about his bad judgment.

Ruling Feb. 2, 2012, by Judge George W. Miller, U.S. Court of Federeal Claims:

"In finding that the Army acted properly in determining plaintiff's (Spellissy's) retirement grade, the Court has considered and rejected the principal arguments advanced by the plaintiff."

Details:

The Army took action to lower Spellissy's retirement grade from O-6 to O-5 after he was convicted in federal court and sentenced to 15 months in prison. The Army said it had discovered "substantial new evidence" after Spellissy's retirement. This evidence was "plaintiff's misconduct while still on active duty....[which] was not discoverable through due diligence."

Judge Miller:

"The district court judge specifically relied on e-mails in upholding plaintiff's conspiracy conviction. Those e-mails were transmitted before plaintiff officially retired and the Army rationally concluded that the e-mails showed that plaintiff sought to obtain preference from a USSOCOM employee, Mr. Burke, for plaintiff's company's clients. Accordingly, the action of the Army in reopening plaintiff's grade determination was not arbitary, capricious, contrary to law, or unsupported by substantial evidence."

Spellissy was represented in the case by Jeffrey Del Fuoco, a former Colonel in the Army JAG corps.

Thank you Nighthawk 1. Your report is consistent with everything a fair minded, objective reader can find on the web.

Everything Spellissy and his surrogates post ignore facts and relevant information, and attempt to divert attention to irrelevant propaganda in a vain attempt to paint Spellissy as a wrongly convicted war hero victim of the good old boy SOCOM network.

It was the Army, Spellissy’s claim to fame, that forwarded the results of their investigation of Spellissy and Burke to US Attorney Robert O’Neill for action.

Spellissy can add “permanently busted one grade to Lieutenant Colonel” to his resume. The US Army doesn’t think convicted felon Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E Spellissy is a hero; why should anyone else?

Spellissy has had his matter reviewed by appellate courts, the US Court of Federal Claims, and the US Supreme Court and they all send a consistent message: Spellissy was guilty of a crime that earned him 15 months in federal prison and a reduction of military retirement grade.

Is that the resume of a war hero? Is that the resume of a good American citizen?

If Thomas F Spellissy found prison unpleasant, then he should be very thankful to Gen Brown et al for catching the Spellissy-Burke conspiracy in the early stages of their criminal activity. Had Spellissy and Burke been allowed to operate for years undetected, they would have committed far more egregious crimes than they did, that would have resulted in longer prison time. As it was, his operation was nipped-in-the-bud early on and the trial judge didn't think Spellissy deserved a long prison sentence. Spellissy only served 15 months in the pokey.

Tommy, send General Brown a thank you note and put him on your Christmas card list. You should be very thankful General Brown did you such a favor. General Brown is a soldiers' soldier that knows how to take care of his troops; he even took care of the wayward colonel that didn’t deserve such care.

Nighthawk 1 wrote:

Ruling Feb. 2, 2012, by Judge George W. Miller, U.S. Court of Federeal Claims:
"...the Court has considered and rejected the principal arguments advanced by the plaintiff."
Spellissy was represented in the case by Jeffrey Del Fuoco, a former Colonel in the Army JAG corps.

Operation Whistleblower: Both Tubs and his dentally challenged lawyer were operatives for Pulitzer-deprived newspaper reporters, who never let truth get in the way of good story.

I'm surprised Lieutenant Colonel Thomas F Spellissy, was only convicted of conspiracy. I know there are laws that are intended to prevent former government procurement officials from engaging in work related to their government jobs within specific periods of time of their government departure. Spellissy was engaged prior to his departure. SDI was founded while Spellissy was still on active duty. It's clear that Spellissy was using information of SOCOM procurements, obtained on the job, to market his services as a procurement expert to assist other contractors in obtaining government contracts. Spellissy should have been barred from such activity until his personal information had aged sufficiently to preclude him from using that information to subvert the procurement process. It's not in the interest of the American people to have active and former government procurement employees passing insider information to those seeking government contracts. The Spellissy-Burke affair leaves me with little confidence that the government is doing what it should to prevent procurement abuse. From my reading, it appears Spellissy sought a legal opinion about his intended business practices from the SOCOM lawyers before he left active duty. Why did the government not inform Spellissy that he was barred for using information obtained on the job for the benefit of other contractors? I think the government doesn't do all that it should to prevent this type of abuse.

