Kentucky, also known as The Bluegrass State, is known for its horses, bourbon, and beautiful scenery. A unique variety of people make up the population, from tobacco farmers to entrepreneurs and lawyers. Lexington, though a diverse and alluring city in many ways, has not always had a sparkling reputation. It has been the centerpiece of crimes involving crooked police officers, college students, and human traffickers.
The 1970s were a murky and conflicting time for Lexington, particularly involving the police department. Drugs were becoming more incorporated into society, and this gave rise to an increased need in law enforcement. Unfortunately, some of the narcotics officers who were trusted to confiscate the drugs, instead turned to selling them. This scandal has been called by many “The Bluegrass Conspiracy”, a term coined from Sally Denton’s book that details the events of the scandal and the lives of those involved. The discovery of Andrew Thornton’s body in Knoxville, Tennessee really shed light on the corruption that was present in the Lexington police department. The mystery involving Melanie Flynn’s disappearance is also a part of this tainted and shady affair.
In his novel, Chas Allen mentions that he grew up in a city that had been involved in drugs and political corruption dating back to the 70s. Around 2005, the city of Lexington was shocked by a surprising crime that was puled off by four college boys. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, and editions of James Audubon’s, Birds of America valued at 12 million dollars were stolen from Transylvania University’s rare book collection. The story is written from Allen’s point of view, taking the readers through the reasoning and plot behind the heist.
Human trafficking is a serious and world-wide crime, but little is seems like there is not enough incentive to raise awareness and prevention.However, there are several documented cases of human trafficking busts, all proving we need to recognize and stop this crime. In November of this year, Marco Antonio Flores-Benitez was the first person in Kentucky to be charged with human trafficking. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for being the “ring master” in a very well organized human trafficking business. In this particular case, women were lured into a trap, with promises of a better life and protection from immigration authorities. It is unfortunate that Lexington, though a beautiful and diverse city, has been involved in these types of crimes.
The Bluegrass Conspiracy
Lexington is in the heart of the Bluegrass State. Known as the “Horse Capital of the World”, Lexington is a unique blend of rural and urban cultures and scenery. It is home to a wide variety of people and professions from tobacco farmers to lawyers. Though this city has many different cultural and economic aspects, a shocking and horrifying event that occurred in the 1980s put the whole city on edge. Narcotics, the Lexington Police Force, and affluent Lexington citizens were all players in this scandalous event. Sally Denton, the author who titled her book about this event “The Bluegrass Conspiracy”, delved deep into the mindset of the police force at this time, and uncovered the greed and power behind this drama.
Picture of Denton’s powerful book
Source: Google Images
This scandal was brought to light in 1985, when the body of forty year old Andrew C. Thornton was found on an old man’s driveway in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thornton was a former Lexington Police Narcotics officer, who was found wearing a bullet-proof vest, carrying two pistols, and at least 15 million dollars’ worth of cocaine strapped to his waist. His parachute had failed to open all the way, but a ruptured aorta was the cause of death (trutv.com). More questions than answers began circulating as to how a former Lexington Narcotics officer could turn to dealing drugs, and who else was involved in this scandal. Lexingtonians began to question and mistrust the law enforcement and even the local government, because how could this type of corruption and greed go on in an honest enforcement team?
Parachuting from a Cessna plane was the last thing Thornton did before he died
Source: Google Images
Andrew C. Thornton grew up in a privileged family. He was born in Bourbon County, but attended the private and very selective Sayre School in Lexington. It was a mutual consensus among those who knew Thornton that he was a reasonably well-liked child. He had a particular proclivity for horses, and was always willing to take risks. Intentionally or unintentionally, Thornton carried a “not be messed with” air that the people he encountered on good or bad terms understood. He was said to be a loner, and as he got older, he took pleasure from mind games and intimidating others (Denton 32). He attended the Sewanee Military Academy in Tennessee at the age of fourteen, and became a paratrooper in the Army. Denton notes in her book that he was an “adrenaline junkie”, who was not satisfied with low-risk tasks. After he quit the Army, Thornton became a Lexington police officer, specializing in narcotics. During his work as an undercover narcotics agent, Bell reports that Thornton “became swept up in the drug underworld and began selling the drugs he confiscated for enormous profit” (trutv.com).
