More stories: Legal clown Doug Handshoe, felon Fred Goodson, and questions about cross-border companies

Slidell Motel, Inc. was a Louisiana company that formed an integral part of the "O'Aces Casino," subject of a federal criminal and State Police investigation in the 1990s. Assets of Slidell Motel and related companies like Truck Stop Gaming were ultimately ordered forfeit by a federal judge as being part of a criminal racketeering enterprise run by Fred Goodson. Blogger Doug Handshoe--who now holds himself out in court documents as a "journalist" who interjects himself into all manner of public controversies--has repeatedly asserted that association with corrupt politicians and alleged racketeering and conspiracy are a matter of great & legitimate public interest. His own background and first-hand knowledge of such activities certainly seems so apropos.

Douglas Handshoe, Treasurer of Slidell Motel,
part of O'Aces Casino

A reliable source has forwarded documents from the Louisiana Secretary of State, and Doug Handshoe officially became Treasurer of Slidell Motel, Inc. sometime between the 1998 and 1999 annual filings. In February, 1999, he was officially recorded as Treasurer alongside convicted felon Fred Goodson as President, who was at the time in federal prison. Lots of questions remaim . . . 

On September 23, 1997, accountant Doug Handshoe, Fred Goodson's son, Alex, and Demetrios Pappas incorporated Interstate Management Services, Inc. across the border in Mississippi. According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Government did not indict Alex Goodson, but had subsequently named him an unindicted co-conspirator. Handshoe's friend Alex was also an intervenor in the forfeiture proceedings.

At the same time, across the border in Louisiana, Handshoe was acting as the accountant for Truck Stop Gaming, another Goodson company ordered forfeit by the federal criminal court, and as part of the related bankruptcy proceeding. Goodson was convicted on June 27 and sentenced on October 15 of that year, so this was a period when Goodson was already found guilty but free pending sentencing for one count of RICO, one count of RICO conspiracy, two counts of mail fraud, five counts of money laundering and three counts of the use of interstate communications in aid of state bribery. His daughter and Alex's sister, Maria, was found guilty of one count of mail fraud in connection with Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd.'s 1995 license renewal application.

Slidell Motel had been formed in 1988 by Fred Goodson, Panagiottis Hirris, and Demetrios Pappas, all of Sidell, Louisiana. Goodson's wife Martha joined that trio as a shareholder, with the four holding all the shares. Goodson had a habit of incorporating lots of companies.

In February, 1997, having not yet been convicted, Goodson was still personally signing Louisiana Secretary of State documents on the dotted line as President, with Mr. Hirras still Treasurer.  By 1998, however, Goodson's signature on the official Secretary of State renewal papers looks like it was made with a stamp, and his phone number suddenly changed to Mississippi, with a 601 area code. That stamped signature makes sense, of course, because Handshoe's business partner Fred Goodson was at that time in federal prison. Not sure how stamping someone's name on official registration papers while he or she is in prison accords with Louisiana law or accounting ethics. . . . especially for a company that was supposed to be sold off by court order.

On the 1999 filing, the longstanding address for Slidell Motel suddenly changed to Morgan Bluff Road in Pearl River; Martha became the Registered Agent and Pappas and Hirras were out as officers. Martha signed for Fred as President (still in prison). Doug Handshoe was in as Treasurer, with Goodson remaining President, Martha as Secretary, and back to a Louisiana area code for the phone number. Pappas, though, had by now turned up over at Interstate Management in Mississippi.

On April 13, 1999, the bankruptcy court granted an order appointing Handshoe as "liquidating agent" for Truck Stop Gaming's real estate, after he had already served as company accountant for 2 years.

No annual report for Slidell Motel was filed in 2000.

In 2001, Fred Goodson was still President, with Martha signing for him under a power of attorney, instead of using a stamp. Guess they thought better of that. Handshoe remained signing as Treasurer.

Mr. Doug stayed on as Treasurer until 2006, the last year a filing was made. The Secretary of State wrote a warning letter in 2010.

