Talk about service...

The citizens will believe the rumors that float through the town but not the FACTS that are presented to them about the wrong doings that are going on in their own government.

Ms. Voiceofffreedom, the FACT is that the officer was not working for the security agency that night NOR did the security agency set him up with that off duty job that night. If I was you, I would get my information correct before stating it on a public board.

PS: As far as the alleged gambling charges go, all charges have been dismissed against all parties charged except for the homeowner at this time. (Just keeping you up to date since you seem to be interested.)

-CTP

Was there illegal gambling going on?

Was a off duty police officer watching over this, or did he notice the illegal activity and informed the employer that due to a possible conflict of interest and he had to leave his assignment?

Or maybe he was part of a joint task force in which he infiltrated into the organization to bring it down.

What is your in-sight on this CTP?

You asked "Was there illegal gambling going on?" That is hard to answer. The courts have yet to determine that and I doubt they will until at least next year.

For example: In Virginia, Five guys get together to play Texas Hold-em and they each put in $200. (Virginia has no limit on money or the amount of people in the game.) The last guy standing will have $1000 and leaves with the total amount. This is a legal game in VA.

If the house (homeowner), takes a percentage or cut, it is illegal in VA. However, there is some gray area if you ask all the guys that show up to thow in some money for drinks and chips, pizza, etc. or if you take the money for these items off of the $1000 in the above example. This is what the homeowner allegedly did.

The poker game was being held in the basement. Understand that this is a 3.5 million dollar home on 7 acres. The officer was only paid to watch the upstairs of the home to make sure no one messed with the house and the cars outside. He was not paid to watch the game or the money downstairs.

When I said all charges had been dismissed, I was including all the other people that were charged for gambling at the game. There were approximately 7 of 55 people there charged for gambling. However, since there would be no way for them to know what happens with the money after they put it in the pot, their charges were Nolle Prosequi (ed). I should have used that term instead of dismissed in a previous post. In Texas Hold-em once you are out of chips you usually leave the game and don't stay around until the end because the game can last for hours. I have seen some games go until 4 in the morning.

CTP

'Fairfax, Va. (AP) - A Haymarket police officer Robert Hoffman is among those under arrest after Fairfax County (website - news) police raid a gambling den in Great Falls.

Hoffman is accused of providing security for the poker games being held inside the house, investigators said. He was allegedly armed with several weapons and faces gambling-related charges, authorities added.

Police, who raided the house last Thursday, also said about 60 people were busy wagering. Along with a pile of cash, detectives also confiscated guns, the gambling took place at the home of a convicted felon who was also charged with firearms possession and running an illegal gambling enterprise, authorities said.

Fairfax County Police today revealed information about two recent arrests made following a raid on what appears to have been ongoing, illegal high-stakes poker games in Great Falls.
Some 60 persons were found participating in the illegal games as detectives served a search warrant, Dec. 15, at a residence on River Bend Road. Police said "firearms, a large amount of cash and items associated with the illegal gambling operation" were confiscated.

The homeowner, Tariq Rahim, 37, was arrested and charged with one felony count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one felony count of operating an illegal gambling enterprise.

Also arrested was Robert A. Hoffman, Jr., a police officer with the Town of Haymarket. Hoffman was allegedly providing security for the game and was armed with several weapons. He has been charged with one misdemeanor count of participating in an illegal gambling operation and one misdemeanor count of being an accessory to an illegal gambling operation.

The raid on the illegal poker games resulted from an on-going investigation which began in June 2005, according to police. It was then detectives with the organized crime and narcotics unit first received information on the illegal gambling operation, including information that "someone displaying a police badge and gun was providing armed security at these illegal poker games."

Officer Shelley Broderick, Fairfax County Police spokesman, said there is no federal involvement in the case at this time. Broderick also said the Commonwealth Attorney's office will determine whether additional charges will be filed as the investigation proceeds.'

So basically something had to be going on if 7 of 25 were charged. Because as I see it, the way you just explained it, the only person who should be charged is the homeowner of this friendly game of Texas Hold'Em, and everyone else is a friendly bystander of a sort.

But also one thing I have always noticed about the police forces in the area, they do not go in and just bust up a party once they learn of illegal activity. They will usually investigate it over aperiod of time, and my guess (and only a guess), is that there was probably some kind of informant who will be appearing at a later date for trials.

So basically what you are saying is, that there is actually degrees to the illegal activity, and not a right or wrong. Thanks for clearing that up.

Yes Voiceoffreedom, your are somewhat incorrect, the Security Agency did not set up the officer with the security gig rather it was CTPINTL (Charlie Proffitt), the homeowners former employee who got him the job. Oh, all the charges have not been dismissed, one has been continued to June and the other may still be addressed.

There is a difference between nole pros(sp) and dismissed. All he has to do is keep his nose clean, and then the charges are gone after a time period set forth by a judge who hears the case.

No comment.

I think we all know it was ok for him to do this, because he was earning money so his kids could have a nice Christmas.

As in previous posts about this, (stop me if I am wrong in this thinking) but Officer Hoffman is like Robin Hood.

Hoffman, Profitt, and others know David Taylor, a Manager of Orion. Orion is a legal security business. David has told me more than once that Orion is constantly looking for security personnel. I am as sure as I am writing this that Hoffman and/or Profitt would have been hired by David' company in a heartbeat!

Good grief, get a grip on your senses. There are millions of families where the parents go out and make money for their children and family in legal businesses; are they all to be Robin Hoods ....... that is work for convicted felons/hoodlums? NOT!!!