One of the mastermind’s behind the Company, Andrew C. Thornton
Source: Google Images
In the novel, Denton researches not only the members of the Company, but the people who tried to uncover the crimes committed. Ralph Ross is a prominent figure in the investigation; a former Kentucky State policeman who had been ostracized from the force due to being convicted of illegal wire-tapping. Ross knew how brutal and ruthless of a person Thornton was, and though it was tragic, he felt that Thornton received a just punishment in death (Denton xiii).
Thornton needed “friends in higher places” to cover his tracks. Because of his family’s wealth and high social status, his unorthodox methods as a police officer often went overlooked by his superiors. Thornton’s partner Bradley Bryant was extremely crucial to the development and operation of the Company. Bradley was the son of a Lexington businessman and was surrounded by upper class children in his youth (Denton 58). Bradley’s mother sent him to the Sewanee Military Academy in 1960, where he met Thornton (Denton 58). Denton notes in her novel that “Bradley was everything Drew wanted to be but could never quite achieve- smart, goal-directed, incredibly good-looking, and popular” (59). Denton also writes that Thornton and his co-conspirators were “like-minded in their belief that they were above the law,…the bonds between them would become stronger than blood, and their deeds more gruesome with the passage of time” (Denton 41).
Bryant was often considered the more powerful and connected member of the Company, who had ties to Las Vegas mobsters, political figures, and foreign agents. John Y. Brown Jr., who became the governor of Kentucky in 1979, could be considered one of the first men to help Bryant become wealthy. Brown bought the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise from Harlan David Sanders for two million dollars, and became incredibly wealthy. Brown used his influence to land Bryant a corporate executive position in Philadelphia. Through Brown’s friends, Bradley became connected to people in the “Vegas casino scene” (Denton 62).
Lexington police officer William Taulbee Canan also became involved in the Bluegrass Conspiracy. He joined the police force in 1971 after a fourteenth month tour of Vietnam with the United States Marines, and became the first undercover narcotics agent on the force. Denton writes in her novel that Canan “used his muscular physique and icy blue eyes to intimidate his adversaries. He bragged about his Black Belt karate expertise, his macho command of all types of weapons…” (8-9). Thornton and Canan became extremely close during this time, even though they came from completely different backgrounds. Not only was Canan involved in smuggling drugs he confiscated from the people he arrested, but he was also a part of a mystery that still remains unresolved to this day.
Canan was a suspect in this mystery; the disappearance of Melanie Flynn. The twenty-four year old party girl was reported missing on January 29th, 1977. According to police reports, she was supposed to come home for dinner three evenings before, and hadn’t shown up for work since then (Denton 6). Flynn was a free-spirited young woman who led an extravagant life, and had a history of running away. After a hook-up with a Cuban horse breeder, she pursued a singing career. Little success came from that, and she moved back to Lexington. Shortly afterwards, she met Thornton and Canan, who had gained reputations for their “fast-paced lives that included the best parties and nightclubs, flashy rolls of hundred-dollar bills…all ostensibly in the name of the war on drugs” (Denton 8). Though he was married, Canan and Melanie started dating, which gave her insight in the “Company’s” dealings.
Her disappearance still remains a mystery.
Source: Google Images
Ralph Ross and Detective Bizzack were the lead investigators in her disappearance. Less than two months after her disappearance, Bizzack closed the case, announcing that Melanie was fine and living in Florida. Ross was not satisfied with this flimsy conclusion, he was certain that Melanie was murdered, and the Lexington police department did not want any exposure. He believed that Melanie was killed because she either knew too much, would reveal the affair to Canan’s wife, or would expose the extortion of public officials (Denton 21).
Canan was interviewed for a newspaper article after Melanie’s disappearance, and her parents were shocked by his cool and blasé attitude towards her. Canan was reported saying that he had hired Melanie as an undercover narcotics agent (Marshall), and that she might have left Lexington because of heat she might have felt being a “snitch”. He also claimed that their relationship was purely professional; meaning that no real romantic relationship existed between them. Those who were close to Melanie knew that this was false, and began to wonder why Canan would try to hide it.
In 1994, forty-seven year old Canan was sentenced to seventeen years in federal prison. He was convicted on charges of “cocaine trafficking, threatening witnesses, and carrying a fake badge that identified himself as a federal drug officer” (Marshall). Though a suspect in Melanie Flynn’s disappearance, no formal charges were brought against him. However, Flynn’s parents strongly believe that Canan did in fact murder their daughter, and dumped her body. Denton writes in her novel that when he was questioned in prison by federal agents about her, he smirked, saying “That name sounds familiar” (Denton 363). Canan was released from prison on September 3rd, 2008.