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So, what about Handshoe and other Goodson corporations? And Handshoe's role as both accountant for the Goodsons and liquidator for the government? As always stated in previous posts, there's no indication Handshoe was ever under criminal investigation along with Fred and Maria Goodson. Martha Goodson, Pappas, and Hirras all escaped indictment as well.

The crimnal forfeiture bankruptcy case was wrapped up on September 19, 2005. 

So, there's a few questions:

• According to contemporary press reports, federal judge Vance ordered Fred Goodson to forfeit his ownership in Slidell Motel in August, 1997, in yet Goodson stayed on as President of that corporation alongside Handshoe as Treasurer even while in prison and long thereafter, even while Handshoe was supposedly working as "liquidating agent" and, so Handshoe claims, also for the Department of Justice. Was this forfeiture--or seeming lack thereof-- in accord with the the Order of Judge Vance?
• Why were Handshoe and unindicted co-conspirator Alex Goodson incorporating a new entity in Mississippi at the same time Handshoe was supposed to be participating in a bankruptcy and liquidation of Goodson assets in Louisiana?
• Is it normal and ethical for an accountant to become an officer of a corporation that he or she is purportedly also liquidating the assets of under court order, but that never happens? Slidell Motel kept on filing renewals into 2006.
• Is it normal and ethical for an accountant to become an incorporator and officer of a corporation in one state when one is working under orders of the federal district court in another state on liquidating assets ordered forfeit by the federal judge as the proceeds of criminal activity, along with the son and brother of the convicted felons involved?
• Who was Demetrios Pappas, part of both Slidell Motel and Interstate Management?
• What was H.O.M., Inc. of Mississippi, another Goodson company across the Louisiana border, of which Handshoe was Registered Agent?

Time will tell . . .

Good 'n Handy: Doug Handshoe, Coverup, & Fred Goodson: Updated

This past August (2012), the Times-Picayune reported on a particularly raucous public meeting in Pearl River, Louisiana, involving someone closely connected to anti-gay serial defamer and Slabbed blogger Doug Handshoe:

The Pearl River Board of Aldermen, in a split vote, followed the town's Planning Commission recommendation to annex a 6-acre parcel of land off Louisiana 41 as R-1 Residential. However, the decision was not made quickly, nor quietly. 

Discussion began with Planning Commission Chairman Sam Phillips opposing his own commission's recommendation and ended with Mayor James Lavigne threatening to have the Pearl River Police Department escort members of the audience out of the building for a short stay behind bars. 

The parcel of land owned by Le Pauvre Garcon, which includes Toby Lowe, Ross Lagarde and Fred H. Goodson, had asked for the 6-acre parcel to be zoned B-2 Commercial, which is the same as the land along Louisiana 41. 

. . .

Goodson and his partners did not shed any light on future business ventures involving the property except to say they were trying to compliment the community and were still marketing the property. A hardware store was mentioned, but Goodson indicated more commercial depth would be necessary for such a development. 

Pearl River resident Sparkman "Sparky" Long said, "We keep hearing (the development) won't be a truck stop or video poker but no one is saying what will be there."

Long's comments were followed by loud discussion with multiple people calling out comments simultaneously, which prompted Lavigne to insist that the crowd cool down. "The next outburst and you will be going to the back," Lavigne said, pointing to the nearby jail area. "The police are here."

It will be remembered that in 1997 Mr. Goodson was convicted of one count of RICO, one count of RICO conspiracy, and two counts of mail fraud (in connection with the 1994 and 1995 Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd. gaming license renewal applications). The jury additionally convicted Goodson of five counts of money laundering and three counts of the use of interstate communications in aid of state bribery. His daughter, Maria, was found guilty of one count of mail fraud in connection with TSG, Ltd.'s 1995 license renewal application. His son Alex was named as involved in the coverup, but never indicted.

Such history explains "Sparky" Long's concerns about Mr. Goodson's current plans for his Pearl River land.




