Tag: Marsh Insurance

Disposition of 2002 New York City Arrests

The North American Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network recently distributed the following e-mail about the disposition of court cases stemming from the arrest of animal rights activists protesting outside the home of a Marsh Inc. executive earlier this year,

On April 21st, 2002, during World Week for Animals In Labs, 10 people were arrested for alleged property destruction at the home of a Marsh Inc. executive in New York City, [USA]. They were charged with 1 count of criminal mischief in the 2nd degree – a Class D felony charges (in the U.S. are ranked as violations (the least serious), misdemeanours, and felonies (the most serious)) The case was closed today.

One individual was not an activist and was improperly identified while walking down the street past the activists and was arrested.

Peter Owens, Jessica Stewart and Broderick Gumpwright had their charges dismissed early in the case.

Melinda DeAugustines plead to Criminal Trespass (a misdemeanour)and sentenced to time served and one year of probation. If she cooperates with her probation, the charge will be dropped to a violation and sealed after that year.

Amiee Grenier plead guilty to a Class E felony (Class A is the highest, E the lowest) and was sentenced to 5 years of probation.

Benjamin Persky plead guilty to a Class D felony – Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree. He will be sentenced December 23rd, at 100 Centre Street, Part 71, 11th floor. Time is unknown, though likely 2:15pm.

Joshua Schwartz and Jennica Tait plead guilty to a Class D felony – Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree. They have court dates January 6th and February 10th respectively – I am unsure as to whether this will be sentencing or a pre-sentencing conference.

Jennifer Greenberg went to trial and was found guilty of a Class D felony, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree. She too has court January 6th.

Josh, Jennica, and Jen’s court dates will be held at 111 Centre Street, part 53, 5th floor, New York City. Court begins at 9:30 a.m. If they receive a different, specific scheduled time down the line, it will be posted.

Thanks so much to everyone who attended court for the defendants this week. They have personally expressed their sincerest appreciation.

Jennifer, Benjamin and Josh are currently in custody. Please write them letters…Josh is doing better than Jen – she’s only 17 and is rather upset.

Jennifer Greenberg, 3100201610
Rose M. Singer Center
1919 Hazen St.
East Elmherst, NY 11370
USA

Joshua Schwartz 3100201611
BBKC
125 White St.
New York, NY 10013
USA

Benjamin Persky 1410212600
GRVC
0909 Hazen St.
East Elmherst, NY 11370
USA

Source:

Urgent ELP! Bulletin. E-mail communication, North American Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network, December 14, 2002.

Not Guilty Pleas from Defendants in Animal Rights Harassment and Extortion Cases

In late October, nine animal rights activists were indicted on charges of harassment and extortion related to threats made against Marsh Insurance manager Robert Harper Jr. Last week six of those activists plead innocent to the charges against them.

Ray Kleinert, 17, of East Brunswick, N.J.; Ryan Smith, 19, of Billerica, Mass.; Laura Lungarelli of Guilford, NH; Lisa Lotts, 23, of Boston, Mass.; Alexandra Doane, 18, of Foxboro, Mass.,; and Lauren Gazzola, 23, of Bethel, Conn., plead innocent to all charges against them.

Two activist, Joshua Schwartz of Chicago, Ill.; and Jennifer Greenberg, 17, of Wheeling, Ill. could not make an appearance in court because they were being held on similar charges in New York.

Additionally, prosecutors dropped charges filed against Jacob Conroy, 26, of Seattle, Wash.

Two as-yet unidentified men and an unidentified woman have also been indicted but not apprehended.

Source:

Animal rights activists plead innocent to harassment charges. Associated Press, November 22, 2002.

More Massachusetts Activists Indicted

Back in August 2002, two animal rights activists were indicted in Massachusetts after they allegedly threatened to burn down the home of Marsh Insurance manager Robert Harper Jr. Today, 9 additional individuals with links to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty were indicted on various charges related to their harassment of Harper and Marsh.

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, the indicted individuals include,

  • Ryan Kleinert, 17, of East Brunswick, N.J., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, threats to burn a dwelling, stalking in violation of restraining order and criminal harassment, and four counts of conspiracy.
  • Jacob Conroy, 26, of Seattle, Wash., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, threats to burn a dwelling, stalking in violation of restraining order, criminal harassment, and four counts of conspiracy.
  • Ryan Smith, 19, of Billerica, indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Laura Lungarelli, of Gilford, N.H., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Lisa Lotts, 23, of Allston, indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Alexandra Doane, 18, of Foxboro, indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Lauren Gazzola, 23, of Bethel, Conn., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Joshua Schwartz of Chicago, Ill., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion, criminal harassment and two counts of conspiracy.
  • Jennifer Greenberg, 17, of Wheeling, Ill., indicted on one count each of attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Additionally, two unnamed women and one unnamed man were indicted. Police have photographs of the unnamed individuals and are seeking to identify them.