Although Canan was not as heavily involved in the Thornton’s growing “business”, Thornton managed to hatch a plan with his friend Bryant to form a cover for their crimes. In 1975, Thornton and Bryant formed private security service called “Executive Protection Ltd.”, which in reality was a cover-up for their drug smuggling ring known as “The Company”. 1977 was the year in which the Company was put into full-scale action. According to Denton, it served two purposes for them: “to provide cover for drug-smuggling ventures and to serve as a legitimate private security service” (64). Bell writes in her article that “Bryant, the brains of the outfit, used his connections to obtain and manage the capital they needed to run the operation. Thornton, the logistics coordinator and pilot, arranged the transportation of the goods, mostly marijuana, cocaine and guns, flown from as far away as South America back to Lexington, where the cargo would be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars to dealers throughout the region” (www.trutv.com).
As with most major crimes, jealousy and pride are driving forces that can separate even the closest friends. This is the case with Thornton and Bryant. Although Denton believed that Thornton and Bradley were inseparable partners, their egos and mutual desire to outdo each other caused the men to split their organization. This was just the break Ross needed to catch these men and put to rest the actions of the Company. “United we stand, divided we fall”, definitely applies to their operation. When things became tense, the “minor players” picked a side, some men aligned with Bryant, while others showed their allegiance to Thornton.
One of the main reasons for this split involves two international drug smugglers, Lee Chagra, and his brother, Jimmy. Lee was an El Paso attorney who not only defended those accused of dealing drugs, but committed the crime himself. The DEA were stumped by the amount of security that Las Vegas hotels provided him with, and their operations “exceeded DEA capabilities” (Denton 72). His brother learned the trade so to speak when too much heat was put on Lee, and he was more outspoken and flamboyant than his brother. The DEA believed that “[Jimmy] had become the kingpin in a criminal organization that imported heroin from Lebanon and cocaine from South America…”(Denton 72). Bryant met the Chagra’s and felt confident that they could expand the Company’s repertoire of clientele and materials. Thornton disliked Jimmy Chagra, and thought he would draw unnecessary attention to the Company (trutv.com).
Chagra was later indicted on charges of importing cocaine and marijuana, and the judge designated to conduct the trial, Judge Wood, wanted to give him the maximum penalty (Denton 89). Judge Wood was shot and killed on the day of the trial, and Chagra became the main suspect. Thornton was enraged at the naïve and childish attitude Bryant was showing; he realized that Bryant wanted to take over Chagra’s operation. Thornton told Bryant that he should have severed ties with the Chagra’s, knowing that the police would be all over them. Bryant told his associates after Thornton left the meeting in Savannah to not talk to or be involved with him. This sealed their fate as partners turned enemies, each one trying to undermine the other and take revenge.
Ralph Ross, though eager to bring to justice everyone involved in the crimes committed was particularly interested in Thornton because of his police background. The investigation into every operation and drug transaction, and even Melanie Flynn’s disappearance, required a lot of outside units. The investigation of Triad, the farm where Thornton and Bryant had stockpiled weapons and trained members to fight and shoot, was placed under surveillance. ATF was also responsible for tracking shipments and the whereabouts of Bryant and his associates, whether it was Caesars Palace, hideouts in Florida, or tracking flights from airports. Members of the Company who had turned spies for the FBI also contributed to the convictions of Bryant and his associates.
To learn more about the Bluegrass Conspiracy, I interviewed a personal friend, McKinley Mayes. He retired from the Kentucky State Police force in 1995. Mr. Mayes started off as a State Trooper, and then became a homicide detective. When asked about the Bluegrass Conspiracy, Mr. Mayes was eager to help. He began with general information, though he said that Thornton and his associates had been under investigation way before he died in 1985. He explained that the Kentucky State Police did not trust the Lexington Police narcotics unit because of Thornton and the other people involved. If there was corruption in one area of the police force, it would “hurt the whole group”, implying that it was embarrassing for the Kentucky State police, one of the best police units in the United States.