Why the coverup, Mr. Doug?  
Just over the border in Mississippi, avowed anti-gay blogger Doug Handshoe has tried to explain away his past association with Fred H. Goodson, O'Aces Casino, and the Slidell truck stop as simply playing the role of a court-sanctioned accountant liquidating the assets of Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd. --in cooperation with the Department of Justice, no less. But, already, something didn't seem straightforward about Handshoe's representations. As seen in a previous post, his talk of appointment as Liquidating Agent in 1999 neatly glossed over his work as the Goodson's & Truck Stop Gaming's accountant long before then.

But there's more than that. 

In comments on Slabbed, Handshoe makes certain representations, even referring to Real-Malice:

And again in further conversation with "On A Steed":

"A CPA was indicted which was why I was brought in.""I was retained to liquidate assets to satisfy forfeitures." "I was hired after all hell had broken loose . . . "

The only problem with Mr. Handshoe's story is the facts as reported by news media at the time.

Sources say Handshoe became corporate Treasurer of Slidell Motel, Inc. before the criminal indictments in 1996 and the court-ordered liquidation started in 1997.  It was 1995 when Louisiana State Police shut down the video poker operation. Goodson was also in prison, still President of Slidell Motel while Handshoe was Treasurer. As noted, Handshoe was also accountant for Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd. before he was appointed Liquidating Agent. He was registered agent for another Goodson company, H.O.M. of Mississippi, also well before the criminal investigations started in 1995/96.

So why the seeming incapacity to be completely forthcoming in Mr. Handshoe's online explications? Why the whitewash and coverup? What does Mr. Doug mean when he says that he "gained a lifetime client" out of the Goodson criminal prosecution? What does he mean by "that bunch"?

On July 28, 1996, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported on the criminal indictments:

A federal grand jury in New Orleans on Friday indicted a former state senator, a Slidell businessman and his daughter and a New Orleans lawyer on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, bribery and other illegal activities.

...

Fred H. Goodson - A Slidell businessman and a principal in a number of businesses, including FHG Corp., SMFM Management Corp., Magnolia Investments Ltd., Slidell Union 76 Auto/Truck Plaza Inc., Slidell Motel Inc. and Tempico Inc.

. . .

On or about April 8, 1995, Fred Goodson was told by the accountant for Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. that, as a result of the failure to transfer ownership out of the Goodson children's name, there would be serious tax consequences. 

On or about April 10, 1995, Fred Goodson and Cleveland were told by the accountant for Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. that, because of the failure to file periodic tax returns regarding the profits made during 1994 by Truck Stop Gaming Ltd, there would be substantial penalties owned to the Internal Revenue Service. 

On or about April 13, 1995, Cleveland explained to Maria Goodson his plan for evading the payment of "a huge penalty" on the money earned by Truck Stop Gaming Ltd. in 1994. 

On or about April 17, 1995, Cleveland and the Goodsons caused a false and fraudulent "legal bill" and a false and fraudulent "management services bill" to be prepared as part of an effort to eliminate the need to pay income taxes owed.

Reading what Doug Handshoe has to say, you might think that the corporation he was an officer for--Slidell Motel-- had nothing to do with the criminal investigation, prosecutions, convictions, and court-ordered forfeiture. But that doesn't seem to be the case either. On May 16, 1997, the Times-Picayune reported on the playing of FBI tapes of a wire-tapped Fred Goodson during the trial:

According to Goodson, state Rep. Raymond "La La" Lalonde was especially wary of the appearance of taking money from the truck stops. He said Lalonde would take checks from attorneys for other companies related to the truck stop owners in "small amounts" - $250, $350 and $400. 

Goodson explained his own technique for getting campaign donations to legislators who didn't want checks directly from gambling interests. He said he attached his truck stop business card to checks drawn on a Slidell motel he owns.

On July 21, 1997, the Advocate continued its coverage of the conviction of Mr. Handshoe's fellow corporate officer and client: 

Under federal racketeering laws, prosecutors are trying to seize $15.6 million in Goodson -related business interests, including a Slidell motel and truck stop that served as home for O'Aces. 

