Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 1989 — Page 3

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1989

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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It was one ‘swinger’ of a weekend IM|ktlR(|l|V||MI

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Last weekend was another one of those when you can’t catch up with the last one because so much fun was

had.

Well I’ll just quit chasing the last one and look forward to the one coming up, but last weekend was nice and I inadvertently forgot to tell you about the good time I had at “Jazz on the Avenue.” It was a real swinger! On Friday night of the festival I went to the Walker Theatre to see the marvelous and sensational pianist Roy Merriweather, who really put on a show and enthralled the audience with his brilliant playing. He was followed by the incomparable Houston Person and the “songsational” Etta Jones, who really bought back memories with some of her “oldies but goodies.” I was able to spot a few of my old friends in the audience—Flo Garvin and her husband along with Dr. Frank Lloyd, Willard “Mike” Ransom and his lovely wife Gladys, and an old schoolmate, Kay Frances Anderson, and a host of others too numerous to

mention.

The crowd of more than 300 really had a good time and I’m sure they are looking forward to next year’s event Oops! I almost forgot to mention Saturday’s fun-filled activities with lots of jazz from the many bands, the Dave Young aggregation being one

of them.

The crowd was fair and could have been better. Let’s pack ’em in next year, okay!

* * *

I was certainly glad to see my friend and one of our finest judges in the state return to the bench after a well-deserved vacation in Italy. Judge A. Toni Cordingley, who visited with friends and relatives, is back in town and told me that the trip was wonderful and she and her two children really had a good lime. It’s good to see you back, judge.

* * *

On Sunday I was invited to attend the 120th anniversary of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and I really enjoyed

Time For Talk 9Y WILLIAM ALEXANCR

the services; the singing by the choir was excellent I don’t know when I have enjoyed myself so much. The principal speaker was Rev. Samuel B. Kyles from Mississippi and boy did he give a sermon. He is truly a preacher from his heart and we all were inspired by his words. Rev. Joseph Finnell is the newlyinstalled pastor of Mt. Zion and from what I hear he will be there a long time because he is doing such a fine job. I am glad for him and I wish him much success.

I would like to thank Juanita Easley for the invitation and you can bet I’ll be back for another visit soon.

* * *

I have been told that Marion County Assessor Bernard “Bud” Gohmann will be seeking re-election to the officejie now holds and will not seek the office of county clerk, as previously told to me by some so-called inside sources. My information this time came straight from the horse’s mouth.

* » *

I am going to let you in on a little secret: The sale of tickets for the Circle City Classic are reaching an all-time high, especially those on ground level, so if you plan on going to this great event, you had better get your tickets now before all the good seats are gone. I’ll see you there.

* * *

In the meantime, here is a thought for you: Wisdom is the ally of truth and the friend of innocence. THINK!

State businesses warned about » " ■ ... . • money-laundering schemes

By KIM LANIER Asst. Managing Editor The Indianapolis District Office of the Internal Revenue Service is mailing out 10,000 letters to Indiana retail merchants to warn them of the dangers of money laundering. The effort is meant to make businesses aware of their responsibilities in reporting large cash purchases. The IRS is mailing the certified letters to automobile, boat and airplane dealers as well as jewelers and furriers. Recent prosecutions in the banking industry have increased the number of cash transaction reports filed with the IRS, according to Robert Gofus, chief of the Criminal Investigation Division. The overall number of forms filed by banks and businesses is down. Businesses in some areas of the state, however, either do not understand or arc unaware of the roles and the penalties associated with nor reporting large or suspicious transactions, he $aid. Money laundering, Gofus explained, is a process by which people

with money gained through illegal activities such as gambling and drug dealing make cash purchases of real estate, companies, cars, planes and other items more than $10,000 or of several large ticket items costing less than $10,000 each. Or they bribe someone to file false reports. “We have found instances in Indiana where retailers didn’t file Form 8300,” Gofus said, stressing that failure to do so could result in civil and criminal penalties. ‘The trend is individual businesses are being approached by individuals to make purchases less than $10,000 and not report it. This is a large compliance problem,” he said. “At this point, we don’t know how big a problem this is,” he added. “We do know that in some areas of the stale, there are retailers who don’t know they must do this.” These rules do not apply only to retailers. Anytime there is acash transaction over $10,000, for attorney fees, for example, or any other costs, it must be reported by the vendor. This way, the IRS can make certain the buyer is reporting money accurately on his in-

come taxes and investigate the possibility of illegal activity in conjunction with other agencies. “The trend is away from banks to launder money through these other avenues,” he said. The IRS is currently investigating the depth of the problem. Duing a recent drug investigation, investigators found that money laundering through business and trade had been set up, Gofus said without further details. Other investigations involve Indiana merchants, but thus far there have been no prosecutions, he said. The mailing, it is hoped, will help boost accurate reporting ot purchases by informing merchants that willful failure to file can range from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and S 10,(XX) in fines. Even minority businesses are vulnerable to money laundering schemes, even if the goods and services they provide are considerably less than $10,(XX), according to IRS public affairs spokesperson Caiolyn Stumpf, who reiterated that the purpose of the mailings is to inform and to gain information.