Though Mr. Mayes knew of Thornton and Bryant, he did not have working relationships with them. He did explain to me something that is true of all people. “People, whether it be policemen, professors, farmers, or lawyers, all want to do their own thing. They will do what they want if they have the resources and the determination.” Mr. Mayes stated that Thornton and Bryant became obsessed with drugs, money, and power, and used their knowledge and connections to their advantage. “The illegality of their actions did not seem to deter the men, and many people were hurt or killed along the way.” Mr. Mayes said that police officers and officials are expected to be “fine, upstanding people”, and that the Company’s activities were embarrassing and shameful.
Back in 1985, the New York Times reported the unusual death of a black bear in Blue Ridge, Georgia. This bear had overdosed on the cocaine that Thornton had been dropping out of his plane before he jumped out of it to his death (“New York Times”).The discovery and the shock of the Bluegrass Conspiracy can still be felt to this day. No one really knows what happened to Melanie Flynn, and politicians are still constantly being scrutinized for their every action. Though it is shocking, the Bluegrass Conspiracy is one of many stories that reveal how drugs, greed, social connections, and recklessness can affect a community. Though Bryant and the major players received justice for their actions, many people were killed or hurt during the span of the Company’s operation. One may wonder when the full details of this scandal might have brought to the public eye, had Thornton survived. Would he and his associates still be selling drugs to this day, or would they have cut their losses and live off the dirty money that had illegally acquired? Would the Conspiracy ever be fully revealed if Thornton had landed safely on the ground?
Works Cited
Bell, Rachel. “ ‘The Company’ Drug Smuggling Ring.” Crime Library. www.trutv.com, n.d.
Web. 6 Nov. 2102.
Brammar, Jack. “ ‘Bluegrass Conspiracy tale’ never gets old.”Kentucky.com (2010): n.pag.
Web. 6 Nov.2012.
“Cocaine and a Dead Bear.” New York Times 23 Dec 1985, n. pag. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/23/us/cocaine-and-a-dead-bear.html>.
Denton, Sally. The Bluegrass Conspiracy. Lincoln: iUniverse, 2001. Print.
Marshall, Tom. “Ex-Cop Canan Gets Released from Federal Prison.” Mt. Sterling Advocate
(2012): n.pag. Web. 6 Nov. 2012.
Mayes, McKinley. Telephone Interview. 24 Nov 2012.
Mr. Pink
December 17th, 2004 will go down in history. This was the day that four young men, decided to go through with a built up plan that included stealing two of Transylvania University’s most prized possessions that had a worth of 12 million dollars. Vanity Fair magazine quoted “… a crime that would one day be listen among the F.B.I’s all-time most significant art-theft cases.” What lead four college students to a life of crime and how did this notorious scandal impact Lexington? What lead these four students to crime were a broken home front and a desperate need for some quick cash. The impact on Lexington will surely not be forgotten.
Chas Allen grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. He had a normal home life and spent his days like any regular teenager. Soon after his junior year of high school, Chas Allen was introduced to a friend named Spencer. Spencer had introduced Chas to an underground world of gambling. From that point on, he became a regular and came and went once or twice a week. There was something about the thrill of high stakes that he enjoyed and he became addicted to coming back. While attending the University of Kentucky, he soon befriended Warren Lipka, Spencer Reinhard, and Erik Bosruck. What was planned as a practical joke soon became a reality. This was said to be just a prank planned by rowdy frat boys; however, I believe that it was much more than that. Warren Lipka and the three boys experienced a rocky home life. Chas Allen was abandoned by his father and this left no money for his mother and younger siblings. Constantly having to save his mother, Chas Allen became very tired with having to deal with always being the hero. When asked by Warren Lipka, “”What would you say if I told you we could make twelve million dollars in one day?” Chas Allen couldn’t help but really wonder what it would be like for this fantasy to become a reality. Following this statement, Warren Lipka presents the three other boys with a master plan. This master plan was to steal books from the special collections library at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. Chas Allen always had a rocky relationship with Warren Lipka who proved to be heartless when he stole copious amounts of money from is friends. These actions got him kicked off of the University of Kentucky soccer team and to loose everything that he had worked for. A flight to Amsterdam would put a final price on the special collections items in the library. Warren just needed to find three other guys for the job. After months of thought, Chas finally agreed to the scandalous heist that would soon change his life forever. (Allen)
Chas Allen