Attempted extortion is the most serious crime that the individuals were charged with, and in Massachusetts carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.

Kurt Schwarz, of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, told the Boston Herald that, “These 12 people in the name of protest engaged in conduct that went far beyond the bounds of protected speech.”

Referring to Ryan Smith, Schwarz told the Lowell Sun,

He, like the 11 others were all participants in multiple protests in Boston and the protest he participated in, we allege, were designed to not only criminally harass the targets but were designed to compel the target’s company [Marsh] to withdraw its business relationship with the English company [Huntingdon Life Sciences].

Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Philip J. McGovern of the Corruption, Fraud and Computer Crime Division has been assigned to prosecute the cases against the indicted individuals.

Sources:

Billerica teen accused in animal rights terror case. Jennifer Fenn, Lowell Sun, October 28, 2002.

US animal rights activists indicted for stalking. Reuters, October 28, 2002.

Activists indicted for harassing Hub man. Michael Lasalandra, The Boston Herald, October 26, 2002.

AG Reilly Announces 43 Indictments Against 12 People In Connection With International Animal Rights Extremist Group. Office of Attorney General Tom Reilly, Press Release, October 25, 2002.

Four British Activists Charged

According to the animal rights web site ArkangelWeb.Org, on October 8 four British animal rights activists appeared in court and were charged with crimes related to their alleged harassment of individuals connected with Huntingdon Life Sciences. According to ArkangelWeb.Org, all four were remanded into custody.

The four activists are Gavin Medd Hall, Bob Lewis, Kevin White and Wilmer White.

Sources:

British justice at its very best!!!. ArkangelWeb.Org, October 10, 2002.

4 More Animal Rights Activists In Prison. ArkangelWeb.Org, October 8, 2002.

Alleged SHAC Activists Arrested, Charged with Extortion, Stalking and Criminal Harassment

Ryan Kleinert, 17, of New Jersey, and Lisa Lotts, 23, of Iowa, were arrested in Massachusetts this week and charged with stalking, criminal harassment, and attempted extortion of a manager for Marsh Insurance, Robert Harper Jr. According to media reports, Kleinert and Lotts are allegedly members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty and were among a number of activists who regularly protested at Harper’s home.

A press release from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office said,

An investigation found that Kleinert and Lotts allegedly participated in activities including:

  • Threatening to burn down the apartment building where the victim and others live
  • Demanding that the victim quit his job if he wants to stop the threats
  • Vandalizing the building where the victim lived with red paint
  • Visiting the home at all hours of the day and night, screaming threats and demands, sometimes with a megaphone. Kleinert and Lotts allegedly called the victim a “puppy killer” and “animal torturer” and would make references to the victim’s 2-year-old son.

Kleinert and Lotts also allegedly posted “Wanted for Murder” posters in Harper’s neighborhood that featured his photo.

Obviously there are plenty of actionable crimes here assuming the state can prove its case, but the really interesting charge is the attempted extortion. Apparently the state is going to argue that since the alleged SHAC activists engaged in a pattern of harassment while promising said harassment would end only if Harper’s company stopped doing business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, that this constitutes attempted extortion.

Sources:

Two Arraigned On Charges They Stalked And Harassed A Boston Family. The Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, Press Release, August 19, 2002.

Pro-animal duo busted in terror siege. Jessica Heslam, Boston Herald, August 20, 2002.

Animal activists charged with stalking. Joe Spurr, Boston Globe, August 20, 2002.

Anti-HLS Activists Arrested in San Antonio, New Jersey

On August 9, 23 activists affiliated with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty were arrested at protests in New Jersey and San Antonio.

In New Jersey, 14 people were arrested outside the offices of Huntingdon Life Sciences after violating a court order forbidding activists from trespassing on HLS property.

In San Antonio, nine activists were arresated while protesting outside of the home of Marsh Insurance employee Marion Harlos.

This author has suggested before that SHAC-style activists might be in violation of anti-stalking statutes, and according to SHAC all nine arrested activists were charged with 3rd degree stalking and had bail set at $25,000 apiece.

Sources:

Press Release. Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, August 9, 2002.

Press Release. Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, August 9, 2002.