Another $1.3 million in profits from O'Aces is targeted under a money laundering seizure. Since O'Aces' true ownership was disguised under the names of Goodson's adult children, it was an illegal gambling operation and its proceeds are subject to seizure, prosecutors contend.

On August 27, 1997, the Times-Picayune reported that the corporation Handshoe was Treasurer for, Slidell Motel, was indeed part of the criminal scheme, and the federal court ordered it forfeit as well:

U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance, who presided over their lengthy trial, also refused to order a new trial for Bankston, father-daughter video poker truck stop owners Fred and Maria Goodson, and the Goodsons' longtime New Orleans attorney, Carl Cleveland.

In addition, Vance ordered Fred Goodson , who once operated the now-defunct O'Aces video poker lounge in Slidell, and Cleveland to forfeit more than $3.7 million apiece in U.S. currency to the government. More than $3.1 million of that $3.7 million figure was O'Aces' net profits from July 1994 through August 1995.

The judge also ordered Fred Goodson to forfeit his interests in O'Aces, Truck Stop Gaming Ltd., the Slidell Union 76 Auto/Truck Plaza and Slidell Motel. She ordered Cleveland to forfeit his interests in Truck Stop Gaming and O'Aces. Fred Goodson's children, Alex and Maria tried hard to get their money out of Truck Stop Gaming, petitioning the court and launching an appeal. Handshoe indeed went to St. Stanislaus High School with Alex, same graduating class in fact, and according to his own statement still acts as a Goodson family accountant.

The next question, beyond why Mr. Doug is covering up his exact role in the Goodson criminal enterprise, is what was Mr. Handshoe doing forming a corporation with the Goodsons in Mississippi in 1997 at the same time as they were all liquidating millions of dollars of assets under court order in western Louisiana? Where did all that money go? What was that "happy ending"?

When you need an accountant who knows all about criminal RICO, who ya gonna call?

Handshoe, Goodson, Bankston, Vandenweghe, Lauricella: maybe Handshoe has been projecting his own life experiences onto others: Updated

In January, 2012, Slabbed blog publisher Douglas K. Handshoe demonstrated a remarkable memory:

Remember back in the late 90s several state legislators were indicted along with certain people in the video poker business? One of the allegations centered on then State Senator Larry Bankston making people in need of legislative help rent his Florida Condo at an inflated price.

Now, why would Mr. Handshoe have such a peculiar memory for a 90s scandal involving a Louisiana state senator? Handshoe lives and works as a CPA in Mississippi.

Turns out, Louisiana Secretary of State records show that Mr. Handshoe was in business since the early 1990s with some people named Goodson in the Slidell Motel, Inc. at 916 Morgan Bluff Rd, Pearl River, Louisiana, the home of Fred H. Goodson. Specifically, Fred H. Goodson was President and Mr. Handshoe was Treasurer of that corporation. That is not an arms-length relationship.

Slidell Motel, Inc. became part of Louisiana State Police investigations into Goodson's lucrative truck stop gambling operations, which quickly turned into a federal Grand Jury investigation and multiple indictments. The Baton Rouge Advocate stated that "Fred H. Goodson , 55, of 916 Morgan Bluff, Pearl River" was arrested by State Police "on 10 counts of submitting false documents to the state police Video Gaming Division." In July, 1995: Goodson and his attorney were still trying to make it look like everything was legitimate. The Times-Picayune reported:

On a video poker application, the form asks whether the applicant or any partner has ever been involved in a bankruptcy. Goodson answered, "No." 

However, records show that F.H.G. Corp., owned solely by Goodson and his wife, Martha, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990. The company, which at one time owned both the truck stop franchise and the hotel, filed for bankruptcy after an unsuccessful attempt to build a new hotel and restaurant on Old Spanish Trail in the late 1980s. Under Chapter 11, a company is shielded from its creditors while it tries to reorganize its debts. 

When F.H.G. filed bankruptcy, the company had more than $2.4 million in debts, including $189,183 that Goodson claimed was due to himself. 