In the spring of 2007, Chas Allen sent this notorious crime back into the spotlight when he wrote and published, “Mr. Pink: The Inside Story of the Transylvania book heist”. Serving a sentence of 87 months in federal prison Chas Allen has sent out thousands of handwritten pages to his brother Blake and sister Sydney who helped publish American heist story. Chas Allen’s non-fiction true story account of his involvement with the Transylvania Book Heist is the tell-all true story that answers the questions everyone has been asking. What could lead four college students to a life of crime and how were they able to pull off a multi-million dollar book heist? Among the books taken were, Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and editions of James Audubon’s “Bird’s of America” valued at $12 million. The years during his conviction, Chas Allen was able to send his writings to his brother and sister. Soon after, they compiled it and created a self-published manuscript. Chas stated that he wanted to get the word out about his side of this tragedy and he made sure that his younger siblings didn’t learn from his mistakes. In Chas Allen’s infamous novel, he talks about the events that led up to the heist, in tremendous detail. However, Chas does not fail to hide the other’s identities by covering up their names. I believe this was very responsible of him, and it creates a sense of illusion and fiction. It truly is an inside story of the feeling behind the crime. (Allen)
The special collections department of Transylvania University contains rare books, pamphlets, photographs, and manuscripts. This department is located at the upper level of the library at Transylvania University and it is a way from students to study the history of Kentucky. The Rare Book Room, at Transylvania University, is also apart of this special collections library. It houses the Clara Peck Collection of books dealing primarily with the history of the horse and natural history and many other books that are worth more than the four boys could ever imagine. (“Transylvania University”) The “master mind” plan created by Warren Lipka was full proof however; he needed to make sure that there were no outsiders that were in the way. Betty Jean Gooch was a librarian in the Special Collections Library at Transylvania University. She was preparing for her 11 o’clock appointment with a “Walter Beckman”, a man she had never met. Over the phone and by e-mail, Beckman had asked to view, among other items, a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and four double-size folios of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. What she did not know was that this man was really Warren Lipka going by Walter. He was wearing a heavy coat, gloves, and a wool cap. When he showed up to the Transylvania University library, he appeared younger than Betty Gooch had expected. To her, this created a sense of trust and she was very unaware about what was to happen next When Warren asked if he could bring a friend along with him, she didn’t hesitate to say no. This man named “John” arrived at the library shortly after. The two men followed the librarian into the Rare Book Room, and “John” closed the door behind them. As she was heading toward a display case, Gooch felt a tingling on her right arm and collapsed to the floor. Warren Lipka and Erik Bosruck tied her up, and placed a knit cap over her head and eyes so she couldn’t see anything. By one o’clock that afternoon, the 227-year-old liberal arts college was swarming with campus police, uniformed Lexington Police, plainclothes detectives, and forensic teams, as well as local news crews covering the developing “Transy Book Heist,” a crime that would one day be listed among the F.B.I’s all-time most significant art-theft cases. Among the stolen items were a set of medical dictionaries that had once belonged to President Thomas Jefferson and were published around 1500, a collection of drawings and a short text by John James Audubon written before 1850, a first edition of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” published in 1859 and an illuminated manuscript dated circa 1425. Soon, the group tried to sell the books through the famous New York auction house Christie’s, but they were caught a few months afterward. The authorities were able to trace the books back to the group through a phone number, a chain of e-mails and security camera footage. It was a shock to Lexington’s community and spread like wildfire not only through out Lexington, but nationally as well. (“Majoring in crime”)
Many speculations assumed that the boys tried to copy American culture stories of crimes, criminals, and brazen robberies. The idea of a heist seemed it would be all too successful. Films such as “Reservoir Dogs”, “Heat”, and “Ocean’s 11” portray perpetrators as seasoned professionals and veterans hardened to a life of crime. However, the four boys confused these stories for real life. The stories and characters are not real, they are fiction, and any reasonable person would keep this for the films. The scare of four college students of privilege and promise become unlikely criminals in the Lexington community was surely a nightmare. Chas Allen and a mismatch of friends drink in an outward appearance of parties and excess on a university campus. This is what many of the outsiders viewed not only his life, but also many college students around Lexington. It seemed that nothing college students would do could surprise the outside world. However, behind the facade of keggers and class, these four students venture off the beaten path of the college stereotype to find themselves playing a dangerous game with an underground casino, dealing with European black market buyers, and living a real-life version of the movies they had always admired and dreamed about. However, they would never think of themselves as hard criminals, and it is clear that neither did anyone else in the Lexington community. (“Who is Mr. Pink?”)