“It isn’t a black/while issue. If you’re in business, you may see someone and say,' How can he have money to do that?’ I look at morning traffic and wonder how people can afford a luxury car when they don’t have a legitimate job.” Stumpf urged these retailers and vendors to inform the IRS. It some case, filling out forms may not be necessary. “Financial investigation of the IRS goes hand in hand with other criminal investigation agenc ies—law enforcement and state and local agencies. As with any legitimate business, there’s a profit motive. The problem comes if one generates a profit (from illegal activities) and is unable to use it. It’s useless to them They can’t regenerate profits if they can’t gel it 0dirty’ money) back into the system. Therefore, they need to launder it,” he said. “People see the amounts of money that can be generated from these (illegal) activities, see people go from nothing to having wealth and it’s (illegal activities are) very inviting.” He said more letters will be sent in the future to other types of vendors.

Van Cleave receives execution stay Marion County Superior Court Judge Patricia J. Gifford gave convicted murderer Gregory Van Cleave, 27, a stay of execution last Friday after his attorneys filed a post-conviction relief motion last Thursday. Van Cleave was convicted of the October 1982 killing of Robert Faulkner outside Faulkner’s home on the city’s Northside. Van Cleave’s execution was set for Wednesday, Aug. 30. A hearing on the new motion will take place Dec. 7. Tear gas ends inmate disturbance Guards at the Indiana State Farm in Putnamville, Ind.used tear gas after inmates began to rebel last Thursday by setting fires to mattress stuffing and throwing the stuffing into central walkways along the cells, throwing food, tearing outfight fixtures clogging toilets. Prison staff used tear gas to end the disorder. 5 whites arrested in teen’s killing A total of five white men have been charged with assault and riot after an attack resulted in the shooting death of an African-American teenager in New York in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Police, however, are still seeking the gunman. The fifth man, 24-year-old James Pitino, was arrested at his Brooklyn home in connection with last Wednesday’s attack on 16-year-old Yusef Hawkins. Last Friday, police arrested four other Brooklyn men: Keith Mondello and Steven Curreri, both 18, were charged with first degree assault, firstdegree riot, conspiracy in the fourth degree, aggravated harassment, menacing and criminal possession of a deadly weapon (a baseball bat). Pasquale Raucci, 19, and Charles Stresslcr, 21, faced the same charges, with the exception of conspiracy.According to police, Hawkins was shot by a gang of young whites seeking revenge after a friend’s girlfriend rejected him to dale African Americans and Hispanics. The group mistook Flawkins and his friends for the young woman’s new friends. Suspect arrested in Newton slaying Oakland, Califorinia police arrested a 25-ycar-old alleged drug dealer last week for the murder of Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton, 47. Tyrone Robinson viewed the murder as a way to move up in a drug disttibution gang, police reported. Investigators also recovered the weapon believed to have been used in last Tuesday’s crime. Forty people marched Friday carried banners and placards with Newton’s picture and chanted, “Who killed Huey? Don’t tell no fie. It was the government, the FBI.’Threc other men had been arrested that Thursday in connection with the shooting. Small success in S. Africa Anti-apartheid protesters were met with tear gas and shotgun filled with birdshol last Friday in townships near Cape Town, South Africa but managed to have some success in a national campaign to defy apartheid laws. The effort resulted in dozens of black South Africans successfully sought treatment in a hospital wing designated for whites only in East London. South African police fired birdshol to disperse protesters at Mitchell’s Plain township where three mixed-race high school students were injured. At the University of Western Cape, police set up roadblocks and fired tear gas at black and mixed-race students who had erected barricades on campus. Authorities said two officers were wounded at Mitchell’s Plain. They added that two black men were killed by rioters elsewhere. Clergymen announced plans to defy segregation laws on buses in Pretoria.

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BLACK DOLLAR DAYS DEMONSTRATION SEPTEMBER 1ST - SEPTEMBER 9TH, 1989

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Pledge to spend 20% my income with Black businesses. Not only to emphasize to the white merchant that my dollar is important, but to build a black economic base within the Black community. I realize that it is important to make our black dollars turn over in the Black community more than once. I make this commitment to the NAACP Black Dollar Campaign September 1-9,1989.

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Suggested Areas of Mack Support

Haircare Specialist Car Care Specialist Cleaners Eating Places Insurance Agents Shoe Store Drugstore Grocery Store Appliance Store Record Store Liquor Store Night Club Newspaper

Magazine Car Dealer Car Salesman Physician Dentist Lawyer Accountant (Tax Preparer) Plumber Electrician Home Improvement Contractor Real Estate Agents

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Use your $2.00 bills or Susan B. Anthony coins to make all your purchases during the NAACP Black Dollar Demonstration, September 1-9, 1989. Request $2.00 bills or Susan B. Anthony coins from where you bank and put them in circulation when making your weekly purchases. For large ticket items or if you write checks for your purchases or bill payments - NAACP sticker are available to affix to your check or money orders. Let’s show our economic impact during this Black Dollar Day week. PImm bring or mail this plodga to: Groatar Indianapolis NAACP * 4155 Boulevard Place Indianapolis, M 46208 • (317)923-5537

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