Arlington - The Connection Newspapers

Week in Arlington
Murder Suspect Turns Self In
An Arlington man suspected of shooting and killing another
man inside his home earlier this week turned himself in to police
in what is being described as an isolated incident.
The third Arlington homicide of 2008 occurred in the early
morning hours of Monday, Dec. 8 at a home in the 2100 block of
South Arlington Ridge Road. Police received a call at a few minutes
before 4 a.m. from the suspect stating that he had shot another
man inside his home, according to a police report.
When police units arrived at the scene, they recovered the
weapon, according to the report, and the man who had called
the police turned himself in. Medics were called to the house but
the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police have not released the name of the victim as his next of
kin has not yet been informed. The name of the suspect has also
not been released yet.
According to Arlington Police spokesperson Crystal Nosal, the
murder occurred as a result of a fight or an argument, although
what sparked the argument is not known. “[The suspect] was
cooperative to a certain extent,” Nosal wrote in an email.
The Police Department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit is investigating
the crime. Police are asking that anyone who has information
relating to this incident call the Arlington Police Tip Line at 703-
228-4242.
— David Schultz
Youth Coach Admits
Receiving Child Porn
Arlington resident Thomas “Randy” White plead guilty in federal
court last week to receiving child pornography via the
Internet. White, 53, worked as a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and
also coached a local youth basketball league, according to a statement
from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
As a part of his plea in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, White
admitted to downloading numerous images of child pornography,
according to the statement. A search of White’s residence
earlier this year uncovered hundreds of illegal images and videos,
according to the statement.
White was a lobbyist in Washington D.C. and was the longtime
coach and director of the NOVA United AAU Basketball
League, which he ran out of his Arlington home. According to the
statement, White regularly coached boys between the ages of 15
and 17.
The FBI identified him during a national investigation of individuals
trading child pornography, according to Joseph Persichini
Jr., assistant director of the FBI’s Washington field office.
As a result of the plea, White faces a mandatory minimum sentence
of five years in prison and could face a maximum sentence
of up to 20 years. His sentencing is scheduled for early next year.
After being released, he will remain under court supervision for
at least five years and will be required to register as a sex offender
anywhere he lives or works.
Anyone with additional information regarding White is asked
to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 or via email at
Washington.Field@ic.fbi.gov.
— Ken Moore and David Schultz
Pinkett’s Ponzi Scheme
Preston Pinkett III, 68 of Alexandria, defrauded more than 180
investors of more than $40 million, according to statement of
facts filed with his guilty plea in federal court in Alexandria on
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.
Pinkett, the president and CEO of International Fiduciary Corporation
in Arlington, encouraged victims to invest in his business’s
“Asset Growth Program.” Pinkett convinced investors they would
benefit from the returns on “first tier medium term bank notes,”
according to court records.
“In fact, IFC was a corporate front for an international Ponzi
scheme that received over $40 million in fraudulently obtained
investments,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.
Pinkett personally pocketed more than $5.4 million in fraudulent
proceeds, according to his statement of facts in his guilty plea.
See Week in Arlington, Page 14
News
County Pleads for State Funds
But Arlington’s legislators
say the money isn’t there.
By David Schultz
The Connection
County officials last week urged
Arlington’s General Assembly members
to avoid making drastic cuts to the
State budget amid Virginia’s
multibillion dollar shortfall.
But the Assembly members said that reductions in
funding, even to programs that support the Arlington
most economically disadvantaged, are most likely
unavoidable.
“We have no good news for you,” state Sen. Mary
Margaret Whipple (D-31) told the County Board at
its annual legislative meeting.
The State is currently facing a $1 billion shortfall
in revenue for its current budget and a projected $2.2
billion shortfall for next year’s budget, Whipple said.
Aid to localities constitutes more than half of the
State’s annual budget, she said, so it is a near certainty
that funding for the local government will have
to be cut to fill the shortfall.
Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has said that the shortfall in
this year’s budget cannot be filled
with money for K-12 education. But
for next year’s budget, Whipple said
that “it will not be possible to avoid
reductions to K-12.”
“We’re dealing with an accelerating
deterioration of revenues,”
Del. Bob Brink (D-48) said. Raising
taxes to recoup this deterioration
is out of the question, Brink
added, because both the Governor
and the Republican-controlled
House have ruled it out. This
means that massive cuts to State
programs will be inevitable.