Jason Seamands, a Lexington Christian Academy teacher, goes into detail about Chas Allen. What he explains is that the community was shocked by this notorious crime and honestly did not think that it could be pulled off by any one let alone four college boys. His face lit up as he talked about Chas and you could tell that he really wondered how this had happened to him. And almost nine years later, that is what everyone else was wondering as well. He goes into detail about what he was doing the day of December 17th, 2004. By 1:30 P.M. the scandal had spread like wildfire through the Lexington community. What happened? Why did it happen? How on earth did it happen? All of these questions poured into Jason Seamand’s head as he heard the news that four young men, one of them being Chas Allen, has pulled off the ultimate heist. “I thought it was out of a movie.” He explained and said he was absolutely astonished. Little did he know that this is what the boys were trying to accomplish, a movie like heist. “It was definitely one of the greatest shock’s to the Lexington community. I am surprised when I talk about it and not may people know about it, because it was so serious.” He stated. Jason Seamands didn’t think Chas was capable of such a thing, and when his book was released it finally all made sense. I believe that a lot of the Lexington community felt relieved as soon as his book came it. “It created clarity, at least from Chas’s part.” Jason stated. Jason reminisced on the talk circulating around the school. Being that Lexington Christian was Lexington Catholic’s, where Chas Allen graduated from, that was just another thing for the students to gossip about when the tragedy struck. Jason Seamands states that he always brings up the book, “Mr. Pink” to students and encourages them to read it. “The should know that this went on, and it’s a really great read.” He says. Jason Seamands would turn any student to this book because it’s exciting to know and learn what is going on in your own, local community. (Seamands)
Although most characters in the book are presented under the aliases they borrowed from the movie “Reservoir Dogs,” Blake Allen, Chas’s brother, appears as himself. Allen was fourteen and fifteen years old during the time that this happened. In the book, he struggles with alcohol abuse to cope with his family problems but him and his brother’s closeness remains. Allen states that it reminds him of the “good times” with his brother and knows that their relationship has remained the same this whole time. Chas Allen was being held at the Federal Medical Center just outside Lexington. He has served only five years of his 87-month sentence to date. However, he was released in May 2012 as a result of good behavior. Chas is very thankful for this. The release of “Mr. Pink” brings up some memories within the Lexington community. Jack Girard, the department chair for fine arts, was Spencer Reinhard’s academic adviser. Jack had a negative standpoint on the book and didn’t think that a tell-all book would generate any change in perception about the whole crime that took place. “I think the truth is these were privileged kids of upper-middle-class economic means who thought they were ‘smarter than the average bear.” Jack Girard states. However, Chas Allen is trying to get the word out in a positive way to make sure that his actions are justified and have the opposite affect on the Lexington community. (Mr. Pink tells all in new book)
Chas Allen, his brother, and his roommates have teamed up to promote his book through out many college campuses. “Right now we are spreading the word locally through the local media outlets and just through word of mouth through friends and family. Also, the local bookstores have been doing a great job of getting the book to the community,” Allen said. (Mr. Pink tells all in new book) “We also have the webpage on the back of the book and have been in contact with an agent out of Louisville, Kentucky to push it nationwide.” (Mr. Pink tells all in new book). For the college tour, Chas Allen and his roommates are trying to visit to promote “Mr. Pink” at all of the colleges where their friends attend. These colleges include: Auburn University, The University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Alabama. However, their ultimate goal? They would love to come to Transylvania University to spread the word because it is such a huge piece of history for that campus especially. I agree that this would make an impact on the Lexington community but it and also share something admirable about Mr. Allen’s character. (Mr. Pink tells all in new book).