Before filing Chapter 11, however, F.H.G. sold the truck stop franchise to a new company called Slidell 76 Auto Truck Plaza, and the hotel to a new company called Slidell Motel Inc. Both companies are also owned by Goodson , his wife and in-laws. 

Bankruptcy trustee David Adler said in 1993 court proceedings that Goodson purposely sold off those profit-making assets to insiders at less than market value, essentially stripping the company. Adler also said that Goodson inappropriately gave himself and other insiders cash bonuses and alleged debt payments totaling more than $800,000; sold family members' insurance policies valued at $301,804 for less than market value; and tried to personally collect on a $282,437 loan from F.H.G. to the truck stop. 

Slidell Motel was intimately involved in Goodson's truck stop gambling operations. Again, the Times-Picayune:

At the glitzy O'Aces gambling parlor in Slidell , patrons can come and go amid 50 video poker machines without having to encounter truck scales, diesel fuel or any of that notoriously strong truckers' coffee. In fact, the Budget Host Hotel that houses O'Aces doesn't even allow 18-wheelers to park on the property. 

Yet, according to State Police, it's a truck stop, or at least part of one. That's the only way it could legally have 50 video poker machines. Next door, at the Slidell 76 truck stop, there are no video poker machines. 

State Police viewed the businesses as one operation under owner Fred Goodson , and accordingly issued the lounge a lucrative truck stop video poker permit in 1992.

Some sources indicate Handshoe joined Slidell Motel as an officer in '92, but Secretary of State files show Handshoe's name first appeared in February, 1999. Who knows?

Then there's H.O.M. of Mississippi, Inc. where Doug Handshoe was Registered Agent for the Goodsons, again. Fred Goodson liked forming companies with initials, "BAJ," "FHG," "HOM."


Who are these Goodsons and what happened?

Let's let the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals summarize:

Larry Bankston ("Bankston"), Fred Goodson, Maria Goodson, and Carl Cleveland ("Cleveland") appeal from their June 27, 1997, convictions and October 15, 1997, sentences for various offenses related to criminal activity in the Louisiana video poker industry. Fred Goodson and Cleveland, along with Alex Goodson, Maria Goodson, and Truck Stop Gaming, Inc. ("TSG, Inc."), additionally appeal the district court's judgment of forfeiture of Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd. ("TSG, Ltd.") and TSG, Inc. as part of the RICO enterprise. The Government cross-appeals, challenging the district court's calculation of both Bankston's and Maria Goodson's sentences. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the Appellants' convictions and sentences and the forfeiture of TSG, Ltd. and TSG, Inc.

...

On October 4, 1996, the Government charged now former Louisiana State Senators Benjamin "Sixty" Rayburn and Larry Bankston; video poker entrepreneur Fred Goodson; his daughter, Maria Goodson; family attorney, Carl Cleveland; and the family's accountant, Joe Morgan, with a combination of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, conducting an illegal gambling business, money laundering, tax conspiracy, false declaration under penalty of perjury, aiding and abetting a false declaration under penalty of perjury, and interstate communications in aid of racketeering. Most of the charges against the Goodsons, Cleveland, and Joe Morgan related to the establishment, licensing, and operation of TSG, Ltd. The Government alleged that the defendants had schemed to defraud state regulators in obtaining video poker licenses for TSG, Ltd., and to obtain favorable legislation affecting Louisiana's video poker industry. Specifically, the Government alleged that the defendants obtained a gaming license for TSG, Ltd. in 1992 and renewed in 1993, 1994, and 1995, by fraudulently concealing the identity of the true owners of the company, Fred Goodson and Carl Cleveland. According to the Government, Goodson and Cleveland concealed their ownership in order to avoid the probing inquiry of the State's suitability assessment.

According to court records, a team of prosecutors conducted the criminal trial and sentencing, including a familiar name:

  

The criminal convictions were upheld by the 5th Circuit. Turns out TSG, Inc.'s officers had that same Pearl River address--Fred Goodson's spacious home--used to register "Slidell Motel, Inc." TSG, Ltd. was indeed liquidated "as part of the RICO enterprise" in a 1997 bankruptcy proceeding. Searching the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system turns up Mr. Handshoe as the  accountant for Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd., too. Imagine that.