Glen,

Let's get something straight. I don't work security. I don't have to. You can ask around if you need to know my income. I don't need to work off duty security to make extra money. Please don't throw my name out there when you really don't know what you are talking about.

I haven't had a problem with you in 2 1/2 years with the town and I hope that we don't start to have one now.

Thanks,
CTP

PS: Could you tell me how you know someone is a convicted felon when you meet them? If so I would like to know. It would make a police officers job a lot easier.

CTP, I see where you or the news media have gotten it wrong on at least 6 different parts of the arrest of Hoffman and the owner of the illegal gambling estblishment Vs what you are trying to explain in most of your comments. One really stands out....its where you say 7 of the 25 who were there gambling. Every news media report that I read says "60 people were wagering".

So, please, you think you know me but you do not. I have no idea what you mean by trouble with me in 2 1/2 years. CTP, whoever you are, I do not know that I have ever met or seen you anywhere.

I read somewhere where CTP works for Rahim (the guy arrested for illegal weapons charge and operating an illegal gambling establishment). Did you rollover on Rahim? HUH?

Hey Glen,

Thanks for catching my typo of 7 of 25 when it should have been 7 of 55. I have corrected it. You read in a post by Justice...who I think is one of the current council members by some of his other posts. I won't name him now though. It is funny how the current council member feels the need to call me out even though I, unlike many others have not hidden my name on this board.

I used to work for Rahim, that is correct. That is how I am very familiar with this information about this case. I will ask you again. How do you know if someone is a covicted felon? Also how do you know if people playing poker (which is legal in VA) are playing it illegally?

-CTP

" CTP" - your PS to glenp -, By your own confession, my conclusion is - You are not much of an investigator are you. Besides, rumor has it that Profitt introduced and got Hoffman the security job at the illegal gambling site. Myself like glenp and others are wondering why you would introduce your friend and fellow police officer to work in an illegal gambling establishment. Dont answer that last statement, I think I can guess your excuse .....ooopppss answer.

My conclusion <> neither one of you are good police officers, especially when it gets down to the fact that either one of you probably are gonna say you did not know it was against the law in Fairfax to operate or work for an illegal gambling establishment. Then again, and just so you will know, most judges will tell you, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse in a court of the law".

The other matter. CTP, yes I posted two comments from different media sources on the same topic matter. Get someone to read both and explain to you that they are two media reports from different sources and both are saying, in context, the same about the Hoffman arrest and the illegal gambling establishment.

Now I suppose next you are going to tell us that the media got it all wrong. (that aint no question either).

utilitarianist,

I like you when you don't log onto this board pretending to be someone else. When I was talking about logging in twice, I was talking about logging in with utilitarianist and utilitarism. Not posting two messages.

You are an idiot for this post. Of course people know that it is illegal to work at an illegal gambling establishment. Can you walk into a poker game in VA and tell me how to tell the difference? The 55 people that the police interviewed all stated that the game was legal and they had no doubts that the house was not taking a rake. So let me know all brilliant one. By the way when you do let me know, use your real screen name.

Gotta love people like you that watch a few episodes of cops and know the law!

-CTP

PS: I wouldn't be so harsh had you not signed on under an alias

Yahoo would not allow me to set up an email account with the screen name utilitarianism nor utilitarism. Without an email account I did not get the password from this townofhaymarket.info web site. Now to further clear this up for you........yahoo allowed me to create an account with an email account under the screen name utilitarianist...

See how easy things are when you do not try to lead the witness, huh, CTP, whoever you are?

I see where you are still attempting to cover your gluteusmaximus on the "7 out 25" when all the news media coverage states from police records "60 people were wagering".

Now as for the "idiot" comment. And I really mean this .... Only a stupid ignorant arrogant person would introduce his friend and fellow police officer who has 7 children for a job interview to a convicted felon who operates an illegal gambling operation, a gambling operation that moves from one location to another, where the gambling money has been robbed several times, fights have broken out on many occasions, etc.! But then again I figure you figured that it would be ok as long as it was just between the "7 - 25" good ole boys just out for a night of gambling, and if no one gets caught. So I suppose now, in all of your arrogance, you are gonna say that the Fairfax Police blundered its investigation..... (no need to answer that one CTP, whoever you are, it would only be wishful thinking on your behalf) .....

You are probably wishing I did not post to this informal forum, but, sorry I was invited through a post card, received in the U.S. Mail.

And I figure you would not be so harsh anywhere to anyone, if whoever you try to push your bull off on would phrase your every word to be the truth and nothing but the truth, but then again your words are far from the exact truth.

Isn't the whole ignorance of the law defense the one that was used by a former mayor of a rather large town nearby? Namely DC, and self proclaimed Mayor for Life Marion Barry?

But then again he was not guilty because the "B@tch set him up", I believe that was a direct quote by the man himself. I guess he too did not know it was illegal to by crack from a hooker in a hotel room.

I saw the video tape that the FBI, Metro Police - law officers - made in that motel room too. Its a miracle that Barry got a fair trial would be the best defense. Did Barry admit that he inhaled? just having some fun with your comment, 1xusmc. :>)

Actually I was in a traffic courtroom when I was 17 and I heard a defendant explain to the judge that she did not know that something she did while driving was illegal......its been a while ago and I do not remember what the infraction of the traffic law was now. But I remember Judge Yates, with his stern look and bellowing voice say to her (and he had a habit of addressing everyone in the courtroom while making any point) "Ignorance of the law is no excuse in a court of law".

Does it mean that there are ways of making money, that do not involve any kind of illegal activity?