According to Chas Allen, Lexington, Kentucky was a place where a person’s actions could hide behind a good reputation and stay hidden. I think today, many people would agree with him. (Allen) After conspiracy theories from the 70’s this scandal could have possibly been one of the most shocking and outrageous occurrences too hit Lexington, Kentucky. A rocky home life and other reckless outward influences caused Warren Lipka, Spencer Reinhard, Erik Bosruck, and Chas Allen to commit this “fantasy” crime. “Youth can sometimes blur our vision, and often times make us seem invincible.” (Allen). The story of Chas Allen is behind a facade of wishful thinking that was too immature to handle an adult situation that was unfortunately thrust upon his in his most vulnerable years. However, over eight years later at least one of them was able to seek and maybe even gain justification from the Lexington community. The book, “Mr. Pink: The Inside Story of The Transylvania Book Heist” was able to grasp what happened with full detail and, even though many may be skeptical there are still citizens of the Lexington community that see him and this incident in a new light. It is not a doubt that this maybe a crime that would one day be listen among the F.B.I’s all-time most significant art-theft cases. (Vanity Fair Magazine).
Work Cited:
Allen, Chas. Mr. Pink. Lexington: Allen Brothers Publishing, 2012. Print.
Falk, John. “Majoring in Crime.” Vanity Fair. 12 2007: n. page. Print.
“J. Douglas Gay Jr./Frances Carrick Thomas Library.” Transylvania University. N.p.. Web. 30 Nov 2012. <http://www.transy.edu/academics/library/collections.htm>.
“Librarian Sues Robbers.” Lexington Herald Leader [Lexington] Nov 2005, n. pag. Print.
“Masterminds .” Transylvania Job . Court TV: . Television.
“‘Mr. Pink’ Tells All In New Book.” The Rambler. N.p.. Web. 7 Nov 2012. <http://transyrambler.com/2010/12/07/mr-pink-tells-all-in-new-book/>.
Seamands, Jason. Personal Interview. 11 2012.
“Who is Mr. Pink?.” Who is Mr. Pink?. N.p.. Web. 30 Nov 2012. <http://whoismrpink.blogspot.com/>.
Human Trafficking in Kentucky
Do most of us know what human trafficking is? If you don’t, by definition it is “the illegal trade of human beings mainly for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor.” How close could illegal activities like these be to us? According to several reporters, right here in Lexington. In this essay I will bring into light a topic not widely known or taken seriously as crimes still being committed in today’s modern society, and it could be happening right in your local neighborhood.
On April 16th, 2012, Kentucky finally held its first nation-wide conference on human trafficking, hosted at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. A Kentucky citizen called Beth Connors-Manke went to this conference to report for North of Center, a bi-weekly paper located in Lexington, KY. I found her article online and found the information really informing about human trafficking. Generally, the public is informed about human trafficking through advertisement playing on the “sexy” aspect of sex trafficking. The thought that trafficking might be found sexy to someone might be appalling, but to most people it is actually a sexual fantasy to be involved with someone who is not necessarily willing. Bringing human trafficking to the attention of others with this method actually catches the attention of audiences nation-wide. In the hopes of grabbing people’s attention that human trafficking is a serious crime and is still happening, people all around the nation are trying to inform citizens how to recognize human trafficking.
During the conference, the group talked about House Bill 350. This bill was created to clarify that human trafficking can involve young children, is a business, and used as a resource for law enforcement and victims. Some people may not realize young children can and are being utilized illegally to preform sexual acts. The people who sell out their “children” are a part of a business. Thus, if they are charged with human trafficking, their profits should be taken away from the criminal. This bill, if passed by the Senate, will help others realize the signs of human trafficking and help more criminals be stopped.
Alden Pinkham of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center
The idealization of pimping should not be taken lightly, and this also goes with use of drugs. It is a very serious issue society is becoming to have. We need to emphasize
the importance of not seriously considering pimping or whoring as our main means of earning money. Games also corrupt young adults views on serious crimes like these. Personally, one game that sticks out in my childhood as a bad influence is any of the Grand Theft Auto games. They allow for realistic play, but this also allows for killing and prostitution. Relating back to human trafficking, we just need to protect younger generations from its harmful effects.
Connors-Manke said another way we are not protecting our children is that we are not recognizing the difference between human trafficking and prostitution. I read her paragraph about this and did not quite understand what she was talking about until she said if having sex with a minor is considered rape, then why is it prostitution when the kids are getting paid for it? If young adults are
being sex trafficked, it may appear as prostitution, yet is trafficking.