 
At the same time, in 1997, after the criminal convictions, Handshoe and the Goodsons incorporated yet another company, but not in Louisiana, this time in Mississippi: "Interstate Management Services, Inc." Why was that?

Interestate Management purportedly engaged in "management consulting."

Now, according to the federal Court of Appeal, former Senator Rayburn was represented by counsel during the criminal investigation:

Michael Fawer represented Goodson's co-defendant, former Louisiana State Senator Rayburn, through the investigative stage of this case. Fawer assisted Rayburn in responding to three grand jury subpoenas, had discussions with the Government regarding the nature of the charges being considered against Rayburn, and appeared in court on behalf of Rayburn at the initial appearance, as well as later to argue motions.

On November 5, 1996, Fawer withdrew as counsel for Rayburn, and Arthur A. Lemann, III replaced Fawer as counsel for Rayburn. On February 24, 1997, Goodson moved the district court to associate Fawer as additional counsel for him.

No wonder Mr. Handshoe says he "had the chance to spend a couple of days" with B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn a decade or so ago, exchanging stories on things like governor's pardons. Covington-based attorney Fawer thus represented Goodson in the criminal trial. Fawer also just happens to now be longstanding law partners with Randall A. Smith, who represents Waste Remediation of Plaquemines, the company owned by former state senator "Hank" and his son Louis Lauricella, in a lawsuit along with Concrete Busters of Louisiana against River Birch Landfill. 

The Times-Picayune reported in September, 1995:

Six legislative seats were opened up to new blood when lawmakers mentioned in the [gambling investigation] FBI affidavits decided against seeking re-election. 

Sen. Larry Bankston, D-Port Hudson, accused of playing a central role in a conspiracy to manipulate legislative votes on video poker issues, conceded that the FBI investigation prompted his withdrawal. After first declaring he would press on with a re-election bid, Bankston said this past week that "unfair and unsubstantiated allegations" would require a relentless campaign effort that would be unfair to his family. 

Sen. Gerry Hinton, R-Slidell, also said the investigation influenced his decision to withdraw. Hinton figured prominently in the inquiry as a close ally of video poker developer Fred Goodson . 

Two other lawmakers who withdrew in recent days denied that the federal investigation forced them out. They are Sens. Hank Lauricella , R-Harahan, and Marty Chabert, D-Chauvin, who owns a video poker truck stop in his hometown.

So, former Senator Larry Bankston and former Senator "Hank" Lauricella served in the Senate together at the same time, even on at least one of the same committees:

The charges against Senator Rayburn were specifically related to Truck Stop Gaming, Ltd., and everything related to accounting for monies allegedly or actually paid to bribe state senators like Rayburn and Bankston by Goodson. 

Now, there's nothing to suggest that the state police or federal investigators targeted young Doug Handshoe, CPA, but Handshoe himself has repeatedly drawn attention to Bankston on Slabbed without so much as  mentioning his close association with those involved in the political corruption scandal and crimes. Handshoe was Treasurer of a corporation linked to the bribery scandal and State Police investigation, fellow corporate officer with a convicted felon, and accountant for another corporation at the center of the federal criminal investigation into bribery, money laundering, and RICO. These themes might sound familiar to anyone who reads Slabbed today.

In one Slabbed comment published by Handshoe, "rocheblave" helpfully quotes from a Times-Picayune story:

The indictment charges Bankston with accepting from Goodson a $1,555 bribe disguised as rent on Bankston’s condominium in Orange Beach, Ala. The FBI alleges that Goodson never stayed at the condo and that the payment was for help killing legislation that sought to subject video poker to a referendum.

Bankston also allegedly was promised a hidden interest in Truck Stop Gaming and $100,000 of stock in Tempico Corp., another Goodson company, to help persuade State Police to allow Goodson to resume operations at his Slidell video poker lounge.

In addition to racketeering and conspiracy charges, Morgan also is accused of money laundering, conducting an illegal gambling business and falsifying tax returns.