“[This] impacts most harshly
people who are most vulnerable, people whose numbers
are increasing,” Brink said.
THE EFFECTS of these cuts will trickle down to
the local level, County officials said. “The most
wealthy areas in the Commonwealth will be reducing
services at a level that their constituents have
Legislative Priorities
State Sen.
Mary
Margaret
Whipple (D-
31) said that
cuts to K-12
education
would be
coming next
year.
“If there’s a time
when government
needs to be
stepping up to
assist people, this is
the time to do it.”
— County Manager
Ron Carlee
Board
Member
Chris
Zimmerman
(D) said that
utility prices
should be
reexamined.
never seen before,” County Manager
Ron Carlee said. “If there’s a
time when government needs to
be stepping up to assist people,
this is the time to do it.”
And because the County is facing
its own budget shortfalls, Arlington
won’t be able to make up
for the State
cuts. “In Rich-
mond, it’s been
popular to say,
‘Well, if we don’t
do it, if it’s really
important
they’ll pick it
up,’” Carlee
Board
Member
Barbara
Favola (D)
inquired
about raising
the sales
tax by a half
a cent.
Del. Al
Eisenberg
(D-47) is
motivated by
the death of
his mother
to ban
smoking.
said. “That’s not possible this time.”
County Board Member Barbara
Favola (D) asked the Assembly
members if the State should consider
tapping into its rainy day
fund. But Whipple said that, by
law, the State couldn’t do this un-
til its budget situation worsens.
Favola described the State’s current situation as a
“fiscal mess” and said that something must be done
to lessen the impact of State cuts on localities. “These
reductions are going to erode our safety net,” she
said. “Making cuts will erode our quality of life and
take us backwards in many ways.”
The County Board is asking Arlington’s benefits to any members of its me the amount of money that goes into
delegation to the General Assembly to employee’s households that it sees fit. suppression,” Board Chairman Walter
propose a number of items. Here are the This would allow a County employee in Tejada (D) said. “We need to continue
highlights of their legislative requests: a same sex relationship to acquire health to work at the prevention angle.”
Hotel Taxes
care for his or her partner. This would Dental Care
The County Board requested that allow the County to compete with pri- The issue of dental care for the indi-
Virginia’s tax code be changed so that vate employers who already offer this gent may be gaining steam among state
the county’s hotel tax applies to rooms benefit, according to the County’s legis- lawmakers. Both the County Board and
purchased through an online broker. lative request form.
General Assembly members said that
Currently, localities in Virginia cannot County Board Member Barbara this needs to be a priority. “Dental care
collect taxes on hotel rooms purchased Favola (D) acknowledged that this item is not cosmetic,” Del. Bob Brink (D-48)
on the Internet. This lack of tax revenue has little chance of passing this year but said.
is costing the County between $2 mil- that the Board was requesting it because Public Notices
lion and $4 million per year, according they “wanted to make sure [the General Favola inquired about changing State
to County estimates.
Assembly] knew our position on this.” rules that require the County to pur-
“We need to get enough allies to pass Hate Crimes
chase advertising in local newspapers to
this,” State Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple The County is requesting that publish public notices. Instead, Favola
(D-31) said. “[So far], they don’t seem Virginia’s classification of a hate crime said, the County should have the option
interested in this.” Board Member Chris be changed to include sexual orienta- of publishing the notices on the Internet.
Zimmerman (D) suggested that the Astion. Del. Al Eisenberg (D-47) was Whipple was opposed to this, saying
sembly members try to reframe this pessimistic about this piece of legislation that the newspaper industry is opposed
issue for their colleagues. “They might being enacted. “It’s not going to pass,” to it. The issue is not about keeping the
be really interested in revenue that he said.
public informed, she said, “The issue is
doesn’t come from their voters,” he said. Gang Prevention
keeping newspapers alive.”
Health Care/Benefits
Additional funds are needed for gang “Then why don’t we just cut them a
The County is requesting the authority
from the State to extend health care
prevention in Virginia, according to the
County Board. “It continues to amaze See Priorities, Page 14
4 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ December 10-16, 2008 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com