Who could possibly become the victim of human trafficking? Anyone. There have been cases of everyone from poverty levels, to wealth, to immigrant entranced or forced into partaking in human trafficking. Many people are tricked into thinking they might make good money doing some other type of job, but most are forced into preforming sexual acts or other chores against their wills. Connors-Manke said this was one of the main emphasis of the conference she attended. The stereotypical victim to human trafficking are immigrant workers who believe America will have good paying work for them, but once they get here they are forced to proceed with these crimes or suffer their families or themselves being hurt.
Kentucky has a high rate of human trafficking, second only to drug trafficking. The percentage of people being trafficked can be split into 3 main categories: sex, labor, and a mix of the both. In Kentucky human trafficking for sex makes up 52 percent of the entire humans being trafficked, labor trafficking makes up 42 percent, and the mix make up the last 6 percent. Of those people, minors make up 43 percent of the humans being trafficked. It is also true that some of the adults accounted for in
during this poll have grown up in human trafficking, so the percentage is actually higher than that. As I stated earlier, Lexington has also had cases of human trafficking and it is actually a problem in Lexington and all around.
In November, Marco Antonio Flores-Benitez was the first person in Kentucky to be charged with human trafficking. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for being the “ring master” in a very well organized human trafficking business. His women, lured Spanish speaking women, would even work in Fayette county sometimes, but wouldn’t stay very long because they did not want their true purposes to be revealed and often they did not know where in America they were. Flores-Benitez did this to keep them private, so they couldn’t seek help very easily. It is suspected Marco Antonio Flores-Benitez was an illegal alien, as so were his “co-workers”.
Antonio Flores-Benitez
When I first came across this information, I thought maybe this bust (conducted by the FBI in November) was connected to an operation called Operation Cross Country V. However, through an interview hosted via email with Josh Kegley, 28 and author of the article I read about Flores-Benitez, it appeared the two instances are not quite linked together. Kegley said that there may have been some overlap with the two instances, because when the FBI were trying to find victims in Operation Cross Country V they have have discovered Flores-Benitez’s operation. The main differences between the two cases were that OCC V helped free trafficked underage Somali and African-American girls, while Flores-Benitez lured Spanish women.
The Flores-Benitez take down was also a part of a much larger operation like the OCC V, which spans over several states. The Flores-Benitez case was mainly in large cities such as Lexington, Atlanta, Nashville, and Indianapolis. Operation Cross Country V toke place in more than 30 states in the US and saved more than 60 under aged minors from the hands of “pimps” who would sell them for sex or labor, most of the cases being for sex. Back to Flores-Benitez, Kegley did not know more about Flores-Benitez’s history of his partners in the crime ring, but he did know it is suspected he was an illegal alien in America that went unknown for several decades.
How can you identify human trafficking? As stated earlier, it can commonly look like some sort of the typical prostitution ring, however, the women are not willing and underneath the surface they are doing it against their will. The women are forced to do whatever their “owners” expect of them while under their control or face the consequences of themselves or family being hurt by their “owners”. This is a crime society is choosing to over look like none other. I have watch several documentaries about human trafficking and have seen the toll it takes on people. One woman was hoping to send money she made to her husband in Spain, but was lured into working for a mean “man”. He and his family enslaved her for several years. She only regained her freedom after a kind neighbor realized the family was not treating the “nanny” fairly. After gaining her freedom again her and her family are now reunited and live a pleasant life. However, she will not get those many years back from memories lost from her family, for example, she did not get to see her first son for years after he was born.
After watching documentaries about her situation in human trafficking and many others, I know how seriously the crime should be taken. I realize what harmful effects it can have on a humans life, scaring them for life. Although, many people are trying to stop it. In 2007 Kentucky had more than 300 calls reporting human trafficking. A majority of these calls were placed by truck drivers after seeing children being sold for sex at truck stops. More and more people are beginning to recognize the signs of human trafficking, and maybe then we can prevent some, if not all, of human trafficking cases.
Works Cited
Connors-Manke, Beth. Modern Day Abolition: Human Trafficking in Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky: North of Center, 2012. Print.
The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati. Anit-Human Trafficking. Cincinnati, Ohio: The Salvation Army. Print.
Federal Bureau of Investigation National Press Office. Sixty-Nine Children Rescued During Operation Cross County V. Washington, D.C.: FBI National Press Office, 2010. Print.
Kegley, Josh. Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Sex-Trafficking Case. Kentucky: Kentucky.com, 2012. Print.
Interview with Josh Kegley, email, November 8th, 2012.
mariapienkowski 