There was something posted on the Fight4Spellissy propaganda website about getting a JAG lawyer clearance to work as a contractor or something to that effect. I doubt Spellissy revealed to the JAG lawyer what he actually intended to do. Did Spellissy reveal that he was paying or intended to pay another SOCOM contract employee, Burke, to perform work for Spellissy or his company SDI? I doubt it! The opinion by Judge Miller reveals Burke, serving is his capacity as a SOCOM procurement contract employee, was recommending to contractors to hire Spellissy/SDI to help them win federal contracts. Is that not corrupt? Burke is being paid by Spellissy covertly and Burke, in a government position, is telling contractors to hire Spellissy/SDI if they want to win work. It probably worked. If you're a contractor looking for sales and a government employee working in procurement is telling you to hire this guy Spelllissy, because you're more likely to win a contract with him on your team, then a lot of contactors will likely do it. Contractors hiring relatives of people in influential positions so their companies are more appealing to a government contract officer is not that unusual. I know of a company that hired, provided work, or created work for all three of a congressman's children, because they had a no-bid contract that was authorized by legislation sponsored by that congressman. Federal contracting is a sleazy business. The Spellissys and Burkes are not that rare. Only a portion gets caught.

The truth hurts!

Posts are still being blocked and deleted.

Shame on you Tommy Tubalard.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas F Spellissy, USMA Class of 1979, convicted felon and former federal prisoner (15 months in the pokey), and busted one retirement grade from Colonel to Lieutenant Colonel for misconduct on active duty, is shamefully having posts discussing and examining his law violations blocked and deleted. Unfortunately for Tommy, Google is not his friend. If you do a search for Thomas F Spellissy, you get a load of derogatory information posted all over the web. Everything from his feeble attempts to overturn his conviction and retirement grade reduction to propaganda posted by Tommy and his surrogates is available for years to come. This information will outlive Tommy.

Max wrote:

"Most room confinement hours - Tom Spellissy (240 hours)"
Apparently, Thomas F Spellissy was well prepared for federal time during his matriculation at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. As a member of the USMA Class of 1979, Tommy set the class record for the most hours of room confinement. I think he's the only member of the class to continue the effort by adding federal time to his resume.
Tommy, I think you can add your federal pokey time as a Class First also. I'm sure your classmates will be proud.

Can't help but think that is funny stuff.

Alan Jarrett wrote:

I agree that this is a plain and simple case of "cronyism"! Because Spellissy did what he apparently is somewhat famous for doing, being creative and on the edge, those who stood to loose financially because they weren't as astute did what they always do. This has "movie" written all over it and the book will probably be the script.
It simply doesn't pay to be anything like a hero. They always end "wadded up and thrown away" in the end. Talk about the ultimate abuse. Our history is full of the shameless treatment of those who gave it all for their country.
The only ones who seem to get the most out of it are the ones who can least take advantage of it...because they're dead! Those who benefited wave flags, make parades, give medals and honors to relatives, just to make it look like they really care. The puiblic buys it because it's easier to do that than do something about it.
So much for my sounding off, since I am only one voice in no position or of any influence to help. I'll add my thoughts and voice to any effort to help, but I'm not sure it will be of any use. It's that old thing about picking your fights. Picking on the government is usually a losing proposition. Don't get me started!

Alan Jarrett, you are RIGHT !!!! Every word is true.

Alan Jarrett and VeteransFamily are out of touch with justice. Tom Spellissy broke the law trying to get rich in federal contracting. He was trying to cash in using his knowledge and connections to gain an unfair advantage over the competition. He earned his time in the federal pokey. However, I don't think he served enough time, because it doesn't appear that he's been rehabilitated. Tom Spellissy is the same crooked guy now that he’s out that he was before he was in. That’s too bad for Tom Spellissy. He’s a convicted felon for life. Enjoy your status as a convict and former prisoner Tommy. It's a status you will have for all eternity.