Morgan allegedly was involved with BAJ Corp., which Cleveland is accused of setting up to funnel thousands of dollars of video poker proceeds to Rayburn’s children.

Prosecutors claim the payments were bribes for the senator’s votes to shield the industry.
As a result of a separate gambling investigation, William Broadhurst, the former law partner of former Gov. Edwin Edwards, faces arraignment today on charges that he skimmed money from construction contracts for two floating casinos that operated in New Orleans for only six weeks in 1995.

The indictment did not specify how much money Broadhurst allegedly gained, but accused him of four counts of mail fraud involving checks totaling $255,555.

The failed New Orleans project, known as River City, was a partnership of Grand Palais Riverboats, headed by resort developer Christopher Hemmeter, and a New Jersey-based company, Capital Gaming International. Broadhurst was a consultant to Grand Palais, the indictment said.”

Mr. Handshoe felt the need to augment the Times-Picayune article, seemingly being an apologist for some of the actors:

Funny thing "rocheblave" mentioning Christopher Hemmeter and Grand Palais Riverboats, for that's precisely who "unslabbed" Anne-Marie Vandenweghe did $12,000 in legal work for in 1994, while her law license was suspended and she was Jefferson Parish councilwoman, thus violating state law, according to contemporary reports by the Times-Picayune. 

It was revealed that Vandenweghe, a lawyer, had done about $12,000 in law work for the Grand Palais riverboat casino in New Orleans.

A Vandenweghe campaign spokesman said she did not violate the law because at the time of her work, the Grand Palais had not yet received the State Police document designating it as a license holder. State Police, however, said they consider a boat licensed when they vote to issue a license, not when they hand over the document, which typically occurs months later. 
Vandenweghe has also acknowledged advising Crown Casino Corp. during a zoning battle in St. Charles Parish. She did not return telephone calls Monday. 

. . . .

Vandenweghe 's work for Grand Palais came during a period when the Louisiana Bar Association and the state Supreme Court considered her ineligible to practice law in Louisiana. The bar and the court placed her on an ineligible list from Jan. 1 to Dec 12, 1994, because they hadn't received her professional fees for the year. 

Now, another Handshoe shows up with the Louisiana Secretary of State corporations database: Daniel K. Handshoe, a person 3 years Doug's elder. Where does Mr. Daniel work? Harahan, Louisiana, long time home of "Hank" Lauricella, Anne-Marie Vandenweghe, and Salvador Perricone. Some web sites actually suggest that one of Doug's aliases is "Daniel K. Handshoe." Maybe. More likely, they are just close relatives.

Why wouldn't "new media journalist" Doug Handshoe clearly declare his personal links with the Bankston/Goodson criminal investigation and convictions? What's the association that keeps popping up between Doug Handshoe & Anne-Marie Vandenweghe with the Lauricellas & Harahan? How about Vandenweghe, Handshoe, and gambling interests? Strange . . .  Lots to discover. I wonder if Daniel Abel is reading this?

It all makes one view Handshoe's self-professed family links to the mafia in a new light:

Before I tackle the subject of post Katrina police shootings in New Orleans I’ll publically disclose the man whom I knew as my grandfather (actually step granddad) growing up in Waveland was retired NOPD. He was admired widely for years after he left the force by the other officers but not for any particular acts of bravery or heroism. Rather the adulation derived from keeping his mouth shut after he was indicted by the feds who were investigating mafia corruption in New Orleans circa 1950′s and 60′s. The story goes Carlos paid off the jury and the rest is history when he was acquitted. In all the stories granddad told me of his life as a police officer/mafia bagman never once did the term justice ever enter into the conversation. It simply was not in the culture of the NOPD.

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Then there's the total hypocrisy and hubris of Handshoe casting aspersions on others for associating with now-admitted felons like Aaron Broussard, while failing to mention that he himself--a self-purported "citizen for good government"-- was once in business with persons convicted as felons involved in a wide-ranging public corruption scandal. One can start to understand that maybe Handshoe has been projecting his own life experiences onto others.