We have a very dangerous situation here at East Moline Correctional Center. As I have reported on my Facebook Page, an African American gang has been stealing from the inmates here. As the prison authorities will not allow us to lock our cells (as is required), we are easy targets. A few weeks ago, they stole about two-thousand-dollars worth of possessions from me, including food. Of course, I filed a grievance; however, the grievance was not passed along to Internal Affairs as it should have been. Moreover, the perpetrators have not been adequately punished—just a slap on the hands—and have continued their stealing activities. In fact, many of the inmates here are fearful of their lives, as it seems that the gang activity will continue unchecked.
Due to the inaction of the prison staff, my daughter filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s office, and because of this, the prison staff, especially the warden, is being investigated.
As they say, no good deed goes unpunished
As retaliation, I was put in segregation, and the following Offender Disciplinary Report was issued against me. This ticket is retaliation against me for exposing they way the gangs run things here and steal from the non-gang prisoners. I am being punished and silenced for exercising legal First-Amendment activities.
9/20/19 8:30 am
OFFENCES: 601 AIDING AND ABETTING, ATTEMPT, SOLICITATION OR CONSPIRACY; 102C ASSAULT TO AN OFFENDER; 208 DANGEROUS COMMUNICATIONS.
Observation: (NOTE: Each offense identified above must be substantiated.) On the above date and approximate time an Investigations Unit inquiry was concluded involving Offender HARRIS N57672. Based on independent corroborating statements from five confidential sources (CS’s), it was determined by this Investigations Unit that on approximately 8/2/19 HARRIS reported his Property being stolen. HARRIS then proceeded to offer numerous Offenders large amounts of money (between $300-$500) to complete a “Hit”, fight and/or give any information on the Offenders that robbed him (HARRIS).
CS#1 stated HARRIS was mad about being robbed and HARRIS stated, “I’m the wrong biker to fuck with, I know there are some guys here that need money.” CS#1 stated HARRIS then told him he (HARRIS) was putting a “Hit” on the Warden. CS#1 stated HARRIS then told him he (HARRIS) would pay half the money until the job was done then send the rest. CS#1 stated he had heard HARRIS in the past on D Wing put a “Hit” on Offenders who stole his (HARRIS’S) property.
CS#2 stated while on D Wing after HARRIS had his property stolen he (CS#2) saw and heard HARRIS offer Offenders $300 to beat up, place a “Hit” on a young white kid who had stolen his (HARRIS’S) SECURUS Pin number. CS#2 stated he also observed HARRIS place a “Hit” on the Offenders who stole his (HARRIS’S) property by observing HARRIS offering $500 to anyone who hurt the thieves. CS #2 identified Offender Strawder R18456 as the Offender who HARRIS had placed a “Hit” on.
CS #3 stated while on D Wing shortly after HARRIS was stolen from he (CS#3) observed HARRIS offering Offenders $500 to hurt/fight whoever stole from him (HARRIS). CS#3 stated he observed HARRIS offer the money to Offenders on D Wing to have the thieves “Took care of” or fought.
CD#4 stated while on D Wing he (CS#4) saw HARRIS offering different sums of money to anyone to identify the offenders who stole from him (HARRIS). CS#4 stated HARRIS stated he wanted this information so he (HARRIS) could confront and/or hurt the thieves.
CS#5 stated while on D Wing HARRIS told him (CS#5) that he didn’t know who stole from him but blamed black people. CS#5 stated HARRIS then stated, “It should be like back in the day when whites handled their own by using shanks and knives!”
All five Confidential Sources positively identified HARRIS, LARRY N57672 using Institution Graphics sheet as the Offender who made the above statements. All Confidential Sources were deemed credible due to each giving separate corroborating statements in independent interviews. The five Confidential Sources identities are being withheld for safety and security concerns Offender HARRIS, LARRY N57672 was positively identified by Offender 360 and Institution Graphics. EOR
Here is my Written Statement to the Ticket (drafted while in segregation)
PLEAD NOT QUILTY: Wrong date of 8-27-19 on ticket. Polygraphs requested.
Through this whole ticket, we have third party hearsay within hearsay. Not one informant is stating I offered anything to them. No money trail. No substantiating statement of proof of this.
No where does it state the day, time or person I was alleged to have stated these things to.
CS#1 Caught in lie about “Hit on warden.” I was robbed on 8-28-19. Went to work on 8-29-19. Moved at 1:45 to three house. Never on yard after being robbed on 8-28.19. C/o Straub will verify I never went to yard on 9-28-19. Got ice for him after yard went out. Got on phone to family to tell them about the theft. Talked with him about the theft of property. CS#1 states “heard Harris in the past on D-Wing put a “Hit” on offenders who stole his (HARRIS’S) property.” Could not have happened as Harris was never stolen from until 8-28-19 while at work as welder.
CS#2 states he saw and heard Harris offer offenders $300 to beat up, place a “Hit” on a young white kid who had stolen his (HARRIS’S) Securis Pin Number. But not a statement from any prisoner to corroborate this. Does not state what he saw offered nor to whom. Hearsay by third party not substantiated by any facts.
CS#2 through 5 is more third party hearsay, not supported by any facts, such as what was offered up. CS#2 states he saw and hears Harris’s offer offenders $300 to beat up, place a hit on a young white kid. Never states who was offered this “Hit”. Never states what he saw offered. Commissary? No statement from any prisoner stating Harris gave them money, or solicited them. Only third party hearsay, not substantiated by any valid statement of person they state witnessed this. Who was this offered to? No dates, times, people involved stated.
CS#5 makes fraudulent slip here. Rice is white, and Strawder is Hispanic, not black. Claims Harris has identified these two as the culprits. Neither is black. Another false statement by CS#5. Third party hearsay not substantiated by statements from the person alleged to be solicited. Can not be substantiated. Therefore ticket must be expunged. Hearsay by third party not proved up. Never took place. This is not something talked about in the open!
Respectfully submitted pro se
Larry Harris N-57672
CC: Harris File Adjustment Committee
